Honestly, this might be the easiest review I’ve ever done. Is the DJI RS 5 good? Absolutely! So, what makes the DJI RS 5 so impressive that it deserves this kind of excitement? I’ll break down my thoughts after months of using it, then share my final take.

The DJI RS5  looks very similar to the previous DJI gimbal, the DJI RS 4. Yet, there are some notable visual differences. First off, the DJI RS 5 comes with a Tracking Module, a briefcase handle gimbal, camera control, and easy-to-use fine-tuning knobs. DJI sticks with what has worked well on previous gimbals and adds the features users will enjoy.

The DJI RS 5 will feel similar in hand to the RS 4. The two gimbals are similar, except the RS5 has the new electronic briefcase handle with gimbal and camera control. Adding the briefcase handle makes filming with the DJI RS 5 easier and smoother. This new addition allows for effortless single-handed operation with a joystick and buttons that control the gimbal and camera.

The DJI RS 5 comes with a new battery. This new battery takes about 1 hour to fully charge and delivers 14 hours of runtime, which is 15% longer than the last DJI RS gimbal. In my real-world experience, the DJI RS 5 fully charged super fast. I, however, used the gimbal in a way that burned through that new battery a bit quicker than I expected.

In a notable addition, the DJI RS 5 added a new Z-Axis Indicator. This new Z-Axis Indicator is there to show you when you’re not walking in a smooth glide. I had to film on a farm, and as I chased farm animals, I found the new Z-Axis Indicator letting me know that maybe I’m not great at walking over large tree roots and uphill at the same time. You know, the Z-Axis indicator seems helpful. The only thing I’d say is I tend not to look at the LCD screen on the gimbal, as my eyes are locked on my monitor with the all-too-familiar hyperfocus one gets as they film their subject.

Yes, this is the AI Camera on the DJI RS 4. We’ve seen a version of the Enhanced Intelligent Tracking system on the RS 4. This feels very similar, if not the same, system between the two gimbals. I found the camera, or the Enhanced Intelligent Tracking module, useful at times, and removed it at others. First off, the module can come off the DJI RS 5 pretty easily when transporting or storing the gimbal outside its dedicated case. Keep an eye on the tracking module. I nearly lost it a few times, mostly because it got pushed off when storing the gimbal between locations on production days.

How useful is the Enhanced Intelligent Tracking module? I think it’s a very helpful feature if you film solo and may be in front of the camera. The hand gestures help you a ton and save you from bouncing behind and in front of the camera.

If you’re a good operator, the tracking module may be less useful to you. When you’re moving quickly, I found the tracking module helpful. I also used it when shooting establishing shots of buildings. I think the tracking module locked on a point on a building easily. Using the center framing helped when I filmed this coverage.

I also found the tracking module helpful when I was chasing children for a production. The scene called for children running into their Mom’s arms and since this was a doc-style shoot, we had to make do with what we had on hand, which was the DJI RS 5. The tracking module helped me keep my frame accurate. I think the more I tried the Tracking Module, the more I ended up using it, even though I consider myself a pretty solid gimbal operator.

The gimbal weighs just over 3 pounds with the battery grip and quick-release plates, and can switch to vertical shooting without extra accessories. With a robust 6.6lbs payload capacity, it can carry mainstream mirrorless camera and lens combinations with ease.

Sony: FX3/A7M4/A7C/A1 + FE 24-70mm F2.8
Canon: C80/R5 Mark II + RF 24-70mm F2.8
Nikon: ZR/Z6 III/Z7 II + Z 24-70mm F2.8
Panasonic: S5M2 + 24-60mm F2.8
Fujifilm: X-T5 + XF 16-55mm F2.8

The DJI RS 5 isn’t meant to replace a heavy-duty cinema stabilizer. Yet the DJI Ronin 2 is getting a little long in the tooth (hint, hint, hint, DJI). Instead, the DJI RS 5 is designed for today’s hybrid shooters who use compact cinema cameras, mirrorless bodies, and lightweight prime lenses. This gimbal isn’t trying to be something else. The RS 5 fits right where most of us need it, in the not-too-big or not-too-heavy place where we can carry it with the rest of our gear and grab the great footage we need.

DJI continues to refine their touchscreen interface, and the DJI RS 5 benefits from a more responsive display and clearer menu layout. If you’ve used previous RS models, the learning curve is essentially zero. They’ve really kept the models not too different from each other. Moving from a DJI RS 3 to RS 5 should be pretty smooth.

The joystick and trigger controls remain excellent, and the customizable buttons make it easy to build a control scheme that matches your shooting style. DJI’s ecosystem integration remains a strong point. Wireless camera control, focus motors, and remote monitoring all tie together well. The whole ecosystem tends to be more important than one thinks.

The DJI RS 5 represents a thoughtful step forward for DJI’s handheld stabilizer ecosystem. It’s reliable, thoughtfully engineered, and refined in ways that make it easier for you to shoot great footage. I think seeing how DJI has improved gimbal after gimbal after gimbal shows a strong, mature company that listens to what filmmakers need in their next iteration of gimbal. So is the DJI RS 5 good? Yeah, it’s pretty fu#&*ng great!