ngl the search for a reliable gimbal for the Canon EOS R5 under five hundred is basically a recipe for disappointment. I had a really bad experience with a popular one where the arm just gave up halfway through a shoot... it is super frustrating when you cant trust your gear to hold up a heavy mirrorless setup. Honestly tho, that whole day was a mess anyway. I wore these new leather boots I bought on clearance and by hour three I was literally limping around the venue. I spent more time looking for a chair than I did checking my framing or worrying about the motors. My feet were so swollen I could barely drive home after. Terrible life choice on my part... but yeah, gear reliability is everything i guess.

> R5 gimbal time! Got a Canon EOS R5, what's the best gimbal you'd recommend for smooth video? I absolutely love my R5, seriously such an amazing piece of kit! I remember back in the day lugging around a huge rig for my old 5D, so moving to the mirrorless R system was a total dream for my back. I’ve tried so many setups over the years and it’s been a wild ride for sure! Honestly tho you should just check out some of the comparison videos on YouTube. There is this one really fantastic creator who did a deep dive on this exact setup recently... if you search for canon r5 gimbal comparison it is basically the first result that pops up. He explains the motor tech way better than I ever could here! Before you pull the trigger though, I gotta ask - what specific lenses are you planning to use? Are we talking tiny primes or the big heavy RF zooms? That totally changes the game!

tbh it seems like the consensus here is basically choosing between portability and raw motor strength but after running my R5 setup for a long time i think the overlooked factor is software stability and motor fatigue... if youre using heavy RF glass like the 24-70 then those smaller motors on the Weebill might struggle long-term even if they meet the weight spec on paper because the torque required to hold a front-heavy lens is intense... iirc the DJI RS 3 Mini is sitting right around $300-$350 right now and it’s been a total tank for me even though it's technically a 'travel' gimbal... the native vertical shooting is a huge plus if you do social content and the payload is solid for an R5 with most mid-sized glass. But honestly if you can find a deal on a DJI RS 3 for under $500 definitely grab that instead because those automated axis locks are basically essential once you get used to them and it saves the hardware from getting banged around in your bag... just my two cents after dealing with gimbal drift for years lol.

Basically in the same exact situation here. Been obsessing over the technical data for my R5 setup for about three months and I still cant find a reliable answer that doesnt feel like a massive compromise. It is incredibly frustrating because the spec sheets never really tell you how the motors handle the specific balance offset of the RF mount glass. Before I keep digging, I wanted to see if your requirements match mine:

• which specific RF lenses are you planning to use most?
• are you running a bare body or a full cage setup?
• do you use a heavy external monitor like a Ninja V? I am honestly struggling to find anything under 500 that meets my performance standards for motor response times and it feels like I am just hitting a wall.

Late to the party but ^ this. Also, I am honestly in the exact same boat as you right now. Been searching for the perfect setup for my Canon EOS R5 for nearly four months and I still havent found a clear winner... it is so frustrating because I really want something reliable but everything under five hundred bucks makes me super nervous. Still looking for that one perfect recommendation that actually feels safe to use.

Finally someone says it. Ive been thinking this for a while but wasnt sure.

Been there! I'm happy with my Weebill S for my R5. It's nimble, compact, and handles the weight perfectly. Got mine used for around $300 – works well, no complaints.

Hey! For that R5, check out the Weebill S. I've seen them used successfully, and often find them used around $300-400. Worth a look!

R5's IBIS is solid, but for gimbals, consider payload capacity first. Ensure it exceeds the R5 + lens weight by at least 2 lbs for safe operation. DJI's RSC 2 *might* work. Consult a pro.

Hey! Heard horror stories about R5's tumbling. Seriously, whatever you get, DOUBLE-CHECK the weight limits, especially with different lenses. I'd lean towards something beefier, even if it stretches the budget a bit. Over the years, I've learned a snapped gimbal arm isn't worth saving a few bucks. Maybe look at Zhiyun's Crane series? Better safe than sorry!

Zhiyun's market share is huge. But honestly? Had issues. Maybe look at Weebill alternatives around $400.