GoPro Karma Grip
Overview:
Having already owned the GoPro Hero 4 Silver, GoPro Hero 4 Session and GoPro Hero 5 Black. Buying the GoPro Karma Gimbal was a natural choice.
The idea was to upgrade the equipent to improve the quality of the Walkthrough and Hotel Review videos. No matter how hard you try and keep the camera still, it shakes and the footage looks terrible.
Out of the box the the Gimbal is all set up and ready for the GoPro Hero 5 Black, GoPro Hero 6, or the GoPro Hero 7 Black. You will need to take off the side door however. Rendering it un waterproof (You can always put the door back on later. Having the side door removed also muffles the audio.
Using the GoPro Hero 4 Silver however does not experience the muffled audio issue. If you want to use the GoPro Hero 4 Silver with the Karma Grip Gimbal you will need to purchase a separate cradle.
The Gimbal:
The GoPro Karma Grip is the same Gimbal and or Camera that is used with the Karma Drone. The actual Gimbal component therefore is removble. Pictured above. The grip component is where the controls and un-removable battery is located. Charging the unit is via Type-C USB.
Annoyingly the USB port is on the bottom of the grip stick. This prevents the Grip Stick from being able to be stood up as you would a tripod.
The Cradle:
Go pro has released a bungee cord. An extension cord that will allow you to have the small cradle (pictured above) mounted somewhere while having the big and bulky grip stick and battery stashed away. For example inside your backpack.
The Grip Stick:
The GoPro Karma Grip Stick as pictured above is of very high build quality. It feels super sturdy and of high quality for sure. The controls are very easy to find your way around. It only comes with 4 buttons, some of which have 2 functions.
- Top: The top red button is used for one button turn on and start recording.
- Left: Switch Mode between Video, Photo, TimeLapse Etc. Long Press to power On/Off
- Right: Highlight
- Bottom: Tilt Lock
Mounting Options:
This Gimbal was designed with being able to be mounted in mind. It comes with a super high quality tough build mount ring. Pictured above. It is not required if you just intend to use it as a hand held gimbal. However I have installed the ring and leave it there permanently.
It does add a bit of weight, however removing the Cradle and Grip Stick is not as seamless as it should be. You need to twist it very hard and at times feels like it is going to break.
The Carry Case:
The case it comes with is fantastic for protecting your camera and gimbal. It is thick and there is no question it is high quality. It was molded to fit this Gimbal.
On the down side it is BIG and Bulky. It is not entirely the cases fault, as the grip stick if fairly big in comparison to other gimbals on the market.
If you want to keep your equipment free from damage this case is fantastic. If you are after something small and compact this case is not for you.
Conclusion:
The build quality is fantastic. In your hand it completely feels of super high quality. It is sturdy and it feels like it will last forever. The battery life is good, I have never ran out and needed to recharge mid shoot.
The battery is non removable,and there is no way to stop the camera from charging. This could be a problem. The GoPro cameras come with removable batteries, so it is easy to have a few spares with you. You could potentially find your self in a situation where you have you camera and batteries fully charged but you Karka Grip gimbal flat.
The Grip Stick; when mounted on the backpack has the control buttons facing the bag. This makes operating the gimbal problematic. You can use the GoPro App and your phone, however I have always found the App to be slow and unreliable constantly having connection issues.
This gimbal will ONLY work with GoPro Cameras and requires a separate cradle for each model. It will NOT work with non GoPro Cameras (Unless a compatible cradle is made) You can not use your phone with this gimbal.
Aslo it is splash proof, so as long as it is not immersed in water it is a great solution if you are shooting where water may be a consideration.
Paired with the GoPro Hero 5 or 7 Black , rain or Songkran is not anything to be worried about anymore.
In the end this Gimbal produces silky smooth footage and integrates perfectly with the newest GoPro camera.
The Good vs The Bad
| Good | Bad |
|---|---|
| Build Quality | High Price |
| Long Life Battery | Non Removable Battery |
| USB Type C | Does Not Stand Up |
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