DJI RS 5 Finally Breaks Cover And It Means Business

DJI tried to keep the RS 5 under wraps, but the Hong Kong website cracked open the vault and spilled everything. Specs, features, accessories, the whole buffet. After digging through all the official information, one thing is clear.

Dear readers: this is not a polite refresh. The RS 5 is DJI tightening every screw, adding brains where it matters, and quietly flexing on anyone still fighting their gimbal during a run and gun shoot.

Let’s break it down properly, with facts, context, and a few raised eyebrows.

Intelligent Tracking That Actually Feels Intelligent

The headline feature is the new RS Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Module. This tiny magnetic add on snaps onto the gimbal and turns the RS 5 into a subject aware machine. You tap a subject directly on the touchscreen and the gimbal locks on, no phone app required, no prayer involved.

Tracking works up to 10 meters, and more importantly, it can reacquire a subject if they leave the frame briefly. That matters in real world shooting, where people walk behind poles, cars, or that one uncle who always steps into frame at weddings.

Gesture control is also onboard of the RS 5. You can start tracking, stop tracking, or trigger recording with hand gestures. It sounds gimmicky until you imagine solo operators, YouTubers, or filmmakers who are tired of sprinting back to the camera like caffeinated squirrels.

DJI also paired this with a next generation stabilization algorithm and a 50 percent bump in peak motor torque. Translation: the RS 5 is far more confident when you walk fast, run, or shoot vertically.

This is the same RS 5 gimbal that, in leaked footage, showed a videographer running next to a baseball player and somehow winning the stability contest. Cardio plus torque is now a thing.

Ergonomics, Balancing, And The Death Of Micro Frustrations

DJI clearly listened to years of quiet rage.

The RS 5 introduces fine tuning knobs on every axis, using a leadscrew mechanism combined with Teflon enhanced interlayers. In practice, this means balancing feels smooth instead of crunchy, even with heavier mirrorless setups. You stop overshooting balance points and start feeling like you know what you are doing.

There is also a new Z axis indicator. It gives you instant visual feedback about vertical motion, helping you adjust your steps for smoother footage. It will not fix bad walking habits, but it will absolutely call them out.

The 2nd generation automated axis locks are another quality of life upgrade. Power off the gimbal and everything locks automatically. Power it on and it unlocks just as fast. No more folding rituals that feel like defusing a small mechanical spider.

RSA Communication Port And The New Open RS SDK

The RSA port connects to the Electronic Briefcase Handle, RS Tethered Control Handle, and remote-control ring handles. The open RS SDK also lets third-party developers create custom functions.

Power, Payload, And The Briefcase Handle That Steals The Show

Despite packing more torque and features, the RS 5 keeps a compact profile. With battery grip and plates, it weighs about 1.46 kg and supports payloads up to 3 kg. That comfortably covers popular setups like a Sony FX3 with a 24 to 70mm f2.8, Canon R5 Mark II builds, Nikon Z series, Panasonic S5M2, and Fujifilm X T5 rigs.

Vertical shooting is now third generation and native. No extra accessories, no awkward adapters. Loosen one knob, rotate the plate, tighten it back. Done in seconds. Social media shooters, rejoice quietly.

Battery life also gets a meaningful upgrade. A full charge takes just one hour, which is a 60 percent improvement in charging speed. Standby time stretches to around 14 hours, about 15 percent more than before.

If that is not enough, the new BG70 high capacity battery grip pushes standby time to a wild 30 hours with 45W PD fast charging. At that point, your camera will give up before the gimbal does.

The new Electronic Briefcase Handle deserves special attention. This is not just a grip. It includes a joystick and buttons that let you control both the gimbal and the camera with one hand. Low angle shots become easier, smoother, and less shoulder destroying.

It finally feels like DJI stopped treating briefcase mode as an afterthought and turned it into a feature worth using.

Bluetooth shutter control now supports Panasonic and Fujifilm cameras alongside Sony, Canon, and Nikon. That means wireless shutter, zoom, and Clear Image Zoom without cables. Less spaghetti on your rig is always a win.

Let’s Talk About Money

The prices look everything but bad. The single version of the gimbal with the BG33 battery grip, upper and lower quick release plates, lens-fastening support, quick-open tripod (without the Intelligent Tracking module) is costing around $436.

Now the Combo version it has the same as the Single version but also includes the RS Enhanced Intelligent Tracking module and the Electronic Briefcase Handle for $551

And now DJI surprises us with two new combos of the single version and the combo version adding the DJI SDR Transmission Combo, costing the single version $862 and the full version $978

DroneXL’s Take

The DJI RS 5 feels like a gimbal designed by people who actually use gimbals under pressure. Intelligent tracking without a phone, faster balancing, stronger motors, real battery improvements, and an excellent briefcase handle all point to DJI refining the experience instead of chasing flashy specs.

This is not a revolution, but it is a very confident evolution, and for filmmakers who make money with their gear, the RS 5 looks like the kind of upgrade that quietly pays for itself while making your shoots less annoying.

Photo credit: DJI