The DJI RS 4 and DJI RS 5 share the same 3 kg rated payload, so payload is no reason to upgrade. If you own an RS 4 and mostly shoot slow, controlled moves, keep it. Upgrade for subject tracking without a second operator, vertical delivery, long event days, or easier balancing. The Combo adds a magnetic tracking module, and the gimbal brings 50% more peak torque, a 1 hour charge, and up to 30 hours with the optional grip. New buyers should start at the RS 5.
DJI released the RS 5 on January 29, 2026, and it replaced the RS 4 as the mainstream gimbal in the lineup. The RS 4 is now phased out; we no longer carry it at Filmgear Canada. Every number below is attributed, because the internet is full of RS 4 vs RS 5 comparisons quoting numbers that do not exist.
First, the number that did not change
Rated payload is 3 kg (6.6 lb) on both gimbals. Identical. Comparisons claiming the RS 5 carries 4.5 kg have confused it with the RS 4 Pro, the separate cine tier of the family. The RS 5 is not the fix for a rig that has outgrown your RS 4; the RS 4 Pro is.
What actually changed, feature by feature
Here is the verified delta list. Everything else is close enough that it should not drive your decision.
| Spec | DJI RS 4 (2024) | DJI RS 5 (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Rated payload | 3 kg (6.6 lb) | 3 kg (6.6 lb), identical |
| Gimbal weight | About 1.4 kg | 1.46 kg with grip and plates |
| Stabilization | Previous generation | 5th-gen algorithm, peak torque up 50% (DJI figure) |
| Full charge | Roughly 2.5 hours | About 1 hour (DJI: 60% faster) |
| Runtime | Standard grip | About 14 h standard, about 30 h with optional BG70 grip |
| Subject tracking | Not offered in any RS 4 kit | Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Module, Combo only |
| Vertical shooting | Native switch, earlier design | 3rd-gen switch, flips in seconds |
| Balancing | Standard knobs | Teflon fine-tuning knobs on every axis |
| Low-mode handle | No electronic handle | Electronic Briefcase Handle, Combo |
| Gait coaching | None | On-screen Z-Axis indicator |
| Bluetooth shutter | Sony, Canon, Nikon | Adds Panasonic and Fujifilm |
| At Filmgear Canada | Phased out, no longer carried | Not yet listed, contact us |
The tracking module is the real headline
The Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Module is the biggest reason the RS 5 exists as an upgrade. It snaps on magnetically: tap your subject on the touchscreen and the gimbal keeps them in frame by itself. DJI says it holds a human lock to about 10 m, re-acquires a subject who leaves frame and returns, and tracks vehicles and pets as well as people.
On a wedding dance floor, you tap the couple and the gimbal follows while you concentrate on footwork and framing distance, with nobody on the wheels. On a corporate walk-and-talk, you walk backwards thinking about your questions instead of thumbing a joystick. For solo work it replaces a hire, which is why the module, not the torque figure, is the headline.
Stronger motors, faster charging, less fiddling
Stabilization. DJI's spec sheet claims 50% more peak torque with the 5th-generation algorithm. Torque holds the frame when you switch angles fast, break into a jog, or fly vertical. Calm b-roll already looked smooth on the RS 4; fast, reactive shooting is where the difference shows.
Battery. The RS 5 charges fully in about 1 hour. DJI calls that 60% faster than the RS 4, which puts the older gimbal in the 2.5 hour class. The standard battery runs about 14 hours; the optional BG70 grip stretches that to about 30. The 30 hour headline requires buying the grip, but 14 hours covers a wedding day with margin.
Handling. The fine-tuning knobs gain Teflon interlayers on every axis, so precise balancing takes less wrestling; for serial lens-swappers it is quietly the best change on the list. The 3rd-generation vertical switch flips to portrait in seconds, no accessories. The Combo's electronic Briefcase Handle gives one-hand low-mode control, and an on-screen Z-Axis indicator coaches your gait to reduce bob.
Where the RS 4 still wins
Gentle work looks the same. For slow, controlled moves the stabilizer core delivers similar results. If your style is calm pushes and easy walking b-roll, footage alone will not justify the switch.
Clearance pricing exists. Leftover RS 4 units are discounted out there, and we no longer carry the RS 4, so this is not us clearing shelves. If you find one well under the RS 5's price and do not care about tracking, it is still a competent 3 kg gimbal.
The RS 5 is not friction-free either. One early owner on r/dji traced shaky RS 5 footage to a slightly loose matte box shade; stronger motors punish loose accessories, so tighten the rig before blaming the gimbal.
How we compare
We compare DJI's official spec sheets with launch coverage from Newsshooter and PetaPixel, real owner reports on r/dji, r/videography, and r/SonyAlpha, and what customers ask when we match gimbals to rigs at our Vancouver shop. We did not lab-test these gimbals and do not quote numbers our sources do not support. We compare specifications and our listed prices only.
Payload honesty: what 3 kg really means
Rated payload is a ceiling, not a target. Reviewers find gimbals perform best at 80 to 90% of the rated number, so plan around 2.5 kg of real camera on a 3 kg gimbal.
And nobody flies a bare camera. The r/SonyAlpha threads asking whether a caged FX3 works on a compact gimbal are really about clearance and balance room once the cage, monitor, and cables are on. Weigh your camera the way you actually fly it. If the total crowds 3 kg, read our RS 4 vs RS 4 Pro guide.
Where the RS 5 sits in the DJI RS family
Many RS 5 questions are really family questions, so here is the ladder.
| Model | Rated payload | Gimbal weight | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| RS 4 Mini | 2 kg (4.4 lb) | 890 g | Compact mirrorless, travel, solo |
| RS 4 | 3 kg (6.6 lb) | About 1.4 kg | 2024 all-rounder, superseded |
| RS 5 | 3 kg (6.6 lb) | 1.46 kg | Current mainstream pick |
| RS 4 Pro | 4.5 kg (10 lb) | 1.8 kg | Cine cameras, LiDAR focus, crew work |
RS 4 Mini. The 2 kg tier. The DJI RS 4 Mini is $369.00 CAD and in stock in Vancouver; the RS 4 Mini Combo at $429.00 CAD adds its own tracking module, which reviewers note tracks people only. Owners praise it as a light money-maker, though a minority on r/videography report micro wobbles on static shots, and the battery is not removable. Inside 2 kg, start with our RS 4 Mini vs RS 4 guide.
RS 5. The 3 kg mainstream tier this whole article is about: the do-it-all pick for mirrorless rigs, with the tracking module in the Combo. Not yet listed at our store; see the buying section below.
RS 4 Pro. The 4.5 kg cine tier for FX6-class cameras, about 29 hours with its grip and roughly a 2.5 hour charge. Available to order at $1,104.99 CAD, or as the RS 4 Pro Combo at $1,378.99 CAD. The focus split matters more than payload: the RS 4 Pro pairs LiDAR with a focus motor for manual focus-pull crew work, while the RS 5's module is keep-me-in-frame logic for solo operators.
RS 5 Pro. DJI's lineup now includes an RS 5 Pro above the RS 5 as the heavier cine tier. We have not verified its full specifications and do not stock it, so we will not quote numbers here. For heavy rigs today, the RS 4 Pro is the proven option we can order.
Which gimbal for which job
Weddings, events, corporate: RS 5 Combo. Tracking replaces the second operator on dance floors and walk-and-talks, receptions run long, and the vertical switch feeds the reels clients expect.
Documentary, travel, and social-first creators: inside 2 kg, the RS 4 Mini carries it for less weight and money, and it also shoots native vertical. Heavier rigs, or tracking vehicles and animals, point to the RS 5.
Crews flying cine cameras: RS 4 Pro. Payload and LiDAR focus live there.
Buying either one in Canada right now
The RS 4 is discontinued at retailers. Clearance units exist, but price the RS 5 first, because a small clearance discount rarely beats the module, charging, and motor gains.
The RS 5 is DJI's current mainstream gimbal in Canada, sold through DJI dealers. We do not have it listed at Filmgear Canada yet while our buying team evaluates stocking it. Check our DJI brand page and the full DJI collection for what is current, or contact us for a straight answer on RS 5 availability.
What we stock today: the RS 4 Mini at $369.00, in stock in Vancouver, the RS 4 Mini Combo at $429.00, and the RS 4 Pro at $1,104.99 with the RS 4 Pro Combo at $1,378.99, both to order.
Not sure which tier your rig lands in? Tell us your camera, your heaviest lens, and whether you fly caged, and we will map it against the RS family. Visit our Vancouver showroom or send us a message.
DJI RS 4 vs RS 5 FAQ
Is the DJI RS 5 worth it over the RS 4?
If you shoot events, corporate walk-and-talks, or vertical content, yes. The RS 5 Combo adds subject tracking that replaces a second operator, charges in about 1 hour, runs up to 30 hours with the optional BG70 grip, and balances faster with the new knobs. If you shoot slow, controlled moves and your RS 4 still balances your rig, keep it and spend the money on glass or light.
Do RS 4 accessories and batteries fit the RS 5?
We have not verified cross-compatibility either way, and this is where guessing costs money. DJI publishes compatibility lists for each accessory generation, so check the list for your specific plate, grip, or focus motor before assuming it carries over. Or send us your RS 4 accessory list and we will check it against the RS 5 before you order.
What is the difference between the DJI RS 5 and RS 5 Pro?
The RS 5 is the 3 kg mainstream gimbal for mirrorless rigs. The RS 5 Pro is the newer, heavier cine tier above it. We have verified the RS 5's specifications but not the RS 5 Pro's, so we will not quote its numbers. If your rig is a caged cinema camera, tell us what you fly and we will map both Pro tiers.
What camera and lens can a 3 kg gimbal like the RS 5 carry?
Add up the published weights of your body, lens, plate, and anything mounted. A Sony a7 V with a 24-70 f/2.8 is roughly 1.4 kg, comfortably in the sweet spot. Reviewers find gimbals behave best at 80 to 90% of rated payload, so treat about 2.5 kg as the practical ceiling and weigh the camera as you actually fly it, cage and all.
Does the base DJI RS 5 include subject tracking?
No. The Enhanced Intelligent Tracking Module ships in the RS 5 Combo, not the base kit. The base RS 5 still gets the stronger motors, faster charging, and better knobs, but if subject tracking is the feature that sold you, and for most upgraders it is, you need the Combo. Factor that into the price you compare.
Can I still buy the DJI RS 4 in Canada?
Only as leftover stock. DJI has phased the RS 4 out and retailers, including Filmgear Canada, no longer carry it. Clearance units surface, but price the RS 5 before you commit, because a small discount on a discontinued gimbal rarely justifies giving up the tracking module and faster charging. We stock the RS 4 Mini and RS 4 Pro today.
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