The Feiyu-Tech WG2 is a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer without the standard handle but is rather a wearable and mountable model. Building on the very successful Feiyu Tech WG, it tries to overcome some of the bad points of the previous model.
It directly supports the GoPro HERO5 Black action camera as well as a variety of other cameras of similar shape and size, including the HERO4/HERO3+/HERO3 without a BacPac LCD, the YI Technology 4K/4K+, and select SJCAM and AEE models. It also supports the GoPro HERO Session via an included adapter. A knob with a sliding arm and leveling system on the mounting platform allows you to quickly balance whatever camera you use.
It appears Feiyu is competing directly with Zhiyun with their product line. In this case it is the next stage in the battle, pitched directly against the Zhiyun-Tech Rider-M.
It has one killer feature that no other stand-alone wearable gimbals have managed. It’s waterproof. (The Removu S1 is waterproof, but is not stand-alone.)
In the box
The WG2 comes with a selection of mounting brackets to fit different cameras
Not much to see here. In the box you get a neoprene pouch for storing the gimbal, power cables and the manuals and warantee info. But, as an introductory offer, FeiyuTech are including a mini tripod with the package, to tempt you in to buying.
It’s great to see Feiyu including a selection of brackets for attaching different cameras to the gimbal. They obviously realised that some people don’t use GoPro cameras!
Unboxing video from Feiyu
Size
You can see in this unboxing shot that the body of the gimbal is quite small, compare this to the original WG and you can see where they have cut down the size. Removing the button from the front of the gimbal makes a big difference to how big it looks.
The old Feiyu WG
The new WG2 without the front button.
Mounting Options
On the bottom and on the backside of Feiyu WG2 is a standard 1/4″ photo tripod screw. So you can either use a variety of mounts also in combination with a GoPro mount adapter.
My favourite possibility is attaching the gimbal to a selfie stick and use the gimbal pole mounted. This results in even smoother footage as the camera is more isolated from the movement of your body. Effectively giving 5-axis stabilization.
Obviously, as the name states the gimbal can also be worn on the body. The Feiyu-Tech WG2 weighs only 0.6 lb without a camera and can be used mounted/worn on a helmet, chest support, handlebars, selfie stick, desktop tripod, and most other supports. Using the 1/4″-20 threaded mounting hole on the bottom and one on the rear, it can flexibly be attached in standard, vertical, and inverted orientation.
Standard 1/4 inch tripod mounts are useful for taking advantage of the new timelapse mode
Performance
The WG2 is built with three brushless motors and an algorithm that’s especially optimized for wearable operation. The algorithm, which calculates the rotation angle, is designed with improved anti-jamming capability for high-frequency jitter and high-speed motion scenarios.
It provides impressive torque in all three brushless motors to resist all shakes in action.
The WG2 has motors that allow full 360 degree movement
An upgrade over the original WG, the Feiyu-Tech WG2 offers unlimited 360° pan rotation, unlimited 360° tilt rotation, and 70° roll angle rotation.
The WG2 is produced by in CNC machined aluminium. The CNC precision process ensures high standard resistance to impact and provide uncompromised performance.
Battery Life
An LED on the front confirms the selected mode and also indicates battery status. The WG2 operates on a built-in 1500mAh battery that runs for approximately 2.5 hours and is rechargeable in about 2 hours. This is very similar to the original Feiyu Tech WG. Considering, the smaller body of the WG2 this is quite respectable.
To make the gimbal waterproof, Feiyu have changed from the swappable battery found in the FeiyuTech WG, and and intsead are using a built-in battery. For some people this could defintely be a disadvantage. If you are away from a power source all day, and need to use the gimbal for an extended period of time then you will be out of luck. In the previous model you could make sure you had a couple more spare batteries in your pack.
No removable batteries in the Feiyu WG2
Usability
A single button on the front turns the gimbal on and off and also toggles between modes. That’s it!
The gimbal comes with the standard shooting modes, common on most handheld stabilizers. “Full”, “Follow” and “Lock”.
In “Full” mode the camera aligns where ever you point it. “Follow” mode means that the the gimbal is locked in the pan axis. It will stabilize tilting the camera up and down but will always point in the same direction.
Auto-rotation
Another new feature to this gimbal, one of the selectable modes of operation is an auto-rotation mode that allows you to assign a pre-set travel route with a start and end point and a constant speed. This mode can be used for automated standard video capture as well as effective time-lapse photography.
Smartphone App
The WG2 also comes with a free-to-download Feiyu ON app available on Apple App Store and Android Play. The app allows for remote control operation of the gimbal, adjusting settings, and firmware updates. An optional Feiyu remote control (model # WGWR) is also supported.
Highlights
Excellent Waterproof Tech
The Feiyu-Tech WG2 has been rated IP67-Level Waterproof. It’s modest waterproofing. In real terms this means that it can stay submerged under 3ft (0.75m) of water for approximately 10 minutes with no trouble at all. So that means you aren’t going ot be taking it scuba diving, but using it snorkeling, on a rainy day, surfing and so on, should be no trouble.
In addition to waterproof, the integrated sealed structure is also applicable to different harsh environments such as sandy, dusty etc.
Using this gimbal in combination with a waterproof GoPro Session or GoPro Hero 5, is the perfect set up. No point in having a waterproof gimbal if your camera isn’t.
Camera Compatibility
Unlike the original WG, The WG2 comes with exchange mount for Gopro 4/5/ Session cameras, you can replace the mount with hand, no need any tools. This is great, as the previous model only allowed GoPro 3/4/4+ and didn’t fit the GoPro 5 at all.
The Feiyu WG2 supports a few different action cameras, which is great news.
Key Features
- Wearable and mountable 3-axis gimbal stabilizer
- Supports GoPro HERO5 Black and similarly-sized cameras (see Specifications)
- Supports GoPro HERO Session via included adapter
- Optimized algorithm for wearable operation
- Unlimited 360° pan and tilt rotation, 70° roll angle rotation
- Auto-rotation mode with assignable travel route for video capture and time-lapse photography
- 2.5-hour built-in 1500mAh battery
- Includes Feiyu ON app for iOS and Android
- Waterproof gimbal to depths of 3 ft for approximately 10 minutes, and 1.5 ft thereafter
- Splashproof – can be used in rainy weather, wet activities, and more
- Folds away into compact splashproof carrying case
Feiyu-Tech WG2: The Bottom Line
The WG2 is a welcome upgrade to the excellent WG. The waterproofing will let you rest easy when taking the gimbal out in the rain, mud or snow. It’s smaller than the original WG and that’s a great improvement. Wearing the gimbal mounted to a helmet should be much less of a problem than before.
If you are in the market for a wearable gimbal, then this is the one to buy.
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Don’t think this is right for you? Read our other reviews, and checkout our list of 2017’s top gimbals.
