If you want your action videos to look silky smooth, it helps to have the GoPro Karma Grip at hand.

GoPro action cameras aren't just for leaping from planes; sometimes you might want to use one as a handheld camera. Here the GoPro Karma Grip comes in handy – a stick with a three-axis motorised gimbal on top that ensures the camera remains upright and steady as you move around.

At $499 the Grip is expensive, but it offers the benefit of camera controls built into the handle (you might need to update your GoPro's firmware to get them working, and even then they can be temperamental). The device is designed to hold the GoPro Hero 5 Black camera, but there's a $75 attachment which lets you use the Hero 4 Black/Silver. You can also attach it to any GoPro mount, but it's a bit bulky and heavy when strapped to your body.

The Grip certainly removes a lot of vertical shake from your videos to help them look more professional, whether you're on foot or in a vehicle. Hold the Tilt Lock button, point the camera at the angle you want and then release – now, as you move up and down, the gimbal adjusts to ensure the camera keeps looking in the same direction. The motors are so quiet that ambient noise will likely drown them out.

The gimbal also helps when panning from side to side, but turning on the spot is tricky, because the camera turns the other way in an effort to keep looking in the same direction. Unfortunately there's no Pan Lock to override this and force the camera to always look forwards as you turn. With practice you can learn to allow for this, reminding the GoPro Karma Grip who's the director of your cinematic masterpiece.