DJI Osmo Pocket Review: Hands on with the Osmo Pocket

It has been hailed by an experienced filmmaker as being like ‘the camera from the future which feels like it belongs in a sci-fi movie!’

It's high praise for the DJI Osmo Pocket, which was announced in New York last Wednesday and can be pre-ordered now from heliguy.com

Measuring in at just under five inches long, this tiny stabilised vlogging camera is certainly an impressive piece of kit, boasting the smallest three-axis gimbal in DJI history.

Priced at £329, this newbie has the ability to capture 4k/60fps video at 100Mbps and photos at 12MP and contains a range of exciting features, such as Mationlapse, ActiveTrack, 3×3 panorama and NightShot technology..

Ahead of its official release on Saturday, December 15 - subject to DJI's stock and demand - heliguy™ Insider was given the rare chance to test out the product. So we headed to Newcastle to put the DJI Osmo Pocket through its paces, testing its different functions and gimbal stability.

Key features

• Price: £329
• Under five inches long
• 1/2.3-inch sensor, 80° FOV and f/2.0 aperture
• Shoots 4K video at 60fps and 12-megapixel stills
• Battery life of more than two hours
• 3x3 panorama, NightShot, Motionlapse and ActiveTrack
• Dedicated DJI Mimo app featuring editing tools, templates and access to a content-sharing community

 

Size, look and design

They say that size matters and in this case, the chocolate-bar-sized Osmo Pocket is impressively tiny.

As the smallest three-axis stabilised handheld camera DJI has ever designed, the compact device measures in at 121.9mm x 28.6mm x 36.9mm and weighs just 116g. It means that it is easy to carry and portable - even when it is kept safe and sound in its case, which is included in the £329 price tag.

The teeny-tiny Osmo Pocket certainly impressed filmmaker Philip Bloom, who tweeted this message:

However, the compact nature of the Pocket means that there is perhaps one sacrifice - namely, the one-inch screen. While the picture is clear enough, viewing your subject matter on a postage-stamp-size screen can be something of a culture shock, especially if you are used to capturing video and images on a smartphone.

But panic not. The Pocket comes with smartphone adapters (USB-C and Lightning) meaning seamless compatibility with your blower. Attaching the Pocket to your phone gives you a bigger viewfinder. Thankfully, due to the Pocket's small size, it doesn't hog or feel overbearing on the side of your device. You can also control the Pocket through the phone once it’s connected.

To further improve your control, you can purchase the Controller Wheel (priced £53) which is equipped with a dial for precise pan and tilt control, a button to change between different shooting modes and a button to re-center the gimbal, making shooting more flexible.

That said, the Pocket's touchscreen and close-by buttons give you a single-handed user experience.

The touchscreen is responsive and the majority of your options are controlled through here - such as recentering the image, flipping to selfie mode and selecting settings such as tilt lock and first-person view.  

Below the screen are two buttons - the left is used to record/take a picture, while the right-hand one lets you switch between video and photo mode.

In terms of its design, when you handle the Osmo Pocket for the first time, you will notice that it feels solid and well-built and its handle is grippy and comfy.

MECHANICAL GIMBAL GIVES INCREDIBLE STABALISATION

Perhaps the biggest feature which sets the DJI Osmo Pocket apart from other pocket devices - such as smartphones - is the addition of its mechanical gimbal. 

A gimbal works by adjusting for your shaky hands and bouncy walking patterns by counteracting your uneven movement with its own motion.

The Pocket is equipped with three motors: a tilt motor, roll motor and pan motor to even out shaky video and they seem to work rather well on such a small device.

A RANGE OF FEATURES AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON

Video footage and images are captured through a 1/2.3-inch sensor, aided by 80° FOV and f/2.0 aperture. It can also shoot 4K/60fps video at 100Mbps and photos at 12 MP with a pixel size of 1.55 μm for footage.

One of the things that makes the Osmo Pocket a winner is its range of intelligent functions, namely ActiveTrack, 3x3 panorama and motionlapse. Such features are impossible on a smartphone.

ActiveTrack is a real highlight, especially for vloggers. This really cool feature allows you to tap on a subject and ActiveTrack intelligently follows. Entering Selfie mode automatically launches FaceTrack, keeping you in the centre of the picture.

The Osmo Pocket allows users to go underwater, however, the waterproof case needs to be purchased as an add-on. But this accessory will give you huge scope for shooting off-land, with capacity to shoot up to 60m for smooth underwater shots, detailed close-ups and clear low-light detail.

Osmo Pocket is capable of shooting 1080p 30 fps video continuously for 140 minutes. It takes just over 73 minutes to fully charge the Pocket.

The Pocket doesn't include any SD cards. The SanDisk Extreme microSD Card (64GB) is recommended. This is priced £31. A 32GB Samsung microSD Card is included in the Expansion Kit, priced £99.   

TAKE YOUR STORY-TELLING FURTHER WITH DJI MIMO APP 

Osmo Pocket is supported by DJI Mimo. This dedicated app features editing tools, templates and access to a content-sharing community that inspires your own visual storytelling. 

Story Mode uses a combination of preset shooting patterns and camera motions to help you create professional-quality video whenever you want. Exclusively-designed filters and soundtracks give a unique finish to your footage. Mimo is the companion to let you point, shoot, edit and share amazing moments.

Pro mode lets you manually adjust camera parameters and adjust exposure. Powerful imaging capabilities also capture RAW format photos and D-Cinelike videos, retaining rich detail and allowing more room for post-processing, while My Story lets you set the tone of your video with templates, filters, music, and watermark stickers in a single tap.

A RANGE OF ACCESSORIES

The DJI Osmo Pocket has a range of accessories to help you make the most of this impressive piece of kit. There are:

DJI Osmo Pocket Wireless Module - £53.

The Wireless Module provides Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection between Osmo Pocket and your mobile device to support seamless remote control and make shooting more flexible. It also serves as a base to set Osmo Pocket on level surfaces. You can also charge Osmo Pocket via the USB-C port.

DJI Osmo Pocket Accessory Mount - £23.

Provides mounting bracket for accessories to shoot in various scenarios.

DJI Osmo Pocket Controller Wheel - £53.

The Controller Wheel is equipped with a dial for precise pan and tilt control, a button to change between different shooting modes and a button to recentre the gimbal, making shooting more flexible.

DJI Osmo Pocket Expansion Kit - £99

Includes the Controller Wheel, Wireless Module, Accessory Mount and a 32GB Samsung microSD Card to help you create professional footage.

Further accessories, perfect for Osmo Pocket, offer even more options for filming and photography, helping you make unforgettable footage. More details of these will be announced later this month or in January. They are:

Charging Case: Stores and charges Osmo Pocket, with dedicated space for two microSD cards, four ND filters and two smartphone connectors.

Extension Rod: Features an expandable length, gimbal control stick, operation buttons on the handle, and 1/4″ tripod mount.

Waterproof Case: Allows use of Osmo Pocket at depths of up to 60m for smooth underwater shots, detailed close-ups and clear low-light detail.

Quick-release Base: Uses a twist-lock design to attach to the Accessory Mount, and an industrial adhesive strip for a firm hold to a helmet, board and other surfaces.

ND Filters Set: Reduces the amount of light entering the sensor, enabling more control of camera settings in any lighting condition.

3.5mm Adapter: Allows the use of a dedicated external microphone for maximizing sound quality in a variety of situations.

IS THE DJI OSMO POCKET A GAME-CHANGER?

There was much hype ahead of DJI unveiling the Osmo Pocket last week and it seems as though the end result has lived up to the expectation.

They say that good things come in small packages and this is certainly true of the Pocket, which offers big results for something so tiny.

 It seems as though the Pocket bridges that middle ground between smartphones/compacts and larger devices.

Ideally suited for vloggers and casual filmmakers, its lightweight design, impressive stabilisation and intelligent features such as ActiveTrack and Motionlapse make it a winner, while its range of accessories, including the waterproof case, will allow you to take your storytelling adventures further still.

What's in the box

1 x DJI Osmo Pocket
1 x Cover
1 x Smartphone Adapter (lightning)
1 x Smartphone Adapter (USB-C)
1 x Power Cable