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DJI releases its newest smartphone gimbal, the Osmo Mobile 4

26 Aug

DJI has unveiled its latest smartphone gimbal, the Osmo Mobile 4 (OM4). Like its predecessors, the OM4 is an ultra-compact three-axis gimbal for keeping your smartphone footage as stable as possible, with a few other unique features baked in.

Visually, the OM4 isn’t much different than its predecessor, the Osmo Mobile 3 (OM3). It is a light grey instead of a darker grey, but aside from the joystick, trigger and grip being a bit more rubberized, the body of the gimbal remains largely unchanged.

The only functional difference is a new mounting system that uses magnets to hold the phone in place. Whereas the OM3 had a built-in clamp, the OM4 has a clamp that can be removed and kept on a smartphone, then snapped back into place when the gimbal is needed. There’s even a small sticker-style mounting bracket that can be semi-permanently attached to a smartphone for even faster operation.

The OM4 works alongside the DJI Mimo app to enable multiple shooting modes, including an improved ActiveTrack 3.0, Gesture Control and pre-programmed movements and modes. Three of the new pre-programmed modes include Dynamic Zoom, Spin Mode and a ‘Clone Me’ panorama mode.

Dynamic Zoom is effectively a digital dolly zoom feature, that allows you to move away from the subject while the DJI Mimo app automatically zooms in, or move in as the app zooms out. Spin mode is an Inception-inspired mode that makes it possible to rotate the smartphone for a spinning effect (although it’s not posisble to do a full 360-degree spin). The ‘Clone Me’ panorama feature is another new mode that will wait between shots of a panorama so you can move into place and be ‘cloned’ in the final image.

Even if you don’t want to use the DJI Mimo app, the OM4 can also control basic camera functions with the stock iOS camera app when connected via Bluetooth.

The DJI Osmo Mobile 4 is available to order from the DJI Store and authorized retailers for $ 149. It comes with a wrist strap, grip tripod and storage pouch.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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FeiyuTech’s new 4K Feiyu Pocket camera is a more affordable clone of the DJI Osmo Pocket

02 Apr

FeiyuTech has unveiled the Feiyu Pocket, a small 4K gimbal camera that bears a very striking resemblance to DJI’s Osmo Pocket.

Externally, the Feiyu Pocket appears to be a carbon copy of the Osmo Pocket with the only noticeable differences being a lack of an expansion port (Feiyu opted for a single integrated USB-C port on the side) and a slightly larger screen compared to the Osmo Pocket (1.3in compared to 1in, respectively). Aside from the branding and those differences, the two units are essentially identical in both shape and size, complete with a 360-degree rotating head and two buttons on user-facing side for controlling the camera.

Moving onto the internals and detailed specifications, things do start to differ a bit more. Rather than the F2 lens with an 80-degree field of view on the Osmo Pocket, the Feiyu Pocket features a slightly slower F2.8 120-degree ultrawide lens. The Feiyu Pocket also uses a 1/2.5” CMOS sensor instead of the 2/3” sensor inside of the Osmo Pocket, but both cameras output 4K (3840 x 2160 pixel) video at up to 60 frames per second. The Feiyu Pocket outputs only 8.5MP stills though, compared to the 12MP stills possible with the Osmo Mobile.

As for stabilization, the Feiyu Pocket uses a similar three-axis gimbal to the Osmo Pocket, but also throws in what FeiyuTech is calling six-axis ‘hybrid image stabilization’ that appears to combine the three-axis optical stabilization as well as another three-axis digital compensation.

FeiyuTech says the batter is rated for up to 3.5 hours of runtime when capturing 4K video at 30 fps and up to 4.5 hours when shooting 1080p video at 60 fps. the internal battery is charged using the integrated USB-C port and FeiyuTech says a 10W charger will recharge the device from empty in 80 minutes. As for storage, an integrated MicroSD card slot can support cards with up to 512GB of storage.

The Feiyu Pocket offers multiple shooting modes, including a 360-degree POV all-follow mode, a motion timelapse (hyperlapse) mode, multiple auto-panorama modes, a dedicated beauty mode for selfies and an intelligent sync motion mode that will sync the gimbal with your hand movements. The Feiyu Pocket syncs with FeiyuTech’s Android and iOS app to offer liveview and controls for changing the various settings of the camera.

Despite being very similar in shape, size and specs, the Feiyu Pocket comes in at $ 249 (Adorama, B&H), a whipping $ 120 cheaper than the DJI Osmo Pocket. Y

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Review: DJI Osmo Mobile 3 smartphone gimbal

09 Oct

DJI Osmo Mobile 3
$ 119 | dji.com

Over the past few years we’ve seen massive leaps in the quality of video produced by smartphones, allowing content creators to lean more heavily than ever on the devices in their pockets. Whether you’re a vlogger, journalist, budding cinematographer or just a parent who wants to post great videos on Facebook, chances are good that you’re part of this trend.

However, to get the best results, it still helps to use some third party tools. Enter the DJI Osmo Mobile 3, the third generation of DJI’s gimbal stabilization system for smartphones, which can help take your production quality up a level – particularly if you’re the kind of person who shoots while moving around. Let’s take a look at it in more detail.

Key features/specifications

Foldable design
Hyperlapse and timelapse functions
Active tracking
Trigger control
Bluetooth connection
15-hour battery life

The Osmo Mobile 3 is a drastic overhaul of the company’s predecessor, the Osmo Mobile 2. It joins a lineup of increasingly sophisticated smartphone gimbals from competitors like Freefly, Zhiyun, Gudsen, and others.

Design

The biggest update to the Osmo Mobile 3 is the overall physical layout. Though DJI took most of its design cues from the crowdfunded Snoppa Atom gimbal, the company fundamentally changed two aspects of the look and function of the device.

The first of these is that the Osmo Mobile 3 folds in on itself into a more compact, transportable size. It only uses one joint to achieve this, and all the gimbal’s other axes remain in place. The folded gimbal is slightly larger than an average person’s hand – if detached from the tripod base that DJI ships with the gimbal’s combo package. Once I unfolded the arm and figured out the orientation, I wasn’t bothered by anything related to this design change; it seems a useful update that makes the gimbal more compact.

The foldable design is made possible by the second, and perhaps more notable, change to the design: the sideways orientation of the phone-holding arm. DJI has placed this arm to the right of the device rather than behind it, bucking the typical design shared by most other smartphone gimbals on the market.

The Osmo Mobile 3’s folding design makes it compact for travel (seen here in its included case).

This change will likely require a bit of muscle-memory adjustment for gimbal operators used to the more standard back-arm design. The difference became most apparent for me when I tried to get shots close to the ground. I was used to leaning the gimbal forward and away from my body to achieve this, but that didn’t work with the Osmo Mobile 3, it must be leaned to the side for a similar effect.

A common complaint about the Osmo Mobile 2 was that the arm location blocked access to the phone’s headphone jack and charging port. The sideways arm on the Osmo Mobile 3 fixes those problems, now allowing access to both. A tradeoff, however, is that the phone needs to be balanced each time it’s placed in the gimbal. The Osmo Mobile 2’s use of counterweights meant that once the user balanced their mobile device, they could take it on and off without needing to adjust each time. The Osmo Mobile 3 doesn’t have this option, though balancing the phone along a single axis seemed to be a pretty quick process.


The button layout on the Osmo Mobile 3 is unchanged from its predecessor.	The sideways orientation of the gimbal arm is a change from the Osmo Mobile 2.

A new front trigger makes it easy to switch between sport modes and free the gimbal from responsiveness.	The gimbal allows for both USB A and C attachments and can charge a mobile device while in use.

DJI also added a trigger to the back of the gimbal handle. This is a welcome addition. It allows access to useful functions in a place that makes ergonomic sense. Depending on whether it’s clicked or held down, the trigger enables ‘sport mode’, a setting that makes the gimbal more responsive to your movements. It can also pause the gimbal’s responsiveness entirely, helpful to maintain framing.

In use

The experience of using the Osmo Mobile 3 cannot be separated from its app, DJI Mimo. This app is also used on other DJI devices and it’s quite intuitive. It connects to the mobile device via Bluetooth, eliminating further cables. The Mimo app introduces manual camera controls to your phone, essential for creating more professional-looking content. It also allows for other creative camera modes.

The Osmo Mobile 3 complete with phone displaying the Mimo App interface.

DJI updated its Active Track software on the Osmo Mobile 3, which keeps the camera trained on a subject selected by the user. I’ve found two ways to effectively use this feature. In the first, the gimbal stays stationary and the camera pans and tilts to keep the subject in frame. This could be a useful feature for vloggers and self-filmers as they move at slow to medium speeds throughout the frame. This tracking does not do as well with fast-moving subjects however.

The second way I’ve found active track useful is by training the camera on a subject and moving the gimbal itself. This eliminates the need to track your subject with hand movements or the joystick and can introduce cinematic camera movement along multiple axes.

DJI’s Active Track feature is effective at automatically tracking and following subjects – as long as they don’t move too quickly. (Captured with an iPhone 8)

The Mimo app also offers panorama photo modes, gesture controls, timelapse modes, and an amazingly impressive hyperlapse feature. The combination of the Mimo app’s software stabilization with the Osmo Mobile 3 gimbal stabilization results in a final video that makes me seriously regret the many hours I’ve spent moving tripod legs inches at a time to create a similar effect.

Despite these cool features, there are a few elements of the Osmo Mobile 3 that have me particularly disgruntled. The first is the rounded base and forward-leaning handle. This makes it impossible to stand the gimbal up on a flat surface without using the tripod included in the more expensive combo package, perhaps an intentional move by DJI. The tripod does hold the gimbal upright, but it also adds significantly to the device’s footprint – one that’s marketed as small and portable.

The Osmo Mobile 3’s hyperlapse feature works effectively. (Captured with an iPhone 8)

Another annoyance I’ve found is that the Osmo Mobile 3 doesn’t allow full 360-degree rotation as the gimbal will reach an end point while spinning. There is also no option to toggle between the phone’s forward and rear-facing cameras while recording in the Mimo app, though this can perhaps be addressed in a future software update.

Is it right for you?

Overall, the Osmo Mobile 3 is a fun new upgrade to the Osmo Mobile line that can be useful for certain applications. To me, one of the most obvious uses would be live-streaming. With the addition of an external microphone, I foresee the Osmo Mobile 3 making waves in live news, conferences, vlogging, and more, where a phone is the easiest way to distribute high-quality, live video. DJI does need to fix some issues here, though, like not being able to switch between rear and forward cameras while recording within the Mimo app.

The gimbal would also be great for those who want to up the quality of their vacation or family home videos without shelling out for a new camera (and possibly new camera gimbal).

For smartphone gimbals like the Osmo Mobile 3 to get more popular with serious filmmakers, however, I think we still need a drastic shrinking of size. The biggest draw of shooting on a phone is that it’s always with you. Once everything is set up the Osmo Mobile 3 with a smartphone is only slightly smaller than its mirrorless equivalent, which generates an exponentially better image.

For the rest of us, however, the Osmo Mobile 3 is a fun device that provides effective stabilization and software tools, and one that doesn’t require you to be an expert filmmaker to use.

What we like:

Folding design significantly reduces size
Gimbal can charge mobile device
Impressive hyperlapse function
Active track works well for a product at this price point
Arm design allows microphone attachments (unlike Osmo Mobile 2)

What we’d like to see improved:

Gimbal needs to be balanced each time phone is attached
Base of gimbal doesn’t allow device to be set down without a tripod
Sideways gimbal arm orientation takes getting used to

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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DJI announces cheaper, more compact Osmo Mobile 3 smartphone gimbal

14 Aug

Chinese drone, camera and gimbal manufacturer DJI has announced the Osmo Mobile 3, a third-generation gimbal designed to be more capable and compact than ever.

Available today for $ 119, the Osmo Mobile 3 features a similar design to its predecessors, but folds down into a much smaller package, making it easier to pack away in bags, backpacks and purses. Specifically, the device measures 285 × 125 × 103 mm (11.2 x 4.92 x 4.06in) when unfolded, 157 × 130 × 46 mm (6.18 x 5.12 x 1.81in) when folded down and weighs 405g (14.29oz).

It also features a more streamlined interface so one-handed operation is easier, including the ability to flip the phone’s orientation from portrait to landscape (or vice versa) with three taps of the ‘mode’ button, a much requested feature not found on its predecessors.

On the user-facing side of the Osmo Mobile 3, there is a joystick, a record button (also serves as the shutter button), the mode button (also serves as the power button) and a battery life indicator. On the left and right sides are a T/W zoom toggle and a USB-C port, respectively. DJI has also brought back the popular trigger option found on the original Osmo Mobile and DJI’s higher-end gimbals.

In addition to being used to charge the 2450 man Li-ion battery that’s rated for 15 hours of use, the USB-C port also serves as a means of connecting attachments, such as a 3.5mm audio jack for recording audio via an external microphone.

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As is to be expected, DJI has brought some of its AI-powered drone technology and other shooting modes to the Osmo Mobile 3 via the DJI Mimo app. This includes DJI’s Active Track feature, ‘story mode’ which automatically edits footage together and other shooting options such as gesture controlled shooting, panorama, timelapse and hyperlapse.

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is currently available to purchase for $ 119 at authorized retailers, including Adorama and B&H. DJI is also selling a combo pack with the Osmo Carrying Case and Osmo Grip Tripod for $ 139.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Shooting with PolarPro’s six-pack ND filter set for the DJI Osmo Pocket

19 Jun

PolarPro filter 6-pack for the DJI Osmo Pocket
$ 80 | polarprofilters.com

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, taken early in the morning using an ND16 filter.

DJI introduced the Osmo Pocket, a three-axis stabilized handheld camera, late last year. The portable device is an ideal tool for content creators and casual consumers. It’s designed for creating decent video clips and photos on the fly. Since I couldn’t bring a drone onboard a recent cruise, I opted to purchase this device to document my journey.

Neutral density (ND) filters are a must-have for anyone aiming to capture smooth, cinematic footage. Selecting the proper one can be tricky, but PolarPro prints out a simple guide on which filter is most appropriate based on weather conditions, including how cloudy or sunny it is outside.

Neutral density (ND) filters are a must-have for anyone aiming to capture smooth, cinematic footage.

More advanced users can access manual settings by connecting their smartphone, accessing the DJI Mimo app and selecting a shutter speed that doubles the frame rate. For example, when applying the 180-degree rule, if I wanted to take advantage of 4K/60fps, I would select a shutter speed of 1/125. One thing to keep in mind is that the Osmo Pocket has a tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor and a fixed F2.0 lens, so you can’t control aperture as an exposure variable.

Captured with the PolarPro ND4 filter.

Since I was going to be in the sun, surrounded by water, most of the time on this cruise, I invested in the Standard Filter Six-pack from PolarPro consisting of PL (fixed polarizer), ND4, ND8, ND16, ND32, and ND64 filters. In addition to the polarizer, the ND filters allow 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and 1/64 of incoming light to stream into the sensor, respectively. Think of them as sunglasses for your camera.

Selecting the right ND filter slows the shutter for video on the Osmo pocket, and can also add some motion blur to a timelapse for a more dramatic effect. The polarizer enhances colors and reduces reflection and glare on surfaces including water, glass, ice, and snow.

PolarPro’s ND filters snap into place easily.

A compact case houses two rows of three filters, arranged by stop. Each filter was a bit challenging to remove, and the case design could be ergonomically improved. Once out of the bearings, though, the clever magnetic design made it easy to snap the filters on and remove them from the Osmo Pocket’s camera.

Though they come in a sleek compact case, the ND filters can be a bit challenging to remove at times.

I found PolarPro’s filters to be effective at cutting down the glare on water and enhancing hues (polarizer) while also letting me dial in my desired shutter speed for video (NDs). They’re a recommended investment for capturing the highest quality footage possible with the Osmo Pocket and minimizing any post-production efforts.

Below are example photos I shot with different filters from the set, along with the story behind each one, which provide some real world examples of where each is useful.

PolarPro PL (polarizer) ND filter for the Osmo Pocket

About the photo: Walking the colorful streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a highlight of the trip. The sun was completely obscured from this scene, so I opted for the fixed polarizing filter to retain the vivid hues of the buildings.

PolarPro ND4 filter for the Osmo Pocket

About the photo: ND4 filters are recommended for use at dawn or dusk. While sailing along the Atlantic, back toward Florida, this combination of sun setting behind a group of clouds, illuminating an unknown island, and nearby rainstorm caught my attention from the 12th floor deck of the ship.

PolarPro ND8 filter for the Osmo Pocket

About the photo: It was overcast when we visited the only tropical rainforest in the US. The ND8 filter worked great in this situation. (Yokahu Tower in the background.)

PolarPro ND16 filter for the Osmo Pocket

About the photo: When pulling into Puerto Rico, everyone pulled out their cameras to capture Castillo San Felipe del Morro – one of the most impressive historical attractions in the Caribbean. As it was 10:00 am, local time, an ND16 filter was enough for a mostly sunny scene.

PolarPro ND32 filter for the Osmo Pocket

About the photo: A partially-cloudy day, on a tropical resort island in the Bahamas, still calls for the second most powerful filter in the kit.

PolarPro ND64 filter for the Osmo Pocket

About the photo: There were few clouds in the sky at Trunk Cay, a small resort beach located in the Virgin Islands. Since the noon sunlight was bearing down, I used the ND64 to eliminate glare and capture the contrasting dark blue and turquoise patterns in the bay.

Wrap-up

The DJI Osmo Pocket is a fantastic camera that’s great for capturing photos and videos while you travel, but PolarPro’s standard 6-pack of filters is a valuable addition. As one would expect, the fixed polarizer can make your photos pop thanks to improved contrast, increased saturation, and reduced glare, and unlike screw-in filters it fits perfectly on the Osmo Pocket.

Additionally, the selection of ND filters make it possible to capture more natural looking video when used to dial in the appropriate shutter speed on the camera – something that’s particularly useful given that the Osmo Pocket’s aperture is locked at F2.0, eliminating the option to use aperture to adjust exposure.

Overall, I found the PolarPro filters to be a great addition to my Osmo Pocket. This 6-pack of filters should definitely be on your list if you want to get the most out of DJI’s pint-sized camera.

What we liked

Useful range of filters
Magnetic design makes it easy to attach and remove filters
Good optical quality

What we’d like to see improved

Filters can be a bit difficult to remove from case

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Hands-on with the DJI Osmo Action

16 May

DJI Osmo Action hands-on

The Osmo Action is DJI’s answer to the action cam. The 4K rugged action camera utilizes DJI’s built-in stabilization technology, offers dual screens, and like the Osmo Pocket, is simple to use.

Here is what you need to know about it.

Hardware overview

The DJI Osmo Action is built around a 1/2.3″ sensor—the same found in the Osmo Pocket—and has an F2.8 three-glass aspherical lens with a 145 degree FOV. The camera also features a de-warp function so you can maintain a wide perspective of a scene but eliminate the fish-eye effect typically found in action cameras.

The device features three buttons: power, record and quickswitch (QS). The QS button on the left-hand side lets you toggle between different video modes (video, HDR, slow) and photo without digging into the menu. Holding the QS button down will toggle between the front and back screens on the camera.

The camera is charged via a USB-C port located above the microSD slot on the camera’s left-hand side.

Build

The Osmo Action is shockproof up five feet, dustproof and waterproof down to depths of 36 feet without additional waterproof housing, though users will want to ensure that the microSD and USB charging slot is locked and the screw on front lens protector is secure before submerging. It can withstand temperatures as low as 14° Fahrenheit.

The rear touch screen features coatings to keep water and fingerprints away, and the protective lens cap has an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and an anti-fingerprint coating to keep things free of smudges.

Photo

The Osmo Action shoots 12MP Raw or JPEG photographs in 16:9 or 4:3 ratios. A self-timer countdown feature is included, and the camera can shoot in burst mode at 3/5/7 fps. Users can select either spot metering or AE lock mode. A setting called Face-Oriented Exposure ensures that faces stay bright in the scene.

The Osmo Action also allows you to set custom white balances and shoot in full manual exposure mode with an ISO range of 100-3200 and shutter speeds up to 1/8000sec. Additionally, the camera offers WiFi or Bluetooth to connect to the DJI Mimo app. Using the camera with the app gives it added functionality: live feeds, story templates and in-app editing.

Video

The camera can shoot 4K video up to 60 fps at 100Mbps with options to shoot as low as 24 fps, HDR video at 4K 30 fps and 8x slow motion in 1080p 240fps or 4x slow motion in 1080p 120fps. Built-in dual microphones and a speaker give the Osmo Action audio recording performance that is on par with that of a high-end smartphone. Adding the 3.5mm adapter accessory will allow you to connect an external mic for higher quality audio.

Timelapse mode makes it easy to turn hours of footage into seconds with just a few taps. Timelapses are recorded at 1080p and can be set at intervals of 0.5 sec up to 30 sec and durations can be set from 5m up to infinity. Custom exposure mode can be set up to 120 seconds for shooting nighttime landscapes or starscapes.

RockSteady/EIS

A new electronic image stabilization technology called RockSteady works to create footage that is smooth and stable even when shooting at 4K/60fps. The technology has a higher image cut ratio, removing blurry shots for smoother footage and analyzing raw data from the frames to increase stability by predicting the movement of the user. It is the first handheld DJI camera to incorporate the tech.

LCD screens

The Osmo Action has a 2.25″ rear touchscreen that can be used to access all of the features of the camera. There is an additional front-facing LCD that can be activated by tapping the back screen twice or by holding the QS button down. The 1.4″ front screen doesn’t offer touch functionality. The brightness of the LCDs mean that they can be used in direct sunlight with ease.

Performance and media

The Osmo Action uses a removable battery that is charged via USB-C in approximately 88 minutes. A fully charged battery will last 116 minutes when recording at 1080/30p or 91 minutes of 4K/30p with Rock Steady enabled. The camera uses microSD cards up to a maximum size of 256GB.

Price and availability

The Osmo Action will be available on May 22 for $ 349. The in-box setup includes camera, frame kit, quick release, two adhesive mounts (one flat and one curved), screw, and a USB-C charging cable. Customers can add accessories like ND filters for shooting in bright conditions, a waterproof case for deep sea shooting, the 3.5mm adapter for attaching a mic, an extension rod for unique angles, a floating handle for shooting underwater and a charging hub that can charge three batteries at once.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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DJI hopes to take on GoPro with its new Osmo Action camera

15 May

DJI has taken a detour from drones and gimbals to release the Osmo Action, a robust action camera designed to compete directly with GoPro’s Hero lineup.

The compact, ruggedized action camera features the same 1/2.3-inch sensor found inside the Osmo Pocket and captures 12-megapixel Raw stills, as well as 4K HDR video. In front of the sensor is a three-element F2.8 glass lens with a 145 degree field-of-view.

As noted in our hands-on, the Osmo Action features DJI’s electronic image stabilization (EIS) technology it refers to as RockSteady, an tongue-in-cheek nod to GoPro’s HyperSmooth EIS technology. It’s worth noting though that DJI estimates an 18-22% crop factor when using RockSteady. DJI has also included a de-warp function to minimize the exaggerated perspective of the wide-angle lens.

One, er two, of the stand-out features of the Osmo Action are its dual displays. In addition to the 2.25in rear touchscreen that’s used to navigate the menu and compose shots, DJI has also added a 1.4in front-facing screen so you know what you’re getting in the shot when snapping a selfie.

Being an action camera, it shouldn’t come as any surprise the Osmo Action is designed to take a beating and keep on working; it’s dustproof, shockproof up to 1.5m (5ft) and waterproof down to 11m (36ft) as is. If more protection or underwater capabilities are required, DJI is also offering an external housing.

The device itself features three buttons: a power button, a record button and a dedicated button DJI calls the Quick Switch (QS) button. The QS button makes it easy to transition between shooting modes, flip what screen is active and change settings, even with gloves on. If the Quick Switch button doesn’t fit the bill, the camera can also be turned on and start recording with your voice thanks to integrated voice control.

On the photo front, the Osmo Action can capture 12MP Raw (DNG) or JPEG images in 16:9 or 4:3 ratios. It features an ISO sensitivity range of 100-3200 and shutter speeds between 120 seconds and 1/8000th of a second. In burst mode, the Osmo Action can capture shots at three, five or seven fps, and the self-timer mode can be set for three or ten second intervals.

When it comes to video, the Osmo Action can capture 4K/60p video at 100Mbps and 4K HDR video at up to 30 fps. For high frame rate video, the Osmo Action can capture up to 240 fps if the resolution is dropped down to 1080p.

The Osmo Action has built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi so it can be paired with Android and iOS devices via DJI’s Mimo mobile app. When connected, you can compose shots, change settings, capture images and instantly transfer content on the fly.

Media is stored on microSD/SDXC/SDHC cards up to 256GB. The battery, which DJI says can be fully charged via the onboard USB-C port in 88 minutes, can last 116 minutes when recording at 1080/30p or 91 minutes when recording 4K/30p with RockSteady enabled.

The DJI Osmo Action is currently available to pre-order at Adorama and B&H for $ 349. It comes with a camera frame, a flat adhesive mount, a curved adhesive mount, a quick-release base, the battery, a battery case, a locking screen and a USB-C cable. Additional accessories are also available.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Review: DJI Osmo Pocket

26 Apr

DJI Osmo Pocket
$ 350 | dji.com

The Osmo Pocket is an all-in-one camera with a built-in stabilizer that is, as the name suggests, pocket sized and incredibly easy to use. The camera is similar to what is found on DJI’s drones and can shoot 4K video and still images in a variety of shooting modes. The Osmo Pocket is aimed primarily at vloggers, and the product’s specs seem to reflect that. The camera is housed inside a three-axis gimbal which keeps footage steady even as you’re doing the walk and talk.

Although the tech inside the camera and the gimbal aren’t particularly revolutionary, the Osmo Pocket is unique because it combines these two products into one, creating a single pocket-sized product that produces quality footage quickly.

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Key specifications

12MP resolution
1/2.3″ CMOS sensor
Max image size of 4000 x 3000 pixels
4K Ultra HD video: 3840 x 2160 24/25/30/48/50/60p,
FHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p
ISO 100-3200
Built-in gimbal
Weight: 116g / 4oz
Dimensions: 121.9 x 36.9 x 28.6 mm
MicroSD slot up to 256GB
LiPo 875 mAH 6.738 Wh battery, 140 mins operating time when shooting 1080p/30 fps video
48 KHz AAC audio output

Operation

The Osmo Pocket only has two buttons making stand alone operation very straightforward. The button on the right turns the Osmo Pocket on, touchscreen controls allow you to select different shooting modes (photo, video, slow-mo, timelapse, pano), recording resolution (4K or 1080p), access settings like fast follow, slow follow, FPV, or to recenter the camera, and review files. The button on the left with the red dot is how you start recording footage or shooting photos.

ISO 100 | 1/50 sec | F2

There is an option to connect a smartphone to the Osmo Pocket via a small adapter and shoot through the DJI Mimo app. In theory, shooting with the app gives users more control over the Osmo Pocket’s features; you get a larger view of what you are filming, can see a histogram, and get alerts if your footage is overexposed. Although the idea is a nice one, in practice attaching a phone to the Osmo Pocket defeats its best feature: its simplicity.

For starters, the smartphone attachment is tiny – during my time shooting with the Osmo Pocket I misplaced this accessory and the plastic cover that slides off a number of times. To ensure that the connection between the Osmo Pocket and my phone was tight I had to remove my iPhone X from its protective case, which is a setup that I didn’t find ideal. Although attaching a phone and using the app gives you a better idea of what you might be shooting, once the phone is attached the setup feels really unbalanced. I found it difficult to shoot, walk, use my phone as a touchscreen to control the camera, and also make sure I wasn’t about to drop my phone and end up with a dreaded spider web screen.

With an optional attachement it’s possible to operate the Osmo Pocket from your smartphone using the DJI Mimo app.

There is an additional Bluetooth accessory that you can attach to the bottom of the Osmo Pocket, which in theory would let you monitor the footage you are shooting without having the phone attached to the Osmo Pocket, but I didn’t test this and can’t speak to its usability. It would have been amazing if the Osmo Pocket just had built in WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity. More often than not I chose to use the Osmo Pocket without the DJI Mimo app. For me, shooting with the tiny screen as my monitor and trusting that the camera would do its job ended up being the ideal way to use the Osmo Pocket.

Video

The biggest draw of the Osmo Pocket is its ability to shoot stabilized 4K video footage at 30 or 60 fps. It can also shoot slow-motion 1080p at 120 fps. It’s similar to the quality of footage that you will get from one of DJI’s drones and the most recent smartphones.

The camera has an ISO range of 100-3200 and a lens with an aperture of F2, and for best results you are going to want to use the Osmo Pocket in sunny conditions.

Where the Osmo Pocket really excels is in-camera stabilization as a result of the integrated gimbal. It managed to keep this video fairly smooth despite running after a dog through New York City.

The camera stabilization of the Osmo Pocket is really its most impressive feature. It’s easier to use than larger stabilizers and seems to be just as reliable, likely because the stabilization tech inside was initially created for keeping the cameras attached to drones stable. The moment you turn the Osmo Pocket on the camera rotates into place to begin tracking whatever might be in front of it. As you move the gimbal moves with you to create impressively smooth footage.

Although the pre-amps inside the Osmo Pocket aren’t the best, the camera did do a decent job picking up sound. You will notice that the clips from a very loud live show have an audio quality similar to what you might get when recording with a smartphone.

The Osmo Pocket delivers sound quality similar to what you would get with a smartphone. Likewise, due to its small sensor, low light video is on par with a smartphone as well.

Still images

If you are looking to shoot stills with the Osmo Pocket you should expect files that look similar to what you will get from your smartphone. Files top out at 12MP and the camera performs best when shooting in bright conditions. The 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor and the F2 lens are very similar to those found on standard smartphones and you can expect the images to look about the same.

Unfortunately, the Osmo Pocket seems to have trouble keeping up with fast moving subjects when shooting stills. I noticed a lot of unintentional image blur while using it. One thing worth noting is the ease with which you can swap between photo and video modes on that touchscreen – which isn’t always a good thing. On more than one occasion I found that I’d unintentionally switched the Osmo Pocket into photo mode when I meant to be in video mode.

ISO 100 | 1/2000 sec | F2

Conclusion

The DJI Osmo Pocket isn’t exactly a must-have gadget in most shooters’ professional kits, but it does a surprisingly good job of capturing quality, stabilized video footage for its tiny size.

The Osmo Pocket feels like a good option for capturing supplementary BTS footage on a big shoot or POV video stories for vloggers and influencers. Its simple operation won’t intimidate people just getting into content creation. It also seems like it could be a great starter camera for kids who have shown an interest in video production.

The built-in stabilization in the Osmo Pocket is ultimately what makes this gadget so appealing. Although the quality of footage is similar to what you will get from a standard smartphone, the Osmo Pocket provides something that a smartphone simply can’t do on its own: seamlessly smooth footage.

What we like:

Lightweight and easy to use as a standalone device
4K video capabilities
In-camera stabilization
Decent audio quality
Touch screen controls

What we’d like to see improved:

Feels unbalanced when shooting with smartphone attached, which makes the Mimo app of limited use
Lack of built-in WiFi or Bluetooth to connect to app
Removable cover for smartphone adapter is so small that it’s easy to misplace

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Tiffen launches ND/PL filter kits for DJI Osmo Pocket camera

10 Apr

Tiffen has introduced a pair of filter kits for videographers using the DJI Osmo Pocket that the company says help to create a more cinematic look to the footage recorded with the device. The kits consist of neutral density filters to control the shutter speed of the Osmo and polarisers to assist with color saturation.

A three-filter kit has ND4, ND8 and ND16 filters, each with a polariser built in, while the six-filter kit offers the same three ND/PL filters minus the polarising element.

Tiffen says the filters are coated to prevent moisture sticking to the surface and to protect against reflections and scratches. The optical glass has a 10-year warranty, and a metal case is provided to store them in.

The 3-filter Osmo Pocket Filter Kit costs $ 49.99 while the 6-filter kit is $ 79.99. For more information see the Tiffen website.

Press release:

Tiffen Filter Kits Now Available for the New DJI Osmo Pocket

Tiffen Filters, a division of The Tiffen Company, introduces their exclusive new line of filters for the DJI™ Osmo Pocket. The filter kits will consist of a three-filter kit of neutral density polarizer filters and a six-filter kit of neutral density and neutral density polarizers available for DJI™’s latest 3-axis stabilized handheld camera.

The filters feature a multilayer and hydrophobic coating, waterproof surface and scratch prevention technology. They guarantee ultra-low reflection rates and have unmatched color fidelity. Its 4K high definition optical glass has a ten-year warranty.

“We’re excited to announce the launch of these filter kits for the popular DJI™ Osmo Pocket,” said Andrew Tiffen, SVP of Marketing, The Tiffen Company. “Matching our exclusive line of filters with the latest pocket-sized handheld gimble from DJI gives content creators the tools they need to enhance the cinematic footage they create with the device.”

Each filter kit includes a compact metal carrying case to safely pack and store the filters until ready for use, making it easy to take these filters on any video-worthy adventure with the DJI Osmo Pocket.

With Tiffen’s exclusive kit of filters for the DJI™ Osmo Pocket, imagemakers can create more professional content by having greater control in camera. When used in conjunction with the award-winning filter technology engineered by Tiffen, the high-quality performance of the DJI™ Osmo Pocket camera system is taken to the next level.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Thoughts and Field Test: DJI Osmo Pocket

05 Apr

The post Thoughts and Field Test: DJI Osmo Pocket appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.

In December 2018, DJI released a revolutionary product: the Osmo Pocket.

DJI basically took the same camera sensor found in their popular Mavic Pro and Mavic Air drones and put it in the Osmo Pocket. The result is a tiny, pocket-sized camera that can capture high-quality 4K video and 12-megapixel still photos. Given the presence of the 3-axis gimbal, this camera is widely marketed as an ideal compact video camera. But how is it for still photography? Read on to learn more!

DJI Osmo Pocket

Video features

Standing at just about 4.8 inches (12.19 cm) tall and weighing 4 oz (113.4 g), the Osmo Pocket looks more like a toy than a camera. This makes it ultra stealthy. Despite its size, this camera comes packed with pro features. The tiny camera sits on a full 3-axis gimbal to give you stable video. You can shoot at up to 4K 60fps, remarkable for its 1/2.3-inch sensor. There are dual built-in microphones with noise canceling to capture high-quality audio.

The Osmo Pocket has many more video features including ActiveTrack to follow subjects, FaceTrack to automatically recognize faces, Slow Motion shooting, Timelapse and Motionlapse.

Photography features

Based on features alone, this is clearly a camera for those interested in shooting video. But there are notable features for still photography as well. The camera has a fixed lens of about 26mm (35mm format equivalent) and a fast f/2.0 aperture.

It also has panorama photo mode, which is brilliant on a camera with a built-in gimbal. When shooting a panorama, the camera automatically pans and shoots 4 images in sequence. This is much more accurate than precariously handholding your camera while panning or having to lug a tripod around. The only downside is that the camera won’t stitch the pan together automatically unless you shoot with a cell phone attached (more on this below).

DJI Osmo Pocket

Osmo Pocket LCD screen

A camera this tiny has its challenges, especially when it comes to seeing what you’re shooting. The built-in LCD screen is tiny and can be quite hard to see if you don’t have the best eyesight. I found it a challenge to not only compose my images but also to see if my shots were in focus. Luckily, DJI has a solution.

There’s a port next to the LCD to connect a smartphone via USB-C (or Lightning connector for iPhones). When using the free DJI Mimo app, a connected smartphone becomes an extension of the LCD screen.

This makes shooting with the Osmo Pocket an entirely different experience. It is much easier to compose your images and even unlock more photo and video features, such as stitching panoramas together automatically.

However, this makes the camera rig significantly bigger. It’s also much harder to shoot one-handed with a cell phone precariously attached to the Osmo Pocket via a USB-C connection.

Shooting with the Osmo Pocket

Using a camera this small is fun, but challenging. Its design is very different than cell phones or traditional cameras, so that can take some getting used to. When using the Osmo Pocket by itself, it is a one-handed device. There are just two buttons and a tiny touchscreen LCD that you swipe up and down to control the gimbal, and left and right to activate various features. Attaching the phone turns the Osmo Pocket into a two-handed camera, which can feel more ergonomic and natural.

When shooting with the smartphone, my instincts were to use the device as I would a smartphone camera. Instead, I had to use the DJI Mimo app, which has a very different interface than most smartphone apps. It also doesn’t let you zoom, and you instead have to physically move forward to zoom in.

Also, it was difficult to remember where my camera was. I usually shoot with my smartphone cameras on the left, and in this case, the Osmo Pocket camera is on the right since it is plugged into the phone’s USB-C port. This made composing images a challenge as I struggled to remember my main camera location.

DJI Osmo Pocket

Osmo Pocket photo quality

If you’ve shot photo or video with DJI drones, the photo quality that comes out of the Osmo Pocket is very similar. Colors are pretty natural, and the images are sharp (almost too sharp, depending on your taste). While the fixed lens is definitely not a macro, you can get reasonably close to your subject and capture photos with pretty good bokeh. Osmo Pocket is slow to focus (tap on the LCD to focus), which can be frustrating if you’re trying to shoot action.

Who’s this camera for?

Osmo Pocket isn’t aimed at a professional crowd, although it certainly could be used by a pro to capture B roll (supplemental footage). However, the size of this camera plus some of its limitations suggests that this is for casual camera users.

If you’re wanting to dabble in videography without investing in large and expensive camera stabilizers, the Osmo Pocket is a great option to consider. Keep in mind that it isn’t waterproof and definitely not a tough action camera like the GoPro; in fact, this camera is somewhat fragile given the loose nature of the gimbal.

DJI is slowly releasing accessories to add on to the Osmo Pocket such as 3.5mm external microphone adapter, mount, extension rod, and WiFi module. There are also polarizers and ND filters that you can get to mount to the front of the camera. These little accessories add to the cost of the already pricey camera and also point out some of the seemingly basic features that are missing from this camera.

Bottom line

If you want an ultra compact and stealthy camera for capturing smooth, high-quality video footage, the Osmo Pocket is a great option to consider. However, in most cases, this isn’t a do-all camera and is instead a supplemental device for capturing very specific footage.