Best known for its drones, Chinese manufacturer DJI has also slowly secured its spot as the go-to brand for stabilising smartphone gimbals. Then came the Oslo series where the brand combined its drone cameras with a gimbal for use on the ground.
The latest in this series is the DJI Osmo Pocket, and DJI claims it is the smallest 4K snapper with a three-axis gimbal in the world. That may well be a rather niche title to hold, but then this is a rather niche product. The tiny device can shoot both video and photos and also works with the DJI Mimo app for some extra creative flourish.
It’s not really a GoPro worrier, as its skills as an action cam are limited thanks to a lack of waterproofing or rugged build quality. The device is really aimed more at YouTubers, vloggers and amateur filmmakers, but is is any good? And is it any better than simply using the 4K camera on a top-tier smartphone?
Design
Unlike many devices with “pocket” in the name, DJI’s mini cam is actually small enough to fit in your pocket. With dimensions of 121.9 × 36.9 × 28.6mm it’s far shorter and less wide than Apple’s current flagship, the iPhone XS, which is 143.6mm long. It’s also significantly lighter, tipping the scales at just 116g, compared to the iPhone’s 177g.
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Though it does have the look of a slightly alarming medical device, the Osmo Pocket is really quite smart, with a sturdy feel and textured finish to give it some extra grip. It also comes with a cover that doesn’t add too much bulk while keeping that precious camera and gimbal machinery protected.
Hard controls are minimal: you’ll find just a power button, which also doubles up as a function button, while the button with the red dot is, as you’d expect, the record/photo capture control. The compact one inch touchscreen also assists with the controls while acting as a viewfinder. The downside is that because it’s square, it’ll only preview a cropped version of what you’re shooting.
Underneath the screen, there’s a neat slide-out plastic tab that reveals the connector for modular accessories. You will inevitably lose this tiny tab at some point. Everything is recorded onto a microSD card that neatly slots into the left-hand side of the handle, though you’ll need to provide the memory card yourself. Unfortunately, there’s no tripod thread in case you want to go hands-free.
Features
The Osmo Pocket is capable of recording 4K video at 60fps, just like the iPhone. But the difference is in that motorised three-axis gimbal. While the iPhone, and most other smartphones, relies on optical image stabilisation, DJI’s tiny camera sports three miniature motors covering each axis which combine to neutralise your wobbly human movements. The idea is that you get a semi-professional finish on your footage, which you simply can’t get on a phone without the addition of a bulky add-on gimbal.
The device features a 1/2.3-inch sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 80° FOV (field of view) and can take still photos at 12MP, with a pixel size of 1.55μm. For slow-motion capture, the device offers 1080p recording up to 120fps. And the good news is that there’s a fanless cooling system on board so your hands won’t get too toasty.
If you were hoping for built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, forget it. There’s no wireless connectivity on board unless you shell out for the modular add-on. In fact, there’s an impressively diverse range of modular accessories on offer, from a wheel-based controller for smooth panning, to a 3.5mm external mic adapter. But they’ll all cost you extra.
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Interface
The device can be used as a standalone hand cam, but you really need to plug it into your smartphone to get the best out of it. The device plugs onto the side of your phone, using the supplied USB Type-C or Lightning adapters. We found it fitted easily and snugly onto an iPhone X without having to remove the standard-issue Apple-made case.
Using the free DJI Mimo app makes it much easier to frame your shots and you can choose what screen size to capture in, or even flip to vertical video just by tilting the camera on its side. The app also allows you to tinker with settings like white balance if you’d rather not stick to the default. Editing your videos within the app is absolute child’s play. You can alter the playback speed, tweak picture settings as well as add moody filters and music with excellent results.
If you do opt to use the camera on it own, you’ll be reliant on the 1-inch screen, which is actually better than it sounds. Swiping the left will let you set the shooting mode, while swiping up will enable you to tweak the gimbal controls. While the touch interface works surprisingly well, the more sausage-fingered videographers among us may struggle with tiny on-screen menus.
Performance
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The gimbal-based stabilisation is far better than anything we’ve seen from a smartphone relying on optical image or digital stabilisation, resulting in smooth, cinematic shots. The handy ActiveTrack feature means that you can just tap on the subject you’re filming, and it’ll intelligently follow along. Shooting a piece to camera? No problem – when you use selfie mode, the FaceTrack feature automatically fires up to keep your face in the centre of the frame.
While the stabilisation is much better than the iPhone’s, 4K pictures are pretty evenly matched. On its default settings, the Osmo Pocket offers sharp images but with slightly less colour saturation and contrast than the iPhone, but this is something that’s largely to do with your personal preference. And, as we mentioned earlier, you can always switch to manual and tweak the picture settings for yourself. And while the auto focus on the DJI is very good, it’s a touch slower than the iPhone’s, particularly in lower light.
Audio from the two built-in microphones is passable, but they do pick up a fair bit of background noise. You’d probably want to invest in an add-on mic if you’re planning to film in busy environments. Lastly, the promised battery life of 140 minutes may not sound amazing, but we found that it was more than enough for a day of short bursts of filming.
Verdict
The DJI Osmo Pocket is an impressive piece of kit, offering big, cinematic results from a very little camera. But is it any better than just using an iPhone? It depends. For shooting with a static background, say in a makeshift home studio, the iPhone is probably enough. But if you intend to shoot a lot of handheld footage when you’re out and about, then the DJI’s gimbal wizardry is a significant step up, offering super-smooth footage.
Sure, you can add a standalone gimbal to your smartphone, but good luck getting both the phone and gimbal into your pocket. If you’re a YouTuber, influencer, journalist or amateur filmmaker, or just someone who wants some professional-looking video footage without the usual wobble, then the DJI Osmo Pocket is worth a look. It’s not perfect, but with no direct competitors, for the time being at least, it really is in a class of its own.
