Travel lightly without compromising the quality of your videos ( Osmo Pocket review )
Never buy prototypes of anything, that is one of my golden rules, However I broke it for the first time with the release of the Osmo Pocket in 2018. For those who still don´t know what I'm talking about, it´s a camera launched by DJI and its main attraction is the size and the quality. It is so small that it fits in your pocket, record in 4k and have one of the best stabilizer in the market .
It was impossible for me avoid this opportunity therefore this camera promised to be the end to all my problems as travel blogger , travel lightly without compromising the quality of my videos. After 6 months of use I am going to tell you that I like about this camera, what things deserve to be improve and and who should use this camera.
WHAT DO I LIKE ABOUT THE OSMO POCKET
Lightweight and easy to transport
Before the Osmo Pocket I used two cameras to record my videos, the Canon 7D (excellent for photos but extremely heavy to transport ) and my cell phone ( a I phone 8 with the Osmo Mobile 2 attached). Together they occupied a complete backpack and they had to be taken out at the airports every time the security controls passed.
Today I travel with a camera case that is the size of my make-up case and which I should not take out of my luggage every time I pass through an airport.
It stabilizer gave my videos a new look
The 3-axis stabilizer of the Osmo Pocket allows to give another level and quality to the images, a much cleaner and more stable result that is something very well received in creators of content like me who do not have professional experience as cameramen.
What stands out most is its face track, which allows tracking objects or faces and gives a very professional look to your storytelling
Camouflage capacity
This camera is so small that on many occasions it has allowed me to record myself or record the environment without anyone noticing. That makes it very easy to work in the field, since sometimes when people see you carrying a big camera they run or get intimidated.
With the Osmo Pocket it is the other way around, people do not see it and those who see it are interested and they ask you what it is.
The size does not compromise quality.
This camera so small and unpretentious but is capable of recording in high definition. We talk about 4K videos, with 60 Photorames per second and 100 Mbits. Both qualities more than enough to have records of vacations, travel videos or any content that has as destiny Internet.
What I do not like about the Osmo Pocket
How complicated it is to attach a microphone
Although the built-in microphone is quite decent, it is necessary to attach a unifocal microphone or a lavalier if you want your voice to stand out, especially if you are recording outside. DJI took 5 months to launch to the general public the adapter that allows you to plug an external microphone into the camera. This is compatible with microphones that have inputs of 2 lines, you must pay attention to this because very few microphones work directly with the adapter. In my case, the only microphone that worked was Rode's Video Mic, which almost doubled in size to the camera. The solution was to acquire a Rode SC3 3.5mm TRRS to TRS adapter which allowed me to connect smaller microphones such as Rode VideoMicro Compact.
DJI never release the famous water case When they announced the Osmo pocket there was a strong competition between it and Hero Plus 7, another camera commonly used by travel bloggers, the big difference is that this Go Pro model is waterproof. To counteract this difference, DJI announced a water casing for the Osmo Pocket, which until the publication date of this article has not yet materialized. This seemed quite strange until a few weeks ago, when the brand announced a new camera, this time is an action camera, which of course is water approved.
The amount of accessories
There is one side of me that understands it, but there is another side of me that hates it. Obviously in order to fulfill the two great promises of this camera, size and lightness, DJI get off important functions as bluetooth, microphone, the option of attaching tripods etc. The problem is to fix that the company sell expensive accessories and extension pack. I understand that you can not have everything in life and when we started adding accessories this camera goes up in size and price, but it was beautiful that moment where I thought that this camera had everything. The price for buying prototypes.
Who should use the Osmo Pocket
S
Everybody , although it sounds cliché. This camera is so versatile that it allows the advanced user to squeeze it like a juicy lemon, changing the settings and programming virtually everything.At the same time, with the automated versions that it brings by default, it allows the basic user to shine with shots that he could never have achieved on his own terms.
In conclusion, this is a very good camera but just to be clear is not a professional one . Its value in the United States is 350 dollars, which in my experience are worthwhile because despite all the failures that this model can present as it is a first version it also capable to achieve an amazing footage.
If you are interested in buying DJI Osmo Pocket you can click this link
