I can't think of anything that permeates mainstream camera culture as aggressively as the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. The Fujifilm X100VI has stolen some of its thunder among film simulation enthusiasts, but DJI is still having a cultural moment on YouTube, instagram and the It worried TikTok by causing all kinds of joy in creators.
Of course, camera geeks are everywhere, but serious and casual creators from other genres have paused their regular programming to rave about how it transcends amateur vlogging activities, whether filming a wedding either self-film a scene for a hopeful short film for Sundance.
Some of us in The edge They're excited, too: Vjeran liked it enough to call it his favorite device of 2023., and Sean just bought one after using it to elevate your Today I'm playing with videos.
I was tingled for the $519 Osmo Pocket 3 when DJI first announced it, but it wasn't until I bought a Creator Combination that I completely understood the commotion. Video quality is often close to that of my full-frame Sony mirrorless camera (although I can't get all the same shots) and it's noticeably better than my phone.
The original Osmo Pocket and Pocket 2 couldn't make those claims, but the Pocket 3 is head and shoulders above it. Its largest sensor, equivalent to one inch, is now larger than most phones, with better low-light performance and more reliable autofocus than its predecessors. It has a much larger screen, longer battery life, faster charging time, more microphones; The list goes on like this for almost everything that motivates you.
Photo: Quentyn Kennemer/The Verge
My first major outing with the Pocket 3 was at a WWE SmackDown show at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Without a photographer pass, I couldn't enter the venue with my Sony A7 IV or anything larger than a pocket. But the Osmo came in after I showed security that the battery grip wasn't a selfie stick.
I went with the simple hope of capturing some good audience-stabilized footage that might look a little better than what my iPhone 12 Pro Max produced at the last show I attended. I walked away with clips that looked so good I could see them appearing on WWE social media reels or in pre-match promotional promos.
The Pocket 3 was better than my iPhone at capturing the majesty of the intense beams of light and pyrotechnic embers that define big WWE productions, and its microphones did a better job of handling the high audio levels without muffling the sound too much. and strip it of its acoustic character. . The footage was also considerably less blurry compared to the iPhone, with smoother stabilization, although the iPhone's software stabilization compared decently.
Even if I could have brought a mirrorless camera or DSLR, the Osmo allowed me to be more in the moment. I had a large popcorn and a cold one occupying one hand for most of the night, so I would have been miserable trying to adjust the dials and deep menus. With the Pocket 3, turning it on is just a matter of opening the screen. The record button is right under your thumb and settings are just a swipe away.
The Pocket 3 has its limitations. For starters, it can only handle a digital zoom equivalent to 2X. That's enough to capture impromptu close-ups, like Cody Rhodes, then destined for WrestleMania, looking up into the rafters after walking past my seat, for example. But you won't be able to achieve the dreamy, bokeh-heavy images reserved for interchangeable lens cameras.
Meanwhile, my iPhone's telephoto sensor offered better range at a Monday Night Raw show in October. I sat in the exact same seat at both shows, with a great view of the ring and decent visibility of the entrance stage from the first row of the stands. My iPhone gave me clear shots of Becky Lynch and Damian Priest's entrances, even if I much preferred the overall color, clarity, and exposure of the Osmo during the SmackDown show.
I shot several personal videos from SmackDown and spent quite a bit of time comparing my footage to the results from my Sony and iPhone. Compared to my phone, colors don't look too muddy or washed out in low light, and there's much less noise. I have more freedom to push and pull colors in post-processing when shooting in D-Log M. (However, that might be a wash if I had an iPhone 15 Pro with a similarly flexible ProRes Log color profile.)
Even in well-lit settings, there's still a decent gap: the bokeh on the Osmo Pocket 3, while subtle, is more noticeable and pronounced than that of the iPhone. It is enough to draw the viewer's attention to the subject while muting an otherwise distracting background.
Sean filmed the Transformer above with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pocket 3. You can probably tell which shot is which!
And it's very easy to use. Going from muted video to stabilized video effortlessly is as simple as opening the screen and pressing the record button right next to it, without the need for a multi-pound gimbal or separate balancing weights. Tap the screen to put it in selfie mode and it will automatically pan and tilt to keep your face in frame.
Most phones don't let you use the higher quality sensor to record yourself while previewing your shot; Here, you can frame your own walking portraits on the two-inch OLED screen and then rotate the same sensor to capture viral content, short films, and the beauty of the world in front of you.
You can also activate DJI's smartphone app to preview and remotely control the entire camera via Bluetooth, and if you opt for the $669 Creator Combo, you get a high-quality wireless lavalier microphone with 32-speed floating recording. bits that also integrate effortlessly. The microphone automatically connects to the Osmo as soon as you turn it on, can record separately to its own internal storage, has a clip and a powerful magnet to keep it attached to clothing, vibrates in specific patterns so you know when you're rolling, and can charge and transfer recordings via USB-C. (Plus, the combo comes with a nice extended battery grip, an iffy wide-angle lens, and other accessories.)
No, you won't find the same shooting options that enthusiasts and professionals look for in a suitable camera body. You can adjust white balance, shutter, and ISO to varying degrees, but you don't get advanced recording codecs, LUT previews, alternative metering modes, and the like. It's not exactly comfortable to have in your pocket despite the name, and for photos, I prefer to grab my phone. Did I mention that you should run like hell if you see a drop of rain? There is no type of waterproofing.
But everything about the Osmo Pocket 3 makes me want to get out and record because it's fun and easy to do. It encourages the lazy part of my brain to stop complaining. It bridges the gap for people who need an ultra-portable camera that can shoot better-looking images than their iPhone, and lightens the load for those who don't need a more complex camera for every shot. For me, right now, it's right up there with my wallet, keys, and phone as something I'll always consider grabbing on the way out the door.
This is notable for a camera that's not much larger than your average vaporizer and costs less than a new phone.
