The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Camera and in particular the “Creator Combo” version of the device is so powerful it’s enough to make large cumbersome camera kits obsolete. It’s great for capturing family moments or producing pro looking social videos.
Included in the Creator Combo is the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera itself and small carry bag. Plus a protective cover to fit around the camera’s unique shape to protect the gimbal. There’s a DJI Mic 2 Transmitter, two handles that I’ll get to in a second and a magnetically attached wide angle lens adaptor. Looking back over that list it’s easy to see why the combo is considered to be perfect for a content creator as it has everything you need to begin your journey into creativity.
The DJI Pocket 3 is like a hybrid between an action cam and a DSLR setup, so while you wouldn’t strap it to a moving vehicle or jump out of a plane with one it’s a perfect solution for Vlog style videos or product shots with the stability of a built in gimbal and an impressive 1 inch CMOS sensor that shoots up to 4k 60fps HDR with D-Log options and 10-bit colour. The image produced is really something and even in low light settings it shows its worth.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 features a full-colour 2” display that rotates from portrait to landscape and is home to all of your settings for quick access and only needing to use one hand. You rotate the screen to turn it on and off letting you get into and out of action quickly. Just below the screen are the joystick for the gimbal and record button keeping your core activations simple but effective.
The feature that has blown the minds of everyone I’ve shown the device to is without doubt the ActiveTrack 6.0. Selecting a subject on the screen using face detection will see the camera follow you around so you are alway in frame. I’ve even walked behind a blocking structure and it’s picked me up again on the other side. There are some limitations to the tracking and it can get lost occasionally but is such an impressive but important feature that I’ve really begun to rely on.
Other features that I like are SpinShot, Motionlapse and Panorama which are all pretty self explanatory, but none are used as much as the ActiveTrack which is a perfect companion for a solo vlogger who wants to have that feeling that they are working with a camera operator.
The built in sound on the camera with three microphones supports omnidirectional stereo sound which sounds great, but I’ve found it more useful to pair it with the combos included DJI Mic 2 that seamlessly links to the camera without the need of an extra receiver. In fact if you were to buy a second mic, the camera supports two simultaneously..
The mic is impressive with sound that also includes a noise cancellation feature and 32 bit float to give you protection against accidental clipping in your audio, but it’s the way you attach it to yourself that is truly remarkable. The mic has a clip for attaching to your lapel or inner shirt which is great but pretty standard.
The powerful magnet is what sets it apart though, this allows you to almost completely hide the mic under your shirt or jacket with only a small square visible. They think of everything too, the square is printed differently on both sides, to help blend it into what you are wearing and also so that you can easily tell the difference between who has which mic if using more than one on a shoot. I need to mention the purpose built “deadcat” that attaches to the device as it clips in seamlessly and does an excellent job of protecting your sound from unwanted windy conditions.
Connections is what I’m really loving about DJI at the moment over other small cameras on the market. While other companies seem stuck on traditional screw methods for attaching your device to a tripod or other stand, DJI’s easy locking system allows you to release your camera at the press of a button making it more versatile and efficient during your shoot.
The Pocket 3 Creator Combo comes with two extension handles both with ¼ thread for your existing tripods, so screw it on and then lock in the camera. But if you want movement simply press the button and it unlocks leaving your handle behind and allowing you full freedom of movement.
Each of these handles are slightly different. The smaller handle connects through the USB at the bottom of the camera and then feeds the USB in a right angle out the back to allow you to still be able to provide extra power or link to a computer while on a tripod. The second handle is double the size of the first and includes a battery inside increasing battery life by an extra 60%. I’ve found that I use the handles regardless of a tripod to give the device more length making it easier to hold.
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 has quickly become my daily driver camera. It’s easy to grab as I’m running out the door for a shoot and offers quality as well as features you don’t get from shooting on a DSLR or on a mobile phone, it’s like a perfect hybrid camera that replaces your heavy cumbersome kit and it even converts to a webcam when you attach it to your computer. The device is easy to use and is a perfect solution for creating videos for social media that has perfect vision and unbelievable audio and at a fraction of the price of the larger camera kits.
