upgraded sensor and lens for better picture quality
The DJI Osmo Pocket 2 is drone-maker DJI’s latest handheld stabilized vlogging camera and comes with an upgraded camera, more microphones, and a new modular design. It’s releasing on November 1st with a starting price of $349 for a basic selection of accessories, but there’s also a $499 kit that comes with an additional lens, tripod, external microphone, and feature-packed handle.
Although the Pocket 2 features a similar design to the first DJI Osmo Pocket 2, with a little grip topped with a camera mounted on a three-axis gimbal, its internals is upgraded across the board. For starters, it’s a bigger 1/1.7-inch image sensor compared to the original’s 1/2.3-inch sensor, and its lens offers a wider 20mm field of view with an aperture of f/1.8 compared to 26mm f/2.0 last time around. the utmost video quality is unchanged at 4K/60fps, but DJI says there’s a replacement HDR video option that will be available at a later date.
Starting price of $349
Perhaps more important is that the upgraded sound recording, considering it had been one of our key issues with the first camera. The Pocket 2 contains four microphones — double the first. The new microphone array is capable of adjusting the audio its recording supported where the camera is facing, and it’ll also automatically narrow the sound field when the camera zooms, which sounds almost like what we’ve seen Samsung attempt in recent smartphones. Hopefully these tweaks bring better built-in audio recording, but rest-assured you continue to have the choice of using external wired or wireless mics via accessories.
Speaking of zooming, the camera can handle up to 8x zoom when in 64-megapixel mode, consistent with DJI, reducing to 4x “lossless zoom” if you step right down to the 16-megapixel mode or 1080p. The camera’s focus system has also been upgraded compared to the previous model, DJI says, and there are new software features including Fast Wake to power the camera on quicker, and Drop Aware to supply protection just in case of falls.
Like the original camera, the DJI Osmo Pocket 2 can either be used as a standalone stabilized camera, alternatively attached to and controlled with a smartphone wirelessly or via a physical connector. DJI’s Mimo app is often used on an attached phone to film, edit, and share videos and photos.
The bottom portion of the DJI Osmo Pocket 2 camera’s handle can now be swapped out and replaced with other options because of its new modular design. Compatible accessories include DJI’s “Do-It-All” handle which incorporates a tripod base, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module, speaker, 3.5mm jack, and wireless microphone receiver. Other accessories include a fisheye lens and water-proof housing.
For $349, you get the camera and a basic selection of accessories, including a Mini stick and 1/4-inch tripod mount. $499 gets you the camera and both accessories, plus a fisheye lens, wireless microphone with windscreen, DJI’s Do-It-All handle, and a micro tripod.
Motion time-lapses, which usually require tons of camera equipment, return and are a cinch with the Pocket 2. They’re here alongside normal time-lapse and hyper-lapse modes, and you’ll now capture in RAW and use DJI’s ActiveTrack 3.0 tracking.
The camera specs are what have impressed us the foremost about this gimbal: a 1/1.7-inch sensor size edges out the iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, while the 20mm f/1.8 lens is brighter and wider than the first Osmo Pocket.
Capturing 4K video – this stabilized, with this level of quality – during a pocketable form factor, makes the DJI Pocket 2 a one-of-a-kind gadget for creators. better of all, it won’t need the constant calibration of larger camera gimbals.
Design
The wand-shaped DJI Osmo Pocket 2 doesn’t look too different from its predecessor, but that’s an honest thing for slipping this handheld camera stabilizer into your pocket.
Its 3-axis gimbal design features a tiny camera head on top, one that’s liberal to wipe out your shaky hand movement, while you hold the bottom and reference the framing on the small one-inch screen. the whole thing remains extremely light at just 117g.
What’s great about the DJI Osmo Pocket 2 compared to the DJI OM 4 is that this setup won’t hog your precious smartphone. The camera used here is built-in and only uses your phone once you need a larger viewfinder for more granular controls.
The mode and record buttons are under the square-shaped reference screen, and there is a replacement power button around the side. While you’ll still turn the gimbal on via the mode button, only the side-mounted power button can turn it off. That’s handy to avoid accidental shut-offs when cycling through modes.
There’s a USB-C port on rock bottom, but it’s easier to attach the gimbal to a phone via a universal port adapter that sits between the screen and buttons. Included within the Pocket 2 box are small Lightning and USB-C adapters that fit into this slot for straightforward phone attachment and video export.
Having a physical connection means it’s faster and more reliable when transferring 4K video versus having to try to do it wirelessly – as we experience on numerous action cameras. However, the adapters are extremely easy to lose if you’re fumbling with the on during an outdoor adventure.
The case that comes with the DJI Osmo Pocket 2 is form-fitting – such a lot in order that we found it a decent squeeze at this point. But meaning it isn’t the standard bulky camera case you’ll never actually use. This delicate gimbal and camera head actually demands it.
If there’s one new design feature we like, it’s Drop Aware. this is often DJI Osmo Pocket 2 ‘s preventative measure that senses a fall and locks up the gimbal to stop damage. Even with this new perk, this is often not the GoPro Hero 9, which also offers in-camera stabilized footage during a more durable package.
Video quality, audio, and camera specs
The DJI Osmo Pocket 2 is sort of a miniaturized classic Hollywood crane that’s ready to capture smooth video – beat the palm of your hand. It’s incredibly cinematic at 4K 60fps.
The best part is that you simply do not have to understand what you’re doing to record stabilized footage. The automatically panning and tilting camera head adjusts for your shaky hands and basically puts the whole process on rails. Editing is often done on your phone, too, and a replacement AI editor within the DJI Mimi app helps speed things along.
The camera sports a 1/1.7-inch sensor and 20mm f/1.8 lens, offering an outstanding picture that’s slightly better than the first. It still records 4K 60fps video at 100Mbps, and there is an HDR video mode on the way.
Pro controls also are fully accessible from DJI Osmo Pocket 2, so you’ll tinker with the shutter speed, EV, focus mode, and ISO of 100 to 6400. New is the ability to regulate the following focus speed and pause recordings, making this even more of a creator’s one-stop-shop for video.
The zoom modes were a surprise we didn’t see coming. they permit you to clock in 4x lossless at 16MP and 1080p; 3x on 2.7k video; and 2x on 4K video. There’s also an 8x zoom on a special 64MP photo mode that does not get an equivalent treatment from any video resolution (we’d imagine permanently reason).
Even more useful than how close you’ll get to subjects, the wide 93-degree field of view will delight vloggers who want to capture more of what is behind them – and not stop the tops of their heads. the first DJI Pocket was a really tight 80 degrees.
