DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Is a Great Vlogging Camera, but Not for the US
I’ve been filming with my DJI Osmo Pocket 3 all over the world, including in the frozen Arctic, so I was excited to test out the latest version, the Osmo Pocket 4. The camera doesn’t bring many changes to what is already a superb vlogging setup, but there are some key improvements, from better dynamic range to a suite of new filmic color profiles.
I’ve been using the camera for a few days and I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far. But before I get into that, I need to address the elephant in the room: it won’t officially be on sale in the US when it launches. It’s a murky situation; While the sale of DJI drones has been banned in the United States, the company’s other products are subject to FCC regulations that, at the very least, delay their launch.
DJI’s Osmo Nano, for example, still isn’t sold directly through DJI’s online store, but you can pick it up at major retailers like Best Buy and B&H Photo. For the Pocket 4, DJI specifies that it “will not be available on the American market because the authorization request is still in progress”. The word “pending” suggests that the situation could change, but for now, it might be difficult to obtain for US buyers. And even if you get your hands on one, service and support could be tricky.
There are two new buttons below the screen; a digital zoom button that crops in 2x, and a custom function button that you can program to activate a variety of settings.
In the UK, the Pocket 4 will start at £445, and a Creator Combo (including a detachable fill light, wireless mic and battery grip) will set you back £549. For reference, these UK prices translate to $604 and $745 respectively.
DJI Osmo Pocket 4: What’s new
Physically, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the new model and its predecessor. It’s slightly larger, but it retains the rotating 2-inch LCD screen and gimbal-mounted camera above it. The camera has the same 20mm field of view with the same f2 aperture. Beyond that, a lot has changed.
The camera still uses a 1-inch image sensor, but this is a new version that offers up to 14 stops of dynamic range for better results in high-contrast situations. Its resolution maxes out at 4K (as before), but it will now shoot up to 240 frames per second for silky smooth slow motion.
There are a variety of new built-in color profiles, designed to help you achieve a cool, filmic tone to your clips without having to apply filters or presets in post-production – just choose a tone and save. Or if you take your color grading more seriously, it will shoot in 10-bit D-Log for greater flexibility than its predecessor offered.
A clip-on accent light is available as part of the Creator Combo. This could come in handy when trying to record a vlog in the dark. Maybe exploring a haunted house.
I’ve played around with the presets and they are fun. A little too much for my taste, although you can lower the intensity to look more natural. I think these are great for quick sequences, but if I was shooting a more complex project where I know I want the best possible quality, I would shoot everything in D-Log to apply my own cinematic tones later – and then have full control over them.
Although the aperture remains the same, DJI believes that the Pocket 4 offers superior low-light performance, thanks to advances in image processing. I haven’t had a chance to take it out in the dark yet, but I can’t wait to put the old and new side by side. There’s also a new slow shutter video mode for creative nighttime shots, which again looks fun to play around with.
The Pocket 4 has a slightly larger battery than the Pocket 3 (1,545 mAh, compared to 1,300 mAh), as well as fast charging support, which will apparently take it from empty to 80% full in just 18 minutes. It also has 100GB of built-in storage, unlike the Pocket 3. I love it: I can’t remember how many times I’ve grabbed my camera for a day of shooting only to realize later that I’d left the microSD card in my computer.
The 100GB of built-in storage is perfect for those occasions when you’re out and about without a microSD card on hand. I do this often.
DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Pro: Where is the dual lens model?
The Osmo Pocket 4 I tested is broadly similar to the Pocket 3, but with most specs slightly increased. But rumor has been circulating for months about a “Pro” version of the Pocket 4, which, according to purported “leaked photos,” will feature a larger camera module with multiple lenses, likely including a telephoto zoom option, similar to the multi-lens setups seen on most phone cameras.
DJI has remained silent on the issue, with no mention of a Pro model in its launch materials; It remains to be seen whether this more complete camera will ever arrive. Personally, I would like to see a Pro version with an even larger sensor and even interchangeable lenses, as DJI offers with its Ronin 4D. But I won’t hold my breath.
The different filmic color profiles are handy for adding a little extra style to your images.
DJI Osmo Pocket 4: should you buy it?
If you already own the Pocket 3, I don’t think there’s a major reason to upgrade to the new model (which is good news for potential buyers in the US). Sure, you may see marginal gains in dynamic range and perhaps battery life, but otherwise the video you capture will be largely the same.
However, if you’re still using the much older Osmo Pocket 2, or are considering getting one for the first time before your next summer vacation, then the Pocket 4 has a lot to offer. I’ll be spending a lot more time testing it over the coming weeks and months to see how it performs in professional and enthusiast environments and how it compares to its new rivals, GoPro’s Mission 1 series.
