I can’t think of another product that has penetrated mainstream camera culture as aggressively as the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. The applause of appraisers put TikTok in trouble.
Photography enthusiasts are raving about it, of course, but serious and casual creators from other genres have paused their usual repertoire to rave about how it transcends amateur vlogging pursuits, whether you’re photographing a wedding or a saint Selfie scene from the Danse Film Festival – a short film full of hope.
some of us in edge Vjeran is also excited: Vjeran loves it so much that he calls it his favorite gadget of 2023, Sean just bought one after using it to enhance his “Today I’m Toying With” video.
I was excited about the $519 Osmo Pocket 3 when DJI first announced it, but it wasn’t until I bought the Creator Combo that I fully understood the hype. Video quality is generally close to my full frame Sony mirrorless (although I don’t have access to all the same lenses) And it’s obviously better than my phone.
The original Osmo Pocket and Pocket 2 couldn’t do this, but the Pocket 3 is even better. Its larger one-inch equivalent sensor is now larger than the one found in most phones, allowing for better low-light performance and more reliable autofocus than its predecessor. It has a bigger display, longer battery life, faster charging times, more microphones — pretty much everything that makes it tick.
Photo: Quentyn Kennemer/The Verge
My first appearance with the Pocket 3 was at the WWE SmackDown show at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Without a photographer’s pass, I couldn’t bring my Sony A7 IV or any device larger than pocket-sized into the venue. But once I showed security that its battery handle was not a selfie stick, the Osmo got in.
I went in with the simple hope of capturing some steady audience-view footage that might look a little better than the footage I shot with my iPhone 12 Pro Max the last time I attended a show. The clips I left looked so good that I could see them appearing in WWE’s social media videos or pre-match hype promos.
The Pocket 3 captures the majesty of the intense light and pyrotechnic embers of WWE’s grand production better than my iPhone does, and its microphone does a better job of suppressing loud audio levels without overly muting the sound and stripping it of its Original sound signature. Compared with the iPhone, the blur level of the video is also significantly reduced, and the stabilization effect is smoother, but the iPhone’s software stabilization effect is not bad.
Even though I could carry a mirrorless or digital SLR camera, the Osmo makes me more present. I had a huge pile of popcorn and a cold popcorn in one hand all night, so I was miserable trying to adjust dials and dig into menus. For the Pocket 3, simply twist the display to power on. The record button is right under your thumb, so you can set it up with just one swipe.
The Pocket 3 has its limitations. For starters, it can only manage 2x equivalent digital zoom. It was enough to capture impromptu close-ups—for example, when Cody Rhodes, who was at WrestleMania, walked by my seat and looked into the rafters. But you won’t get the fantastic bokeh images you get with interchangeable lens cameras.
Meanwhile, my iPhone’s telephoto sensor provided better coverage during Monday Night Raw in October. I sat in the same seat for both shows and had a great view of the ring from the first row of risers as well as a good view of the entrance stage. My iPhone gave me a clear mug shot of Becky Lynch and Damian Priest during their entrances, though I really liked the overall color, clarity, and look of Osmo during the SmackDown show exposure.
I’ve shot a lot of personal videos since SmackDown and spent a fair amount of time comparing my videos to the Sony and iPhone results. Colors don’t look too muddy and washed out in low light, and there’s far less noise than on my phone. Shooting in D-Log M gives me more leeway to push and pull color in post-production. )
Even in well-lit scenes, there’s still a sizable gap: the bokeh on the Osmo Pocket 3, while subtle, is more pronounced and noticeable than on the iPhone. This is enough to draw your audience’s attention to your subject while eliminating otherwise distracting backgrounds.
Sean shot Transformers above using an iPhone 14 Pro and Pocket 3 – you can probably tell which shot is which!
And it’s very easy to use. Going from power off to effortlessly stable video is as easy as turning the screen on and hitting the record button next to it, with no need for separate multi-pound gimbals or counterweights. Tap the screen to flip it into selfie mode, and it automatically pans and tilts to keep your face in the frame.
Most phones don’t allow you to record yourself using the higher-quality sensor while previewing footage; here, you can record yourself walking and talking on a two-inch OLED screen, then rotate the same sensor to capture Viral content, short films and the beauty of the world before you.
You can also launch DJI’s smartphone app to preview and control the entire camera remotely via Bluetooth—and if you buy the $669 Creator Combo, you also get a high-quality wireless lavalier with 32-bit floating recording capabilities Microphone can be easily integrated. The microphone automatically connects to the Osmo as soon as you power it on and can record individually to its own internal memory. It has a clip and a strong magnet that allows it to be attached to clothing, vibrating in a specific pattern so you know when scroll, and can charge and transfer recordings via USB-C. (Plus, the combo comes with a nifty extended battery grip, a wobbly wide-angle lens, and other accessories.)
No, you won’t find the same shooting options that enthusiasts and professionals are looking for in the right 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 more. Despite the name, it’s not very comfortable in my pocket, and for still photography I’d rather reach for my phone. Did I ever say that if you see raindrops, you should run as fast as you can? Not waterproof at all.
But everything about the Osmo Pocket 3 makes me want to go 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 those who need an ultra-portable camera that can take better-looking shots than an iPhone, and takes the burden off those who don’t need a more sophisticated camera for every shot. For me, it’s now as much a thing as my wallet, keys, and phone that I always think about taking with me when I leave the house.
That’s pretty impressive for a camera that’s not much bigger than a regular vape pen — and costs less than a new phone.
