DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Review – Is it Any Good for Professional Documentary Work?

by Johnnie BehiriToday

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 prides itself in being a great family companion for events and trips, but can it also perform as a serious filming tool? I took it for a spin and came back extremely surprised. Are we looking at a “futuristic type of camera,” one that other manufacturers should clone, too? I think I have a solid answer to share, so please bear with me. More importantly, don’t just read this review article; please take a few minutes to watch the above mini-documentary I filmed in Japan—all hand-held (except for the interview scene at the end). So, in this review, let’s find out if the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is good for professional use.

It’s August 2024, and a furious typhoon threatens to sabotage life in some regions of Japan. In light of the circumstances, a motorcycle racing event scheduled for that month was canceled, leaving me with only the fond memory of filming the practice session.

The protagonist in this mini-doc

Some of you might remember Wakamatsu-san, a true gentleman and an expert in his field. For more than a decade, his main task was planning new lenses and cameras at SIGMA Japan. Last year, he decided to move on and explore new fields (outside our industry).

Fast forward to the present, and I never miss an opportunity to meet with Wakamatsu-san when I visit Japan; talking with him is always delightful. This time, we sat down at a small restaurant to catch up and exchange thoughts on where our industry is heading – a topic that’s always fun to speculate about together.

As Wakamatsu-san is no longer working in our industry, talking about “where cameras are heading” was easier. When I told him how impressed I was with DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 camera and my plan to review it more demandingly than “just vlogging,” he mentioned his upcoming training for a motorcycle race. Without hesitation, I suggested tagging along to document the day. When he agreed, I seized the opportunity with both hands, perhaps just one, since the other was holding the Osmo Pocket 3. After all, a day at the race track could be fun, rewarding, and demanding. Perfect for reviewing the capabilities and limitations of any camera.

A few days later, and despite the approaching bad weather, I packed my bag for the short trip. My instinct was to take the same size backpack that I always carry with me when traveling. I have to admit that I was not courageous enough to leave home with the “DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo Kit” only. After all, it would mean bringing the smallest setup I’ve ever used for any production, and this was a bit scary. Now, in hindsight, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again!

What is “PRO mode,” and why work with it

For those interested in learning how to enjoy a family trip without risking any “divorce-level” tension (let’s face it, constantly pointing a camera at your loved ones can get old fast), please head to my Osmo Pocket 3 for vlogging and traveling review here. However, the Osmo Pocket 3 also has a “PRO mode.” Simply swipe left on the LCD screen and tap on “PRO” to activate it. This is a great option if you’re looking to gain (almost) full control of the device while achieving improved picture quality.

When using “PRO mode”, these are the most noticeable advantages:

• 10-bit (4:2:0) video recording
• D-Log M flat picture profile recording option
• For those who are not into recording in a flat picture profile, there is a “NORMAL” option in “PRO mode” with embedded color (REC709) next to “HLG” (Hybrid Log Gamma), which has a higher dynamic range than the “normal mode,” but still within broadcast standards making it suitable for live content, for example.

DJI Mic 2

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 “Creator Combo” set includes several accessories, including the DJI Mic 2. This little device stands out from the crowd because it is so small and allows 32-bit (internal) recording. To clarify, here is a question that we have been asked several times: “Can the Mic 2 transmit a 32-bit audio signal directly to the Osmo Pocket camera, providing a high-quality audio track that’s ready to pair with the video during recording?” Well, we’ve reached out to DJI, and the answer is “NO.” So for now, either you settle for the audio transmitted to the camera (good quality but not 32-bit float) or pull out the audio from the transmitter and sync it with your footage in postproduction.

As a side note, the DJI Mic 2 became my “go-to” wireless device when running and gunning. The combination of having decent audio quality, a clear menu on the receiver, excellent battery life, adequate internal recording capacity, and sufficient “transmitter/receiver distance” (next to hard copy recording in 32-bit) made it a winner for me.

The Mimo App

Looking at DJI’s ecosystem, one should not neglect their app. It is like an arm that extends the camera’s functionality. Everything you need to operate the device remotely (and more) can be achieved with this app (camera settings, touch focus, and even playing back recorded files). Furthermore, the app updates and installs the latest Osmo Pocket 3 camera firmware, so please don’t overlook it.

One thing to remember when recording in D-Log M flat picture profile: On the camera itself, there is no way to watch the image graded with LUT. The only way is by using the app (this is what I meant when I wrote “and more” above… ). Under the RED record button, look for “video.” Then, tap the three dots on the left side up, and then, click on the aperture sign on the upper right side of the screen. Now, scroll down and look for “color recovery.” (If this setting is not apparent, it means that your camera is set to “NORMAL” or “HLG” recording modes. Only when using the D-Log-M 10-bit picture profile will one be able to activate that “color recovery” setting. Now, you can watch the picture on your mobile phone with a REC.709 LUT on top of the D-Log-M 10-bit picture profile.

Overall, the app may feel a bit confusing at first, but after spending a little while getting acquainted with it, it will become much clearer. On a positive note, the camera and phone are connected via WiFi, not Bluetooth, so the latency between them is almost zero. Very impressive!

In the field

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is one of the easiest cameras I ever worked with. Furthermore, “being on a gimble” means movement can be achieved fairly easily. Mind you, a fourth axis stabilization is missing from that camera gimble, so for completely smooth floating movement, a shock absorber arm (à la CAME-TV, MOVMAX, or TILTA) is needed. For the above mini-doc, I only used the camera itself without an additional gimble, so the movement was fine but not completely fluid. On the other hand, EVERYTHING in this video (except the last interview shot) was filmed handheld. Not once did I use the small video tripod I had with me. For this last interview shot, I used a tiny table tripod, and that’s it.

Keeping the shutter at the speed right

In “PRO mode” (manual settings), you’ll also need to manage the shutter speed, keeping it fixed at 50/60 or, generally, double the frame rate. While ISO and even shutter speed can be set to “Auto,” achieving the desired motion cadence requires controlling the amount of light reaching the sensor. In my search for an easy and affordable ND solution, I found the K&F Concept Nano-X Series VND Filter Kit. This tiny variable ND filter set proved invaluable throughout the day, allowing me to control the amount of light entering the camera. Another plus point for this filter set is the ability to store the camera head in its original “parking position.” In other words, there is no need to remove the filter before switching the camera off. Last but not least, it is not always easy to dial the filter accurately as it is really small, but for now, I haven’t found a better solution.

Audio

I wrote about the DJI Mic 2 above, but I want to mention again how easy it is to use with the camera. Also, if you do not have the Mic 2, the camera mics are still a reasonable alternative, depending on your shooting location (the camera has three mics)! Just make sure to set up the mics correctly depending on the direction you want them to capture sound (front, front/back, all around, etc.).

Overall picture quality

Considering the size of this camera and what it can do, it is simply astonishing to see what DJI achieved here. In all honesty, it is a little Swiss army knife that can cater to all sorts of needs or, better yet, act as a “throw-in-the-bag safety net” tool for many types of productions. The overall picture quality is satisfactory, especially if you take control of the “sharpness” and “noise reduction” settings. Both can be tuned down to -2 under “picture adjustment.” Also, the shallow depth of field can be adjusted depending on the distance from your subject. Another thing that occurred to me while filming during that long, hot day on the track was that the camera did not overheat and shut down on me, even when filming 4K/120p. If any of you are using this camera and have overheating issues, I’d like to hear from you!

Conclusion and what I would like to see next

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is, in a way, a futuristic camera. The vertical way of holding it is very natural and fatigue-free. The gimble is working fine, allowing you to effortlessly capture dynamic footage (all in a micro-size device). The built-in microphones do a good job in general, and for (much) better audio quality, the Mic 2 comes to the rescue. Now, I haven’t got a clue as to what the next generation of this formidable little camera will look like or when it will see the light of day, but here is what I would love to see enhanced in the next version (or the one after that). If you shop around, you will find many wide-angle lenses to attach to this camera (including DJI’s wide-angle lens that is included in the kit). But for the specific mini-doc I shot, I think it is very evident that I was missing a telephoto lens. Now, imagine two or three lenses on such a small filming device. If mobile phone manufacturers can do it, I’m sure DJI can devise a solution for this as well. Of course, I can add to my list of requests by asking for a sensor that is larger than 1 inch, or we could have even better recording codecs, but I guess I should remain realistic and not aim too high, as it might affect the overall device size or its functionality.

What do you think about the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera? Have you had a chance to work with it? If so, what did you use it for? Was it vlogging, streaming, family vacations, or something even more demanding? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.