DJI’s new Osmo handheld gimbal and 4K camera is meant to be the easiest and quickest path to gorgeous, silky-smooth shots. Basically, no skills required.
The spherical camera on top with a 90 degree field of view and f/2.8 aperture, it shoots pretty nice 4K video as well as 12 megapixel photos. It’s outfitted with a 3-axis stabilized gimbal, which is powered by brushless motors to automatically compensate for your trembly arms. It really does create a floaty steadicam quality without bulky equipment. The gimbal not only allows steady video, but also has modes for shooting timelapses and automated panoramas.
The camera will automatically sway momentum to face the way you are turning, and if you want to control it more precisely, there is a thumb-pad for pans and tilts.
But perhaps the coolest, most useful feature is the front trigger. With a simple double-tap of the button, the Osmo resets itself to a fully front-facing and upright position. Triple-tap and the camera swings around into selfie-mode. This is going to be perfect for video bloggers who want an easy way to walk and talk without using an awkward selfie-stick. They’ll have to record sound separately though, because the Osmo’s camera produces garbage audio.
You’ll notice right away that there’s no display on the Osmo. That’s because you’re meant to mount your smartphone right onto the joystick. Fire up the DJI app for Android or iOS and connect to the camera’s wifi for monitoring your shot and controlling all the camera’s settings.If you’re recording in 4K mode the playback and monitoring is pretty choppy in the app. You can switch between auto and manual settings, select a focus point, and even control the camera by dragging your finger around the screen.
The biggest limitation with the Osmo was battery life. The lithium-ion unit that sits in the handle lasts only about about an hour, so don’t plan on any all-day shoots without some spares stowed away.
Osmos will run you $650 when it drops later this month. It’s expensive, yes, but kind of understandable when you consider that it includes a pretty advanced compact video camera plus the stabilizer.
