I examined DJI’s tiny 4K motion digital camera for weeks – and now I am ditching my GoPro for it

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It looks like everybody and their canine is recording their adventures lately. And why not? Whether or not it is for posterity, to bore your family and friends, or for YouTube fame, it is by no means been simpler to seize necessary moments.

In contrast to the cameras I used to make use of “again within the day” — which required shouldering and holding as much as your eye (so the particular person recording the second bought a bizarre filtered actuality) — cameras are actually sufficiently small to clip onto a baseball hat or grasp off a pendant.

Cameras do not get a lot smaller than the DJI Osmo Nanoand I have been testing this setup fairly extensively over the previous few weeks.

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The Osmo Nano is marketed as a 4K POV digital camera and vlogging digital camera. It is a step down in efficiency and robustness in comparison with full-on motion cameras just like the Osmo Action 6 or GoPro HERO13 Blacknevertheless it’s a step up in compactness and value.

A tiny digital camera that packs a punch

The Osmo Nano is tiny. The principle digital camera measures 2.25 × 1.16 × 1.1 inches and weighs 1.8 ounces. It isn’t a lot larger than my thumb (although I do have massive thumbs). Even when mixed with the multifunction Imaginative and prescient Dock, which provides one other 2.33 × 1.66 × 0.88 inches and weighs 2.5 ounces, it stays compact.

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Each items are constructed to deal with the outside, with the digital camera capable of be submerged right down to 30 ft and the dock capable of shrug off rain and splashes.

However do not let the scale idiot you. That tiny digital camera incorporates a 1/1.3-inch sensor with an unbelievable 13.5 stops of dynamic vary (placing it on par with pro-grade cameras). This implies it is good whether or not you are out in vibrant daylight, snow, or low-light circumstances. It might seize video in cinematic 4K/60fps or 4K/120fps sluggish movement utilizing the 143° ultra-wide lens.

Output will be saved as 10-bit video, able to discerning a billion colours, or as a pro-grade D-Log M profile that preserves extra element in highlights and shadows, permitting for a lot better flexibility in shade grading throughout enhancing.

There’s additionally a SuperNight mode for getting the perfect, least-grainy night time photographs.

A word in regards to the D-Log M profile: Solely use this profile if you are going to do some enhancing past the fundamentals and know what you are doing (and what a LUT is). In the event you attempt utilizing the uncooked footage, it would look flat, washed-out, desaturated, and low in distinction. Whereas it does have extra shade and distinction than a full D-Log profile, it nonetheless requires enhancing.

Constructed-in storage goes a good distance

Video will be saved on the interior reminiscence (the Osmo Nano is available in 64GB and 128GB variants), and you may increase it with microSD playing cards up to 1TB. I like that trendy cameras have built-in reminiscence as a result of it eliminates these heart-stopping moments while you understand you’ve got hiked out to a cool location and left all of the microSD playing cards at dwelling.

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Whereas DJI is understood for its drones, the corporate actually is aware of how you can get the perfect out of small cameras, and it applies this experience to its ground-based cameras.

Battery life is shocking ample

Since these cameras are designed for on-the-move use, they want their very own energy, and batteries are one other space DJI is aware of lots about. The digital camera homes a 530 mAh battery, and the dock provides an extra 1,300 mAh.

The digital camera alone can run for round 60 minutes, with the dock extending this to 200 minutes. I’ve examined this, and that is positively achievable. When the battery is low, I discovered {that a} 20-minute cost brings the digital camera as much as about 80%. The digital camera may also run whereas linked to the dock, which might itself be charging.

What about audio?

Audio is commonly the Achilles’ heel of this kind of compact motion digital camera, however the Osmo Nano as soon as once more delivers. It has two microphones constructed into the Osmo Nano, good for capturing each speaking and ambient sounds. In order for you extra, you’ll be able to join the digital camera to as much as two DJI Mic 3 transmittersmaking it an ideal setup for vlogging and even interviews.

This characteristic, for me, takes the Osmo Nano to a complete new degree as a result of I’ve discovered that audio — particularly voice recording — is commonly a weak level in lots of action-style cameras.

Energy in numbers

OK, so what is the take care of the dock? Along with the additional battery, the multifunction Imaginative and prescient Dock provides a touchscreen. This provides you a fast, easy technique to work together with all of the digital camera’s settings, in addition to a display screen for framing photographs.

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You will save on battery if you happen to study to make use of the button controls to navigate by way of all of the completely different taking pictures menus as a substitute of pawing on the touchscreen. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re like me and do not use the digital camera usually, that easy-to-use display screen interface is a welcome addition.

The dock additionally has one other trick up its sleeve: You should use it to switch video information from the digital camera’s inner storage to microSD playing cards. This provides a fast and simple technique to unlock the digital camera’s inner storage whereas on the transfer.

The combo equipment additionally comes with some neat equipment. There is a magnetic pendant for carrying the digital camera round your neck and clamping it to clothes (you place the pendant below your garments), and a swivel clip that may connect to the pendant or clip to a hat.

There’s additionally a protecting case for the digital camera that DJI recommends utilizing if you happen to maintain it for prolonged durations (as a result of it might get considerably toasty). I are likely to hold the digital camera within the case more often than not for added safety (I am not utilizing it in significantly scorching circumstances right here within the UK).

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The combo equipment additionally comes with a suction cup holder, which is nice for infrequent use, however I would not connect it to a automobile or something the place I may lose the digital camera. However if you happen to unscrew the suction cup, you may discover a super-useful and ubiquitous 1/4″-20 threaded gap for a tripod or selfie stick.

There are some further equipment that these desirous to take their videography to the following degree would possibly recognize, resembling a set of ND (impartial density) filters, a should for bright-lit scenes.

Why I Switched from my GoPro

OK, so why has the Osmo Nano changed my GoPro HERO13 Black? Backside line: comfort. With the Osmo Nano, there’s built-in storage for these “aww shhhhhhhhh….ucks!” moments, and a built-in fast-charge battery means there is not any faffing with exterior batteries.

It is also smaller and lighter, and I can dispense with the display screen once I want a compact system.

Connection to my iPhone is rock-solid each time, and I just like the DJI Mimo app (iOS/Android) for fast footage enhancing earlier than importing. And throw within the potential to connect with my DJI Mic 3 transmittersand that is the cherry on the already overflowing cake for me.

It is this marriage of {hardware} and software program that seems like a significant benefit for DJI over my present GoPro setup, and why I am particularly excited to see what’s subsequent for GoPro because it’s releasing the Mission 1 quickly

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The DJI Osmo Nano is proof that good issues actually do are available small packages. It is compact, feature-packed, and extremely straightforward to make use of, making it good for adventurers, vloggers, and anybody who desires to seize life’s moments with out the effort of cumbersome gear.

At $409 for the 128GB model (I like to recommend this over the 64GB version since this compromise solely saves you $30), it isn’t an inexpensive digital camera, nevertheless it’s an exceptionally good setup. It is good for

In the event you’re searching for a digital camera that is each moveable and reliable, the Osmo Nano would possibly simply be your new greatest pal. It is positively change into my bestie!