DJI
Our high decide
The Pocket 3 is an enormous improve over its predecessor. The bigger swivelling show makes it means simpler to make use of, whereas a 1-inch sensor, lightning-quick autofocus and higher slow-mo make movies look superb.
DJI
Finest worth
The DJI Pocket 2 nonetheless has a lot to supply, particularly for those who worth compactness and portability. It is a lot smaller, it is extra reasonably priced and it additionally boasts higher-resolution pictures than the newer mannequin.
After a prolonged hiatus, DJI is lastly again with one other Pocket digital camera, the Osmo Pocket 3. It is fairly the improve, too, packing in a 1-inch sensor and boosting the slow-motion capabilities of the mini gimbal digital camera.
Nevertheless, the brand new mannequin additionally will increase the value considerably, in addition to the bodily dimension. So, whereas its capabilities may need improved, it is not as pocket-friendly because it as soon as was, actually and figuratively.
When you’re weighing up the professionals and cons of upgrading or pondering of attempting out a DJI Pocket digital camera for the primary time, you are in the precise place. We have in contrast these two cameras from each angle to search out out the place they excel and the place they may miss the mark. Let’s have a look.
Value, specs and availability
The DJI Pocket 2 was launched in November 2020 and got here at a worth of $349 for the essential package or $499 for the Creator Combo, which provides a wi-fi microphone, mini tripod, “Do-It-All” deal with and wide-angle lens adapter.
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 launched on October 26 2023 and is available in two very related configurations. The essential package will value you $519, and the Creator Combo, with the upgraded DJI Mic 2 and battery deal with, retails for $669.
This can be a fairly hefty worth enhance of $170 for both choice, but it surely also needs to present far more spectacular outcomes. You’ll be able to see a fast overview of the specs beneath; then, we’ll dive into every space in additional element.
Design
The Pocket 2 and three have an analogous type issue, however the Pocket 3 is bigger in all dimensions and considerably heavier, too. Regardless of being a bit extra to lug about, the design of the Pocket 3 is superior in two essential methods: The bigger display screen and the built-in joystick.
The Pocket 2 (and the unique Osmo Pocket) have been designed across the idea of utilizing your smartphone as an auxiliary show, which might be linked by way of USB-C or Lightning with modular dongles. This was a cool thought, but it surely was principally a necessity as a result of postage-stamp-sized show on the older fashions. When you needed to get a transparent view of what you have been recording, you principally wanted to make use of your smartphone.
The Pocket 3 does away with this idea just because it not wants it. It has a 2-inch touchscreen show, which might be swivelled into portrait or panorama orientation. It makes the digital camera infinitely simpler to make use of standalone. It is also price mentioning which you could monitor and management the cameras wirelessly with the smartphone app, and this works with each fashions, but it surely requires a WiFi accent for the Pocket 2.
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The brand new joystick makes it a lot simpler to manage the panning and tilting of the gimbal just because it is bigger. The Pocket 2 comes with a joystick on a modular tab, which works tremendous however is far smaller and, due to this fact, a bit trickier to control.
Options and equipment
Neither the Pocket 2 nor Pocket 3 has a mounting resolution inbuilt, however each cameras come provided with an adapter that mounts to the bottom, including a 1/4-20 tripod thread. In addition they each come provided with a tough plastic protecting cowl, a wrist strap and a charging cable. As talked about, the Pocket 3 does away with the modular dongle idea, however the Pocket 2 comes with Lightning and USB-C modules, in addition to a module with a joystick and button.
The design of the protecting cowl is kind of totally different between the 2 fashions. The Pocket 2 comes with a easy sheath to guard the gimbal and display screen, whereas the Pocket 3’s case has some added utility. It has locations to retailer lens adapters and ND filters, which is useful, but it surely’s additionally fairly a bit bigger, so it’s going to take up more room in your backpack.
Each fashions can be found as a Creator Combo, and you will get an analogous vary of equipment with every. There is a wi-fi microphone, tripod and wide-angle lens adapter in each instances, however there are a couple of key variations, too.
The Pocket 2 combo features a “Do-It-All” Deal with, which provides WiFi, Bluetooth and wi-fi mic connectivity to the digital camera. These options are all built-in to the Osmo Pocket 3, so no such accent is required. As a substitute, you get a deal with with an auxiliary battery pack, which supplies you an additional 950 mAh of juice.
The Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo additionally comes with a neat little soft-shell journey case to maintain all of your gear organised, and DJI affords no such resolution for the DJI Pocket 2.
The wi-fi mic is upgraded within the Pocket 3 package; you now get a DJI Mic 2 transmitter included within the bundle. This has an up to date look and performs excellently, however DJI hasn’t shared its actual specs simply but, so it is laborious to say precisely how a lot better it’s.
The options and modes obtainable on each cameras are fairly related. Nevertheless, the Osmo Pocket 3 affords a brand new Low Gentle Video mode and does away with the devoted HDR Video mode that we noticed on the Pocket 2. It’s because the Pocket 3 will at all times seize the utmost dynamic vary with out the person needing to activate a particular setting.
Picture and video efficiency
The only largest distinction between these two cameras, relating to imaging efficiency, is the sensor dimension. The Osmo Pocket 3 packs in an enormous 1-inch sensor, virtually doubling the dimensions of the 1/1.7-inch sensor within the Pocket 2. This impacts the picture in two major methods.
Firstly, you may discover a a lot shallower depth-of-field, the place your topic shall be in focus, and the background shall be blurry. This gives the impression of a high-end digital camera somewhat than the standard smartphone look the place the whole lot is in focus. It additionally signifies that it is a lot better at dealing with dimly-lit conditions. Movies will look brighter, and there shall be much less grain and noise within the shadowy areas of your body.
In video recording, each cameras supply as much as 4K60 video as customary, however the Pocket 3 has a lot better slow-motion capabilities and is ready to seize as much as 120fps in 4K. The Pocket 2 would not supply gradual movement in 4K decision, however each cameras can shoot at as much as 240fps in 1080p.
Each cameras have wonderful stabilisation, due to the built-in gimbal, however the Pocket 3 has the sting in low gentle as a result of bigger sensor, which permits it to make use of greater shutter speeds, decreasing blur. Each have nice autofocus, however once more, the Pocket 3 is extra spectacular. Its full-pixel AF system is extraordinarily fast and dependable, which is doubly spectacular while you account for the shallower depth of subject the brand new sensor produces.
For stills pictures, surprisingly, the Pocket 2 affords a a lot greater decision. It is in a position to seize as much as 64MP photographs, in comparison with simply 9.4MP on the Pocket 3. Most individuals would like to shoot stills on their smartphone somewhat than the Pocket, so that is unlikely to be a dealbreaker. But when the concept of taking pictures stills along with your DJI Pocket appeals, then the Pocket 2 may nonetheless be the best way to go.
Verdict
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 affords superior imaging efficiency, higher autofocus and extra spectacular slow-motion than its predecessor. It is also a lot simpler to make use of, due to the swivelling show and bigger joystick. For these causes, it is the digital camera I might select.
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Finest general
Nevertheless, it is also considerably costlier, bigger and heavier. And for those who plan to take stills, it affords a a lot decrease decision in photograph mode. The Pocket 2 nonetheless has loads of benefit in 2023, and it might get much more reasonably priced now that its successor has arrived. So, for those who’re searching for the very best worth Pocket digital camera, it is probably the best way to go.
DJI/ Pocket-lint