ISSUE 127
52 / GEAR
TESTED: DJI OSMO POCKET 4 CREATOR COMBO Pocket rocket £549 dji.com The sky’s the limit as DJI takes its huge-selling Osmo Pocket and gives it a major boost
LIKE A CHARM With usability at its core, there is no need for a separate gimbal if you own the Pocket 4 (right)
Since its launch a couple of years ago, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 has become one of the most successful cameras of all time. It became the best- selling video-first camera in Japan for nearly a year, holding the top spot for 11 consecutive months and exceeding 24% of the entire market. It has also topped Amazon sales rankings, beating camcorders and competing mirrorless models. Its one-inch sensor and three- axis gimbal led to thousands of content creator fans and it was often sold out. Now comes the new Pocket 4 version that has a very similar form
factor, but is actually slightly cheaper than the Pocket 3 at launch and comes with lots of upgrades. At its core is still a one-inch CMOS sensor, but now it’s new and paired with improved processing. Instead of 4K video at 120fps it can do it at 240fps, has full 10-bit D-Log recording and around 14 stops of dynamic range. That’s some serious imaging performance for something that fits in your pocket. Footage is crisp, detailed and surprisingly cinematic, especially in good light. Skin tones look nice, highlights are well controlled and there’s enough latitude for grading without things falling apart. Standard colours are a little oversaturated but that makes footage look bold and bright, and is easily tweaked. What really defines the Pocket 4 is its usability. The built-in three-axis gimbal stabilisation is as impressive as ever, delivering smooth, floating footage without needing a separate rig. Walk-and-talk vlogging shots, handheld B roll or quick documentary clips all feel polished with minimal effort. And for stills, it takes decent images that once again are a bit
oversaturated, but can be sorted if you shoot in DNG Raw. The menu system on the touchscreen is easy to understand and use, and two new dedicated buttons on the front bring improved control. One button activates the instant 2x zoom which is far better than having to dig into menus. The Creator Combo is where things start to get interesting. Rather than just the camera, you get a DJI Mic 3 wireless transmitter, fill light, clip-on wide- angle lens, mini tripod and accessories including two different carry bags. In practice, this transforms the Pocket 4 from a solo shooting tool into a complete production system. Audio quality jumps significantly with the wireless mic, while the fill light adds much-needed control in low-light or indoor situations. Performance upgrades are subtle but meaningful. Activetrack 7.0 and improved autofocus make it far easier to film yourself or track subjects reliably. There’s also 107GB of internal storage with fast transfer speeds, reducing the reliance on cards and speeding up workflows. Battery life is solid too, stretching to around four hours depending on settings, with fast
charging keeping downtime minimal. Just 18 minutes charges it to 80%. It’s not quite the perfect piece of kit however. Low-light performance still lags behind the larger-sensor mirrorless cameras, and while the image is excellent for its size, it won’t fully replace a pro set-up. But that’s missing the point. The Osmo Pocket 4 Creator Combo isn’t trying to replace your main camera. It’s designed to capture moments you would otherwise miss and elevate them to a professional level. For content creators, this is one of the most compelling tools on the market right now. It’s not just convenient, it’s genuinely creative.
Specifications
Sensor 1in CMOS Dynamic range 14 stops Video formats Up to 4K/240fps, 3K vertical, 10-bit D-Log Stills formats JPEG, DNG IP streaming 1920x1080 UVC/UAC ISO range 50-12,800, extended 50-25,600 Lens 20mm equivalent, 2x lossless zoom Aperture f/2 Minimum focusing 20cm Audio 3 mics, 4 channels, 32-bit float with DJI Mic 3 Memory 107GB internal, plus Micro SD to 1TB Touchscreen 2in OLED, 1000 nits brightness Operating time 240 minutes
ONE-MAN BAND Investing in the Creator Combo kit (below) brings all you could need including a light and wireless mic
Verdict
Overall rating 9/10 The Pocket 4 offers a serious
upgrade in image quality and fast- frame-rate video, with Wi-Fi live streaming, timecode, film tone and even glamour effects. The best just got a lot better
Dimensions (lxwxd) 144.2x44.4x33.5mm Weight 191g
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