Whether you’re using them for next-level selfies or steady tracking shots, gimbals are a must for anyone who wants to maximize the potential of these powerful smartphone cameras we’re all carrying around. But those smartphones are also supposed to be portable, and let’s face it: Gimbals tend to offset that advantage.
Weighing in at just over four ounces and smaller than a smartphone, the DJI Osmo Pocket Handheld 3 Axis Gimbal Stabilizer with Integrated Camera fixes that problem – but it’s hardly the only perk for serious photographers.
The Osmo Pocket’s camera eliminates the need for a smartphone or separate device altogether while you’re shooting, although you can use DJI’s Mimo app to turn your screen into a larger viewfinder or add filters, soundtracks, camera motions, and other post-production flourishes. But even on its own, you’ll get some impressive images. The wide f/2.0, 80 angle-of-view lens captures 12 MP still photos and 4K/60fps video at 100 Mbps. You can tweak the ISO and exposure settings in Pro Mode and activate FaceTrack and Motionlapse functions straight from the gimbal. There’s even a Nightshot mode for low-light shots and an FPV setting that makes selfies a breeze.
This is impressive enough in a camera that small, but the expandable gimbal essentially turns the whole package into a miniature camera crew. The 3-axis stabilization keeps every tracking shot as smooth as butter, and it also incorporates a 1/4″ tripod mount. The whole rig is powered by a brushless motor that’s cooled by a fanless, passive heat distribution system that operates quietly. Throw in a remote control unit that’s intuitive and simple and there’s no shot you can’t get with this thing.
Right now, the DJI Osmo Pocket Handheld 3 Axis Gimbal Stabilizer with Integrated Camera is available for $319.