DJI's latest release, the Osmo Pocket 3, is an intriguing and unusual camera that has piqued interest. Despite its peculiarities, it has managed to capture my desire for ownership.
==================================================================
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3, a pocket-sized camera, is making waves in the world of video production with its impressive features and capabilities. Leading the US coverage for Digital Camera World, Hillary K. Grigonis, a seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in cameras and technology, has had the opportunity to test this innovative device.
Grigonis's work has been featured in numerous publications, including Business Insider, Digital Trends, Pocket-lint, Rangefinder, The Phoblographer, and more. With a background as a former Nikon shooter and a current Fujifilm user, Grigonis has tested a wide range of cameras and lenses across multiple brands. As a licensed drone pilot, she brings a unique perspective to her reviews.
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 boasts a 1-inch CMOS sensor, a feature rarely found in action cameras. This sensor delivers high-quality, low-noise footage with strong dynamic range, especially in challenging lighting conditions. In addition, the built-in 3-axis mechanical gimbal provides true physical stabilization, resulting in buttery-smooth, cinematic video, even during movement, without the distortion commonly seen in electronic stabilization alone.
The device also sports a rotatable 2-inch OLED touchscreen, making it easy to shoot selfies, vlogs, or portrait-oriented content efficiently. Advanced AI-based ActiveTrack 6.0 technology keeps moving subjects sharply framed during recording.
Despite its compact and lightweight design (~116g), the Osmo Pocket 3 offers stereo microphones with noise reduction for clear audio capture, extending its utility beyond video to live-streaming and concert recordings. Wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enables quick sharing and remote control. The device also boasts up to around 166 minutes of battery life with USB-C fast charging support.
Compared to traditional action cameras, the Osmo Pocket 3 sacrifices ruggedness, waterproofing, and strap/mount-based hands-free operation but gains significantly in video quality and cinematic smoothness thanks to its large sensor and superior mechanical stabilization. It excels for creators valuing image quality, stable footage, and travel-friendly portability but less so for extreme sports or underwater use without additional accessories.
Against traditional camera designs, the Osmo Pocket 3 offers a much smaller form factor with integrated stabilization and smart tracking, targeting vloggers and casual filmmakers rather than professional manual controls and interchangeable lenses found in larger mirrorless or DSLR cameras. Its ease of use, quick startup, and intelligent features provide notable advantages for on-the-go content creation over bulkier systems.
In summary, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 uniquely blends gimbal-level stabilization with high-end sensor performance in a pocketable device, filling a niche between action cameras (focused on durability and rugged use) and traditional cameras (focused on manual control and optical versatility). With a price of $799 / £489 / AU$849, the Osmo Pocket 3 is a potential addition for vloggers seeking smooth, cinematic video on the move. However, for still photographers like Grigonis, the price may be harder to justify for behind-the-scenes video recording, especially considering that other compact cameras with one-inch sensors are similarly or more expensive.
- Grigonis, the reviewer with experience in cameras and technology, has tested the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, a pocket-sized camera that features a 1-inch CMOS sensor.
- The DJI Osmo Pocket 3's large sensor delivers high-quality, low-noise footage with strong dynamic range, even in challenging lighting conditions.
- The device also has a built-in 3-axis mechanical gimbal for physical stabilization, resulting in smooth, cinematic video during movement.
- The Osmo Pocket 3's rotatable 2-inch OLED touchscreen is convenient for shooting selfies, vlogs, or portrait-oriented content.
- The device offers stereo microphones with noise reduction for clear audio capture, extending its utility to live-streaming and concert recordings.
- Although the Osmo Pocket 3 is compact and lightweight, it lacks ruggedness and waterproofing compared to traditional action cameras.
- The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a potential addition for vloggers seeking smooth, cinematic video on the move, but its price may be hard to justify for still photographers for behind-the-scenes video recording, especially considering other compact cameras with one-inch sensors are similarly or more expensive.
