Though they were relatively quiet during the first half of this year, DJI seems to be letting everything flow as we prepare to say goodbye to 2020. The company, which specialises in civilian drones and creative camera technology, has already impressed with the DJI OM4 smartphone gimbal, and are about to beef their Ronin series. Now, DJI has announced a sequel to the incredibly popular DJI Osmo Pocket.
Like the Osmo Mobile 3, the name has been changed and the forthcoming product is to be known simply as the DJI Pocket 2. Not a meaningful name change by any means, but what really matters is how good this new camera looks.
For those that weren’t familiar with the Osmo Pocket, it was the smallest handheld camera attached to a 3-axis mechanical handheld gimbal that DJI has ever made, making it much easier and accessible for vloggers and photographers alike to create cinematic videos on the fly. Travellers ate it up; YouTubers adored it; Instagrammers fawned over it. It was just generally one of the most well-received cameras of its time – and we are expecting the sequel to be even better.
The DJI Pocket 2 will double down on feature upgrades, improved imaging and audio performance, and slimline its modular design for that extra layer of convenience. This should ideally make content creative much more accessible for a wider variety of skillsets, opening up the ability for anyone to express their imagination without mastering the typically steep learning curve of videography and photography.
Like it’s predecessor, the Pocket 2 is capable of shooting up to 4K at 60fps at 100mbps. HDR video has been added to help make video much more vivid, especially for a 1/1.7″ image sensor, which is bigger than that on the Osmo Pocket but still quite compact. The 20mm f/1.8 lens will help users maintain a bright and wide cinematic look, while photographs can be capture in 16MP or 64MP using high-res mode. Autofocus has also been redeveloped using Hybrid 2.0 AF software, which is a blend of phase and contrast detection to increase speed and accuracy.
The AF should also come in handy when working with the brand new zoom feature, which is one of the first things we’re going to be testing out ahead of our full review.
The entire device will weigh in at just 117g, which – for perspective – is only slightly heavier then your average garden-variety lemon. Regardless, DJI has managed to fit a battery that can last up to 140 minutes on a single charge, which is reasonable for such a pocket-sized device.
“There was nothing like the DJI Osmo Pocket on the market when we first released it in November 2018, and it immediately changed the way we capture life’s special moments,” offered DJI President Roger Luo. “DJI Pocket 2 takes it even further. We listened to our customers’ feedback and adapted the iconic design and form factor while raising the bar for the camera system”.
From looking at it, it seems DJI’s design team has made the wise decision to introduce a joystick for incremental and smoother movements. This should help the camera’s ability to manoeuvre in a more nuanced way, nodding to the fact that specific movements can often mean the difference between capturing incredible content, and just content
Another thing they’ve obviously put a lot of stock into is in improving the audio on this thing. The original’s audio pick-up still left a lot of room for improvement, with DJI promising a “drastically improved” immersive audio experience. The newly added DJI Matrix Stereo system will add four microphones, which have been positioned to stay clear of a hand when its holding the pocket, aimed squarely at capturing audio while filtering out unwanted background noise. SoundTrack software has been included to adjust the audio based on where the camera is facing, sitting alongside Audio Zoom which narrows the sound field when zooming the camera in. Wind noise reduction can also be toggled in the settings to help with clarity.
And it wouldn’t be a creative camera with out a bunch of pre-programmed modes. Here’s what DJI has put into the Pocket 2:
- Pro Mode: Control advanced camera settings such as ISO, shutter speed, EV, and focus mode.
- ActiveTrack 3.0: Select a subject and let DJI Pocket 2 keep it in the frame automatically.
- Slow Motion: Capture the fast-moving world in slow motion with a max speed and resolution of 8x at 1080p.
- Timelapse, Hyperlapse, Motionlapse: Speed up the world around you with the varying effects of three different time-lapse operations. Hyperlapse automatically integrates Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for added smoothness. Users have the ability to save individual images separately, record in RAW format, and use ActiveTrack 3.0.
- Panoramas: 180° Pano: Captures four photos for sweeping landscape images; 3×3 Pano: Merges nine images for a wide and detailed view.
- Livestreaming: Livestream directly to Facebook, YouTube, or RTMP.
- Story Mode: Preset camera movements, color profiles, and music make it easier to choose a template, record the moment, and share to social media instantly.
- New Accessories And Dedicated Mobile App To Explore And Expand Your Creativity
- A wide variety of accessories have been created to ensure creators can get the most out of DJI Pocket 2, including a sleek charging case, wireless microphone set, waterproof housing, a smaller control wheel, extension rod, wide-angle lens, wireless module, and smartphone support system. A new modular design lets you remove the bottom portion of the handle and attach several accessories that expand the ways you can put DJI Pocket to use, including a base to attach the Micro Tripod and a Do-It-All Handle with a tripod base, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module, speaker, 3.5mm audio jack, and wireless microphone receiver.
- Whether you are a new user or experienced content creator, DJI Pocket 2 has everything you need to capture footage that will add colors, context, and meaning to your story.
Once content has been captured, users can use the DJI Mimo app’s built-in editing tool to adjust images and videos to get them nice and ready to instantly share on social media channels. A new AI Editor has been included to auto preview footage, select highlights, and create a short video without the user putting in any effort at all.
Pricing & Availability
DJI Pocket 2 is available for pre-order from store.dji.com and DJI Authorized Resellers in Australia. DJI Pocket 2 can be purchased in two options. DJI Pocket 2 includes the Mini Control Stick and tripod mount (1/4”) for the retail price of AUD $599. The DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo includes the Mini Control Stick, tripod mount (1/4”), Wide-Angle Lens, Wireless Microphone + Windscreen, Do-It-All Handle, and Micro Tripod for the retail price of AUD $799. More details can be found >a href=”https://store.dji.com/product/pocket-2″ target=”blank”>here.
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