DJI Osmo Pocket 3: The Best Pocket-Sized Travel Camera?

Is there such a thing as the perfect travel and vlogging camera?

DJI is trying to answer that question with the Osmo Pocket 3, the most recent addition to their action camera lineup.

With an all-new and powerful sensor, built-in gimbal, stabilization, and the possibility of shooting amazing 4K 120fps slow-motion videos, the Osmo Pocket 3 promises a lot in a pretty affordable package.

With that said, the market is flooded with affordable travel cameras from high-end brands, so why should you choose this one over the other tried and tested alternatives?

Today, we’ll look at the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 to see what it is capable of and whether this new addition to the DJI lineup has a place in your gear setup.

Design and Features

This is the third generation and new addition to the Osmo Pocket lineup, and there are a few significant changes when compared with the previous models:

Size and weight

Even if the difference is not massive compared to the Osmo Pocket and the Osmo Pocket 2, at 179g, the Osmo Pocket 3 feels slightly bulkier and heavier out of the box.

Even then, it is still a compact and discreet device and will easily fit inside a pocket or sling bag without hassle.

This makes it the perfect device for those who prefer to pack light without sacrificing weight when traveling.

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The joystick

The removable joystick is now replaced with a much larger one that is fully integrated into the handle. In contrast, the previous one was fine; the new and larger joystick gives more control over the gimbal.

Unlike previous models, the joystick’s sensitivity is now adjustable. This makes perfecting video zooms, tilts, or slow pans much easier!

Fast charging battery

Did you forget to charge your camera?

With a larger 1300 mAh battery providing up to two hours of shooting, the Osmo Pocket 3 can be recharged up to 80% in just over 15 minutes.

In addition, if you get the Creator Combo instead of just the camera, you get an extended battery handle for increased battery performance and improved grip. Also, if you have larger hands, we’re sure you’ll appreciate the extra space!

The screen

First, the horizontal-only screen directly integrated into the handle is now replaced with a larger, 2-inch rotating AMOLED screen.

The simple fact that you are not forced to shoot horizontally adds a vast level of versatility to the Osmo Pocket 3, and we love it!

We don’t know about you, but with the previous Osmo Pocket cameras, we sometimes struggled with seeing exactly what we were filming due to the screen’s lack of resolution. This was also partly because they were supposed to be used with your smartphone, turning it into a large display.

It was a cool idea, but it messed with the concept of a light and compact camera you could take out and use on the go.

The Osmo Pocket 3, with its new AMOLED screen, is now much brighter and more colorful than the tiny one we used to.

You now get a bigger display with a much higher level of detail, giving you a better view of what you’re filming without relying on a secondary screen.

The lens

The lens has not changed much. The fixed aperture is still there, except it went from f/1.8 to f/2.0. This won’t be a notable difference for most users, and you’ll still get a nice shallow depth of field with a blurry background and sharp subjects.

The fact that the aperture is still fixed is a bit of a bummer.

As with previous models, it limits the Osmo Pocket 3 in the range of depth of field it can capture, which also means that you’ll have to rely on the shutter speed and ISO to adjust the brightness of your footage.

Video and photography

When it comes to shooting videos, the Osmo Pocket 3 is a vast improvement over older versions. It is capable of shooting 4K video at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps, and even slow-motion up to 120fps in 4K!

This is due to the large 1-inch sensor, which also gives the Osmo Pocket 3 excellent low-light capabilities. The large sensor, coupled with the impressive full-pixel AF autofocus, will allow you to effectively shoot at higher shutter speeds without overly darkening your footage, giving you bright and dynamic videos.

Face tracking is another feature that has improved significantly in this new model. It is much more responsive than before and perfect for solo travelers and one-man crews. The only big downside is that this feature reduces the quality of your videos, with active and face tracking not working in 4K videos at 60fps.

The Osmo Pocket 3 also has built-in omnidirectional microphones, which provide pretty good audio quality. However, if you plan on having natural audio on your video while recording outside, we recommend getting an external microphone because you’ll pick up a lot of background noise.

However, if you are interested in photography, you should know that DJI prioritized video capabilities with this new model. The Osmo Pocket 3 is a significant step down compared to the previous version, with a measly 9.4MP versus 64 on the Osmo Pocket 2.

While we never relied on the Osmo Pocket for snapping photos, it’s still a noticeable downgrade that is bound to be a dealbreaker for some.

Pros & Cons

+ Still lightweight and compact

+ Built-in stabilization and gimbal

+ Large, fast-charging battery

+ New AMOLED vertical and horizontal flip screen

+ New joystick allows for more control over the gimbal

+ Fast auto-focus

+ Large, fast-charging battery

+ Decent built-in microphones

– No adjustable aperture

– Digital zoom only

– Face tracking is available in low resolution only

– Poor photography capabilities

Do you need the Osmo Pocket 3?

Whether you should buy an Osmo Pocket 3 depends on what kind of footage you’re planning to record.

For vloggers and travelers, it’s pretty amazing!

It’s relatively light, compact, and discreet since it doesn’t look like your high-end camera. Adding an integrated gimbal and built-in stabilization also means you don’t have to carry extra gear around; the camera is ready to go out of the box.

The shallow depth of field is perfect if you plan on filming yourself, and high-definition video will allow for some fantastic footage to share with your viewers.

That said, it is almost double the price of the Osmo Pocket 2, which still holds its own in the video department and beats the new model in photography.

If you’ve never owned or used an Osmo Pocket, you might want to wait for its price to drop or rent one and try it out.