Which Osmo should I get?

In August 2016, DJI quietly released Osmo+ through their official website. And just one week after that at IFA in Germany, DJI unleashed another Osmo family member to the world: Osmo Mobile, a smart motion camera.

Just by looking at the handle, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this isn’t exactly a revolutionary product. That’s probably because the handle inherits a lot of the attributes of previous Osmos – with its all-black ergonomic design, streamlined body and concise control panel. It feels great in the hands.

As you can see, the panel buttons are almost exactly the same as before. The Joystick, record button and shutter button are all in the exact same place.

Physically speaking, the only real difference is that the gimbal is now attached to the handle and can’t be detached. Oh and the mobile phone holder is where the camera used to be. So there are two knobs behind the phone holder. One is the Holder Lock Knob, which adjusts the width of the camera holder, so it’s easier and safer to clip the phone in place. The holder’s width range is 58mm-84mm, so It’s definitely compatible with most mobile phones on the market.

The other one is the Balance Adjustment Knob on the adjustable arm. Just remember to press your phone level against the holder so that it lies flat in place before turning on the power.

Osmo Mobile uses Bluetooth so when you’re using it for the first time, you’ll need to connect it with your phone. After that, it should connect to your phone automatically when you switch it on and it won’t block any Wi-Fi signals or mobile networks.

The 3.5mm port on the front side is for charging and firmware upgrades only, so it won’t respond to other inputs like a microphone.

Without a camera, DJI have successfully manufactured a more affordable hand-held gimbal that is already more available and appealing to the wider market.One thing to note is that the main power cable is specific to Osmo Mobile and is incompatible with other devices.

Using the trigger is easy. Press it once and the gimbal will lock. Press it twice and the gimbal will re-center. Press it three times to switch between the phone’s front and rear cameras. All these cool features are accessible via the DJI GO app.

As we’ve said the handle feels great feel and you’ve already seen a bit of what it can do. So let’s talk about the gimbal.

Osmo Mobile allows you to control the gimbal with the joystick, but you can also use your phone’s touchscreen for fast, accurate framing. There are 4 main operation modes: Upright Mode, Portrait Mode, Underslung Mode and Flashlight Mode.

Select ActiveTrack in the bottom left corner of DJI GO and frame the object you want to track. Since I’m here, let’s select me. Once we’ve done that, the gimbal will follow the framed object independently, tracking it as the object of its focus. If I move away from its focus, or move too fast like this, it might lose track of me. But if I return quickly, it will start to follow me again.

So when you select your target and then it moves, DJI GO will tell the gimbal to track it. Motion Timelapse is a cool feature that’s really easy to use. All you have to do is set waypoints in DJI GO. You can select a maximum of five waypoints. Click “next” to set the time-lapse and shoot duration. The camera works out the length of the final video based on your input settings. It saves images chronologically and then generates a time-lapse, saving you significant hassle in post-processing.

Moreover, you can edit what you shoot in DJI GO, change tones or add music. Why not share your new videos and pictures to social media instantly? Osmo Mobile even supports live streaming, perfect for capturing and sharing live events or concerts in real-time.

Through DJI GO, you can even adjust different parameters of your phone’s camera including ISO, shutter speed, long exposure, slow motion and more.From camera settings to editing,  sharing, live streaming and gimbal control, DJI GO covers most of what you’ll need to make a professional looking film.

DJI GO is a highly integrated app that supports a host of DJI hardware including the Osmo family, Phantom series and Inspire drones.

And now you’re probably thinking, ‘well, which Osmo should I get?’

Ok, so let’s go through the main differences. Osmo and Osmo+ come equipped with outstanding 4K video cameras.

Now both of these, aside from being ultra portable, will give you stable, high-quality video. But we’re going to suggest that these Osmos are for more experienced filmmakers who need a separate camera.

With Osmo Mobile your phone is the camera. So depending on which way you look at it, there are advantages and disadvantages. The downside is that Osmo Mobile’s video quality depends on the resolution of your mobile phone. But on the plus side, Osmo Mobile is compatible with anything from an iPhone 5c to a Huawei Mate 8 and a lot more.

Battery life is about 4.5 hours meaning it’s fully operational for at least a half day of continuous filming on a single charge. But if that’s not enough, you can buy the portable charger and effectively have another round for a complete shoot day.

What else is there to add other than this is just a fantastic tool for making professional films on your own smart phone? It’s portable enough to take anywhere, and if you really get into it, you’ll never miss the chance to preserve a lasting memory.

I don’t know about you but I personally love Osmo Mobile. With DJI I’m always excited to see what they’ll release next, just like the newly Osmo Mobile Silver.

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