BobKo
Leading Member
I've been thinking about getting a DJI Osmo Pocket 3, and wonder if there is a specific forum here on DPReview to discuss the camera. Or is this the right place?
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DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Discussion?
- Thread starter BobKo
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The Pocket 3 is mainly a video camera, so this is the right place. There are already posts about it.
On the Action/VR forum, there are GoPro advocates and haters that pollute. The Pocket 3 is not really an action cam anyway.
BobKo
Leading Member
Does anyone here have a DJI Pocket 3? Do you like it? Would you get it again? What do you find that it is particularly good at? Is there something that you thought it would do well but it doesn't?
A couple of specific questions that I have not seen quick answers for:
1. Does it have an audio input jack?
2. What is the data rate of 4K video?
3. This should be obvious, but somehow it is not: Does it have built-in memory? Does it take a microSD card? Full-size SD card?
Thanks in advance.
A couple of specific questions that I have not seen quick answers for:
1. Does it have an audio input jack?
2. What is the data rate of 4K video?
3. This should be obvious, but somehow it is not: Does it have built-in memory? Does it take a microSD card? Full-size SD card?
Thanks in advance.
HappyMartin
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No audio input. You can interface with it using a type c connector.
No internal memory. Uses Micro SD cards.
No idea what the 4K bit rate is. I looked it up at some point but don’t recall it now. I’m used to the quality and what it does in a fairly instinctive way by now.
its mostly my get out jail device. When shoots go to hell due to time constraints, when I can’t get the gear I normally use into place. When it’s too dangerous to be seen with a camera. Once when the safety officer wouldn’t allow me to climb the 130m scaffolding ladder to the top of a construction tower with the Sony and gimbal. I can put this thing in my pocket and always get the shot. It’s not my best or first choice but it’s with me on every shoot.
I do a lot of hiking and find it works very well for that. I will always have GoPro for when it gets rough but if it’s a pleasant hike with good weather the pocket 3 is better.
it’s ability to hook up easily with its little lav mic is fantastic
No internal memory. Uses Micro SD cards.
No idea what the 4K bit rate is. I looked it up at some point but don’t recall it now. I’m used to the quality and what it does in a fairly instinctive way by now.
its mostly my get out jail device. When shoots go to hell due to time constraints, when I can’t get the gear I normally use into place. When it’s too dangerous to be seen with a camera. Once when the safety officer wouldn’t allow me to climb the 130m scaffolding ladder to the top of a construction tower with the Sony and gimbal. I can put this thing in my pocket and always get the shot. It’s not my best or first choice but it’s with me on every shoot.
I do a lot of hiking and find it works very well for that. I will always have GoPro for when it gets rough but if it’s a pleasant hike with good weather the pocket 3 is better.
it’s ability to hook up easily with its little lav mic is fantastic
USB-C mics work well with it. Plus bluetooth mics.
For 4K 60 fps: 110 Mbps HEVC (Main10@L5@High).
microSD card.
I have posted lots of Pocket 3 videos here and in the Action cam/VR forum.
BobKo
Leading Member
I have a wired USB-C mic, so that is an interesting feature about the Pocket 3. I think that one of my wireless mic receivers has a USB-C adapter to work with cell phones, so that might be interesting to try. And I think another of my wireless mics uses bluetooth, so that will be something to try.
I don't have a Pocket 3 yet, but it is on the 'soon-to-buy' list.
winnegehetoch
Leading Member
I use it - mainly for travel - combined with one or two DJI Mic 2 controlled IEEE 32-bit float units. That’s a good combo for travel use.
Yes and No. Any USB-C microphone can be connected (or standard USB-C to TRS etc). I have used the Shure MV88+ M-S microphone with good results (especially if you activate additional and separate internal stereo WAV recording). It’s only 16-bit, but not bad if you”re using direct digital connections.
It varies with frame rate and codec. I find it a bit to the low side for my use, but the alternative is very unwieldy “rigging/gimbal” combinations, that I avoid like the plaque for travel use. So… A practical compromise, I can live with (YMMV), that more or less guarantees acceptable video and very good audio in almost all situations.
Kind of choosing between a very good chance of usable to good result contra very much lower chance of successfull takes with “very good video AND very good audio”.
For travel and once in a lifetime situations, I ALWAYS prefer many acceptable results over very few quality results.
No. You use a standard V30 certified micro SDXC card of nice capacity.
Yes. You NEED V30 certified cards.
NO.
Regards
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Can I play?
I recently switched from Team iPhone to Team Pocket 3 for a take-everywhere documenter of life's moments. I took it on a recent vacation as my only camera and was very pleased with the footage I returned with.
Two things would make me buy an improved model:
1. Brighter screen. My iPhone is a few hundred nits brighter. There were times in the blazing sun when I just couldn't see the subjects on the screen of the Pocket 3. Never going out-light the sun, but .....
2. Built-in variable ND filters like my big boy video cameras have. The magnetic filters are too fiddly. I have to believe someone has or will develop something tiny enough to fit in these cameras to control the amount of light hitting the sensor easily.
I recently switched from Team iPhone to Team Pocket 3 for a take-everywhere documenter of life's moments. I took it on a recent vacation as my only camera and was very pleased with the footage I returned with.
Two things would make me buy an improved model:
1. Brighter screen. My iPhone is a few hundred nits brighter. There were times in the blazing sun when I just couldn't see the subjects on the screen of the Pocket 3. Never going out-light the sun, but .....
2. Built-in variable ND filters like my big boy video cameras have. The magnetic filters are too fiddly. I have to believe someone has or will develop something tiny enough to fit in these cameras to control the amount of light hitting the sensor easily.
HappyMartin
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Agree on the ND filter thing. I like using small cameras and I’m not one of the people that goes on about big hands but honestly I struggle with these little magnetic things.
if we talking about improvements the auto focus could be worked on. Lock it off when we need. It sometimes jumps about.
sludge21017
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Just better to buy the combo with the wireless mic.
Two major additional features:
1. Lossless 4K 2X zoom: from 20mm to 40mm.
2. Focus breathing compensation. The lens on the Pocket 3 has quite bad focus breathing, and this new feature deals with it just like on Sony cameras.
1. Lossless 4K 2X zoom: from 20mm to 40mm.
2. Focus breathing compensation. The lens on the Pocket 3 has quite bad focus breathing, and this new feature deals with it just like on Sony cameras.
winnegehetoch
Leading Member
You install firmware from the dji app. There is no link.
BobKo
Leading Member
BTW, Costco has the DJI Pocket 3 for $500. The package Costco is selling seems to be the same as the Creator Combo version, except that the Costco version does not have the wireless mic or the wide-angle lens attachment (both of which sound useful to me). The Costco version does come with a 64GB microSD card, which I think is not part of the official DJI Creator Combo.
I keep hoping Costco will put the Pocket 3 on sale, but nothing yet.
I keep hoping Costco will put the Pocket 3 on sale, but nothing yet.
winnegehetoch
Leading Member
What is the bitrate for the highest quality 4K30 videos?
If I want to use it with a stereo mic like the Rode Stereo Video Mic with the DJI Mic 2, is there a bracket or whatever to hold them both together?
What is the photo quality like? I'm reading that it can take RAW/DNG photos? Are the results more than acceptable and fixed in Adobe Lightroom? I wouldn't mind using the Pocket 3 as my selfie camera if it can provide better results than my iPhone 16 Pro Max.
winnegehetoch
Leading Member
Can't remember, but it's typically less than 100 megabit/sec h265 25 fps 4k 2020 HLG 4:2:0.
I use this setup:
The stick is a Insta360 invisible stick with cold shoe, the mounts are Ulanzi Claw (several other options), the tri-cold-shoe is Ulanzi, and the two Neewer critters converts cold shoe to 90 degrees off and far more secure mounts. The K&F Concept delivers a far more solid cold shoe to Pocket 3 clamp, that can be angled. The DJI Mic 2 recordings are started/stopped from the Pocket 3 - wherever it is positioned within some 7-8-10 meters.
The DJI Mic 2 units are used for internal IEEE 32-bit recording only, but controlled by the Pocket 3 (example file names below contain data and timestamps set automatically - note the possible clash between the two DJI Mic 2 recordings):
L: DJI_01_20250506_092958.WAV
R: DJI_01_20250506_092958.WAV
The Pocket 3 is setup to standard recording (mono audio)
Video+ACC: DJI_20250506092958_0002_D.MP4
AND 48kHz 16-bits LPCM stereo (better quality, than the audio embedded into the video):
WAV: DJI_20250506092958_0002_D.WAV
with these settings:
Remote control of DJI Mic 2 recording start/stop
Additonally save an audio backup of the Built-In Pocket 3 microphones (in better quality and stereo)
Easily sync'd in Final Cut Pro 11 or Resolve Studio 19.x or 20 beta.
Regards
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Can the Pocket 3 record 4:2:2 videos or are they all 4:2:0? I guess I'm looking at around 800MB for a minute of video at 4K60?Can't remember, but it's typically less than 100 megabit/sec h265 25 fps 4k 2020 HLG 4:2:0.
I use this setup:
The stick is a Insta360 invisible stick with cold shoe, the mounts are Ulanzi Claw (several other options), the tri-cold-shoe is Ulanzi, and the two Neewer critters converts cold shoe to 90 degrees off and far more secure mounts. The K&F Concept delivers a far more solid cold shoe to Pocket 3 clamp, that can be angled. The DJI Mic 2 recordings are started/stopped from the Pocket 3 - wherever it is positioned within some 7-8-10 meters.
The DJI Mic 2 units are used for internal IEEE 32-bit recording only, but controlled by the Pocket 3 (example file names below contain data and timestamps set automatically - note the possible clash between the two DJI Mic 2 recordings):
L: DJI_01_20250506_092958.WAV
R: DJI_01_20250506_092958.WAV
The Pocket 3 is setup to standard recording (mono audio)
Video+ACC: DJI_20250506092958_0002_D.MP4
AND 48kHz 16-bits LPCM stereo (better quality, than the audio embedded into the video):
WAV: DJI_20250506092958_0002_D.WAV
with these settings:
Remote control of DJI Mic 2 recording start/stop
Additonally save an audio backup of the Built-In Pocket 3 microphones (in better quality and stereo)
Easily san'd in Final Cut Pro 11 or Resolve Studio 19.x or 20 beta.
Regards
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