I Tested Dji's Tiny 4k Action Camera For Weeks - And Now I'm Ditching My Gopro For It

2 hours ago

pros and cons

Pros

Compact and lightweight creation for adventures and regular use
4K/120fps signaling and D-Log M floor plan connection fantabulous video value and editing flexibility
Built-in retention and fast-charging battery.

Cons

Harder to urge to newbies owed to nan extent of signaling features
Limited durability compared to different rugged action cameras.

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It seems for illustration everyone and their canine is signaling their adventures these days. And why not? Whether it's for posterity, to bore your friends and family, aliases for YouTube fame, it's ne'er been easier to seizure important moments.

Unlike nan cameras I utilized to usage "back successful nan day" -- which required shouldering and holding up to your oculus (so nan personification signaling nan infinitesimal sewage a weird filtered reality) -- cameras are now mini capable to clip onto a shot chapeau aliases bent disconnected a pendant.

Cameras don't get overmuch smaller than nan DJI Osmo Nano, and I've been testing this setup rather extensively complete nan past fewer weeks.

Also: I retested Apple AirTags aft 5 years - really they comparison to Bluetooth locator rivals

The Osmo Nano is marketed arsenic a 4K POV camera and vlogging camera. It's a measurement down successful capacity and robustness compared to full-on action cameras for illustration nan Osmo Action 6 aliases GoPro HERO13 Black, but it's a measurement up successful compactness and usability.

A mini camera that packs a punch

The Osmo Nano is tiny. The main camera measures 2.25 × 1.16 × 1.1 inches and weighs 1.8 ounces. It's not overmuch bigger than my thumb (though I do person ample thumbs). Even erstwhile mixed pinch nan multifunction Vision Dock, which adds different 2.33 × 1.66 × 0.88 inches and weighs 2.5 ounces, it remains compact.

Also: I bought an earwax camera for my toolkit and usage it for everything but my ears

Both units are built to grip nan outdoors, pinch nan camera capable to beryllium submerged down to 30 feet and nan dock capable to motion disconnected rainfall and splashes.

Even my mom doesn't deliberation I look cool...

But don't fto nan size fool you. That mini camera features a 1/1.3-inch sensor pinch an unthinkable 13.5 stops of move scope (putting it connected par pinch pro-grade cameras). This intends it's cleanable whether you're retired successful agleam sunlight, snow, aliases low-light conditions. It tin seizure video successful cinematic 4K/60fps aliases 4K/120fps slow mobility utilizing nan 143° ultra-wide lens.

Output tin beryllium saved arsenic 10-bit video, tin of discerning a cardinal colors, aliases arsenic a pro-grade D-Log M floor plan that preserves much item successful highlights and shadows, allowing for overmuch greater elasticity successful colour grading during editing.

There's besides a SuperNight mode for getting nan best, least-grainy nighttime shots.

A statement astir nan D-Log M profile: Only usage this floor plan if you're going to do immoderate editing beyond nan basics and cognize what you're doing (and what a LUT is). If you effort utilizing nan earthy footage, it will look flat, washed-out, desaturated, and debased successful contrast. While it does person much colour and opposition than a afloat D-Log profile, it still requires editing.

Built-in retention goes a agelong way

Video tin beryllium stored connected nan soul representation (the Osmo Nano comes successful 64GB and 128GB variants), and you tin grow it pinch microSD cards up to 1TB. I emotion that modern cameras person built-in representation because it eliminates those heart-stopping moments erstwhile you recognize you've hiked retired to a cool location and near each nan microSD cards astatine home.

Also: Why I spot this 1TB microSD paper pinch each my master footage - and that says a lot

While DJI is known for its drones, nan institution really knows really to get nan champion retired of mini cameras, and it applies this expertise to its ground-based cameras.

Battery life is astonishing adequate

Since these cameras are designed for on-the-move use, they request their ain power, and batteries are different area DJI knows a batch about. The camera houses a 530 mAh battery, and nan dock adds an further 1,300 mAh.

The camera unsocial tin tally for astir 60 minutes, pinch nan dock extending this to 200 minutes. I've tested this, and this is decidedly achievable. When nan artillery is low, I recovered that a 20-minute complaint brings nan camera up to astir 80%. The camera tin besides tally while connected to nan dock, which tin itself beryllium charging.

What astir audio?

Audio is often nan Achilles' bottommost of this benignant of compact action camera, but nan Osmo Nano erstwhile again delivers. It has 2 microphones built into nan Osmo Nano, cleanable for capturing some talking and ambient sounds. If you want more, you tin link nan camera to up to two DJI Mic 3 transmitters, making it a cleanable setup for vlogging and moreover interviews.

Integration pinch nan DJI Mic 3 microphones is simply a victor for me.

This feature, for me, takes nan Osmo Nano to a full caller level because I've recovered that audio -- particularly sound signaling -- is often a anemic constituent successful galore action-style cameras.

Strength successful numbers

OK, truthful what's nan woody pinch nan dock? In summation to nan other battery, nan multifunction Vision Dock adds a touchscreen. This gives you a quick, elemental measurement to interact pinch each nan camera's settings, arsenic good arsenic a surface for framing shots.

Also: This AirTag replacement pinch a 130dB siren and strobe ray has my sanction written each complete it

You'll prevention connected artillery if you study to usage nan fastener controls to navigate done each nan different shooting menus alternatively of pawing astatine nan touchscreen. However, if you're for illustration maine and don't usage nan camera regularly, that easy-to-use surface interface is simply a invited addition.

Even pinch nan dock attached, it's not excessively big.

The dock besides has different instrumentality up its sleeve: You tin usage it to transportation video files from nan camera's soul retention to microSD cards. This offers a speedy and easy measurement to free up nan camera's soul retention while connected nan move.

The combo kit besides comes pinch immoderate neat accessories. There's a magnetic pendant for wearing nan camera astir your cervix and clamping it to clothing (you put nan pendant nether your clothes), and a swivel clip that tin connect to nan pendant aliases clip to a hat.

The magnetic pendant makes attaching nan camera to clothing easy.

There's besides a protective lawsuit for nan camera that DJI recommends utilizing if you clasp it for extended periods (because it tin get somewhat toasty). I thin to support nan camera successful nan lawsuit astir of nan clip for added protection (I'm not utilizing it successful peculiarly basking conditions present successful nan UK).

Also: I utilized a azygous powerfulness position to support my off-grid compartment moving - really it each worked out

The combo kit besides comes pinch a suction cup holder, which is awesome for occasional use, but I wouldn't connect it to a car aliases thing wherever I could suffer nan camera. But if you unscrew nan suction cup, you'll find a super-useful and ubiquitous 1/4"-20 threaded spread for a tripod aliases selfie stick.

There are immoderate further accessories that those wanting to return their videography to nan adjacent level mightiness appreciate, specified arsenic a group of ND (neutral density) filters, a must for bright-lit scenes.

Why I Switched from my GoPro

OK, truthful why has nan Osmo Nano replaced my GoPro HERO13 Black? Bottom line: convenience. With nan Osmo Nano, there's built-in retention for those "aww shhhhhhhhh….ucks!" moments, and a built-in fast-charge artillery intends there's nary faffing pinch outer batteries.

It's besides smaller and lighter, and I tin dispense pinch nan surface erstwhile I request a compact system.

Connection to my iPhone is rock-solid each time, and I for illustration nan DJI Mimo app (iOS/Android) for speedy footage editing earlier uploading. And propulsion successful nan expertise to link to my DJI Mic 3 transmitters, and that's nan cherry connected nan already overflowing barroom for me.

It's this matrimony of hardware and package that feels for illustration a meaningful advantage for DJI complete my existing GoPro setup, and why I'm particularly excited to spot what's adjacent for GoPro arsenic it's releasing nan Mission 1 soon

ZDNET's buying advice

The DJI Osmo Nano is impervious that bully things really do travel successful mini packages. It's compact, feature-packed, and incredibly easy to use, making it cleanable for adventurers, vloggers, and anyone who wants to seizure life's moments without nan hassle of bulky gear.

At $409 for nan 128GB type (I urge this over nan 64GB version since this discuss only saves you $30), it's not a inexpensive camera, but it's an exceptionally bully setup. It's cleanable for

If you're looking for a camera that's some portable and dependable, nan Osmo Nano mightiness conscionable beryllium your caller champion friend. It's decidedly go my bestie!