execs and cons
Execs
- Compact and light-weight design for adventures and each day use
- 4K/120fps recording and D-Log M profile supply glorious video high quality and enhancing flexibility
- Constructed-in storage and fast-charging battery.
Cons
- Tougher to suggest to newbies as a result of depth of recording options
- Restricted sturdiness in comparison with different rugged motion cameras.
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It looks like everybody and their canine is recording their adventures lately. And why not? Whether or not it is for posterity, to bore your family and friends, or for YouTube fame, it is by no means been simpler to seize essential moments.
Not like the cameras I used to make use of “again within the day” — which required shouldering and holding as much as your eye (so the individual recording the second obtained a bizarre filtered actuality) — cameras at the moment are sufficiently small to clip onto a baseball hat or grasp off a pendant.
Cameras do not get a lot smaller than the DJI Osmo Nano, and I have been testing this setup fairly extensively over the previous few weeks.
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The Osmo Nano is marketed as a 4K POV digicam and vlogging digicam. It is a step down in efficiency and robustness in comparison with full-on motion cameras just like the Osmo Motion 6 or GoPro HERO13 Black, however it’s a step up in compactness and usefulness.
A tiny digicam that packs a punch
The Osmo Nano is tiny. The primary digicam measures 2.25 × 1.16 × 1.1 inches and weighs 1.8 ounces. It isn’t a lot larger than my thumb (although I do have giant thumbs). Even when mixed with the multifunction Imaginative and prescient Dock, which provides one other 2.33 × 1.66 × 0.88 inches and weighs 2.5 ounces, it stays compact.
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Each items are constructed to deal with the outside, with the digicam in a position to be submerged right down to 30 toes and the dock in a position to shrug off rain and splashes.
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However do not let the scale idiot you. That tiny digicam contains a 1/1.3-inch sensor with an unbelievable 13.5 stops of dynamic vary (placing it on par with pro-grade cameras). This implies it is good whether or not you are out in vibrant daylight, snow, or low-light situations. It may well seize video in cinematic 4K/60fps or 4K/120fps sluggish movement utilizing the 143° ultra-wide lens.
Output will be saved as 10-bit video, able to discerning a billion colours, or as a pro-grade D-Log M profile that preserves extra element in highlights and shadows, permitting for a lot higher flexibility in colour grading throughout enhancing.
There’s additionally a SuperNight mode for getting the perfect, least-grainy evening pictures.
A be aware concerning the D-Log M profile: Solely use this profile if you are going to do some enhancing past the fundamentals and know what you are doing (and what a LUT is). For those who strive utilizing the uncooked footage, it’ll look flat, washed-out, desaturated, and low in distinction. Whereas it does have extra colour and distinction than a full D-Log profile, it nonetheless requires enhancing.
Constructed-in storage goes a great distance
Video will be saved on the inner reminiscence (the Osmo Nano is available in 64GB and 128GB variants), and you may increase it with microSD playing cards as much as 1TB. I really like that fashionable cameras have built-in reminiscence as a result of it eliminates these heart-stopping moments whenever you notice you have hiked out to a cool location and left all of the microSD playing cards at dwelling.
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Whereas DJI is understood for its drones, the corporate actually is aware of the way to get the perfect out of small cameras, and it applies this experience to its ground-based cameras.
Battery life is stunning ample
Since these cameras are designed for on-the-move use, they want their very own energy, and batteries are one other space DJI is aware of lots about. The digicam homes a 530 mAh battery, and the dock provides an extra 1,300 mAh.
The digicam alone can run for round 60 minutes, with the dock extending this to 200 minutes. I’ve examined this, and that is undoubtedly achievable. When the battery is low, I discovered {that a} 20-minute cost brings the digicam as much as about 80%. The digicam can even run whereas linked to the dock, which might itself be charging.
What about audio?
Audio is usually the Achilles’ heel of this form of compact motion digicam, however the Osmo Nano as soon as once more delivers. It has two microphones constructed into the Osmo Nano, good for capturing each speaking and ambient sounds. If you need extra, you’ll be able to join the digicam to as much as two DJI Mic 3 transmitters, making it an ideal setup for vlogging and even interviews.
Integration with the DJI Mic 3 microphones is a winner for me.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This function, for me, takes the Osmo Nano to an entire new degree as a result of I’ve discovered that audio — particularly voice recording — is usually a weak level in lots of action-style cameras.
Power in numbers
OK, so what is the take care of the dock? Along with the additional battery, the multifunction Imaginative and prescient Dock provides a touchscreen. This offers you a fast, easy option to work together with all of the digicam’s settings, in addition to a display for framing pictures.
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You will save on battery for those who study to make use of the button controls to navigate by way of all of the completely different taking pictures menus as an alternative of pawing on the touchscreen. Nonetheless, for those who’re like me and do not use the digicam repeatedly, that easy-to-use display interface is a welcome addition.
Even with the dock connected, it isn’t too huge.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The dock additionally has one other trick up its sleeve: You should utilize it to switch video recordsdata from the digicam’s inner storage to microSD playing cards. This gives a fast and straightforward option to unlock the digicam’s inner storage whereas on the transfer.
The combo package additionally comes with some neat equipment. There is a magnetic pendant for carrying the digicam round your neck and clamping it to clothes (you set the pendant below your garments), and a swivel clip that may connect to the pendant or clip to a hat.
The magnetic pendant makes attaching the digicam to clothes straightforward.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
There’s additionally a protecting case for the digicam that DJI recommends utilizing for those who maintain it for prolonged intervals (as a result of it might get considerably toasty). I are likely to maintain the digicam within the case more often than not for added safety (I am not utilizing it in notably sizzling situations right here within the UK).
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The combo package additionally comes with a suction cup holder, which is nice for infrequent use, however I would not connect it to a automotive or something the place I may lose the digicam. However for those who unscrew the suction cup, you may discover a super-useful and ubiquitous 1/4″-20 threaded gap for a tripod or selfie stick.
There are some extra equipment that these desirous to take their videography to the following degree would possibly admire, resembling a set of ND (impartial density) filters, a should for bright-lit scenes.
Why I Switched from my GoPro
OK, so why has the Osmo Nano changed my GoPro HERO13 Black? Backside line: comfort. With the Osmo Nano, there’s built-in storage for these “aww shhhhhhhhh….ucks!” moments, and a built-in fast-charge battery means there isn’t any faffing with exterior batteries.
It is also smaller and lighter, and I can dispense with the display after I want a compact system.
Connection to my iPhone is rock-solid each time, and I just like the DJI Mimo app (iOS/Android) for fast footage enhancing earlier than importing. And throw within the skill to hook up with my DJI Mic 3 transmitters, and that is the cherry on the already overflowing cake for me.
It is this marriage of {hardware} and software program that looks like a significant benefit for DJI over my present GoPro setup, and why I am particularly excited to see what’s subsequent for GoPro because it’s releasing the Mission 1 quickly
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The DJI Osmo Nano is proof that good issues actually do are available small packages. It is compact, feature-packed, and extremely straightforward to make use of, making it good for adventurers, vloggers, and anybody who needs to seize life’s moments with out the effort of cumbersome gear.
At $409 for the 128GB model (I like to recommend this over the 64GB model since this compromise solely saves you $30), it isn’t an affordable digicam, however it’s an exceptionally good setup. It is good for
For those who’re in search of a digicam that is each transportable and reliable, the Osmo Nano would possibly simply be your new finest good friend. It is undoubtedly turn into my bestie!
