Trendy cameras are superb, and it’s uncommon to exit with one and really feel restricted. However, there’s at the least one factor devoted ILCs don’t do effectively: capturing video in intense environments the place the digicam might be broken. Therefore the rise of cameras just like the GoPro and comparable motion cameras from different manufacturers. At present, I’ll be reviewing one such digicam: the DJI Osmo 360.
Bodily Options
The DJI Osmo 360 doesn’t look very like an ILC:
It’s only a small block with a display and two lenses, one on both facet of the digicam. For touring, this primary design is already a bonus over a conventional ILC as a result of it’s sufficiently small to be put in a lightweight jacket pocket. These lenses have a fisheye impact however may be de-warped in post-processing to provide totally rectilinear outcomes.
The explanation why the Osmo 360 struck my curiosity in comparison with different motion cameras is what’s behind these bulbous lenses: two 1″-type sensors with 2.4µm pixels, which suggests it has the most important digicam sensor you’ll discover on this kind of digicam. It may well use both digicam individually for as much as 5K video, or each in conjunction to make 8K 360º movies and really broad panoramic pictures.
The Osmo 360 feels stable, and it’s waterproof to the purpose of being submergible in recent water. It’s technically waterproof to 10 meters, nonetheless, DJI recommends utilizing a separate waterproof housing in case you intend to make use of it submerged (primarily for picture high quality causes; the naked lenses can get distorted when underwater). The housing improves its waterproof score to 50 meters.
It’s received two doorways: battery and USB-C, each protected with robust seals. It may be safely utilized in intense rain and snow, which isn’t one thing I’d do with my ILC with out extra safety.
It’s additionally received simply three buttons: on/off, report/cease, and digicam swap. Choices may be configured utilizing the touch-screen. The opposite small openings are for twin microphones and a small speaker.
Machine Philosophy
In an effort to perceive the DJI Osmo 360, it’s a must to know its sole objective: to be a digicam that can be utilized with zero configuration to seize motion. It’s probably not meant for inventive compositions, neither is it meant to be versatile like an ILC in terms of altering focal size.
So, you’ve received a primary single lens, which supplies you an approximate 14mm full-frame equal subject of view. In varied modes, it’s cropped to get a bit nearer or to offer extra stabilization, and it may be mixed with the rear lens to make 360º movies. The lens is mounted at f/1.9, and its focus is mounted as effectively in order that every little thing about 30cm and farther is acceptably sharp.
That doesn’t imply you may’t take management. As soon as you turn off auto mode, you may take over publicity. In video mode, you may select an ISO from 100 to 12,800 and a shutter pace from 1/60 to 1/8,000.
You can too set the white steadiness, and the extent of “texture” and “noise discount”. The “texture” is a form of coarse sharpening, which on bigger screens seems crunchy, so I counsel holding it at a minimal. The noise discount seems pure. Principally, it’s meant for video reasonably than stills, however it may well shoot Uncooked pictures in DNG format that look fairly respectable.
Picture High quality
Right here’s a body seize from 4K footage:
Total, it’s affordable, with a little bit of a punchy and crunchy look. To pixel peep, I in contrast it to the Nikon Z6 with the Viltrox 14mm f/4, which is an honest full-frame lens. Right here’s a side-by-side of tight crops of pictures taken with every:
The Nikon Z6 is extra natural-looking with extra element, however because of its fairly massive 1″-type sensor, the DJI Osmo 360 shouldn’t be too far behind. I feel past the element distinction, the a lot greater distinction is the truth that the Osmo 360 has that “every little thing in focus” small sensor look.
Right here’s a side-by-side of an excessive crop of the 2 once more in very low mild:
The colours are good. In observe, I used to be impressed by the low-light video efficiency of the digicam. The distinction of the video remains to be a bit excessive, however there’s a Log possibility if you wish to repair that. In both case, the video is 10-bit.
The digicam additionally has a 4:3 video perspective as effectively, which may be helpful for cropping, as exact framing isn’t at all times obtainable throughout intense motion moments.
Stabilization
The true power of the DJI Osmo 360 is its clean stabilization. You’ll be able to stroll with this factor, and it doesn’t look very like strolling. In that respect, it’s even higher than a gimbal for bouncy actions.
That’s a key characteristic you want on an motion digicam. For those who’re working, mountaineering up rocky hills, or mountain biking, you simply need the footage to look clean so that you don’t kill your viewers with intense movement illness.
It’s received two stabilization modes: Rock Regular and Horizon Regular. The latter is for holding the horizon degree, and it really works. These modes crop the digicam to 15mm and 19mm respectively, however that may really be a great factor since 14mm may be very broad.
Audio High quality
On most cameras, the audio from the built-in microphone is unusuable junk. Is the microphone on the Osmo 360 any completely different? Nicely, I attempted recording a twenty-minute vlog with the Osmo 360. After I listened to the audio from the Osmo, I assumed: hey, not dangerous!
For voice, the audio sounds clean with no noticeable hiss. There may be positively some noise discount being utilized, and it sounds pure. So, if you wish to report a fast vlog, you may simply achieve this with out bringing all that additional audio gear.
I additionally in contrast the audio of the Osmo 360 to the Nikon Z6 and the Audio Tecnica AT875 brief shotgun microphone. Right here’s how I’d fee these three microphones general:
- The Z6 is a hissy mess. Ok just for a scratch observe. Total rating: 1/5.
- The DJI Osmo 360 has decent-sounding audio that’s a bit boxy. Total rating: 3/5.
- The AT875R sounds so significantly better than both. 4.5/5.
That being stated, the Osmo 360’s shouldn’t be foolproof. In can attenuate a delicate breeze, however intense wind will destroy your audio. Its built-in noise suppression can’t evaluate with a deadcat on a shotgun or perhaps a well-placed lav with a windscreen.
Moreover, the Osmo 360’s microphone is usually omni-directional. In an area with some echo, I heard far more audible echo than the AT875R positioned at an identical distance.
So, in case you’re going to make use of the Osmo 360 outdoors on a peaceful day or in a well-treated room, the audio is okay. However when the wind begins blowing, otherwise you’re utilizing it in a troublesome audio house, you’ve received to carry a devoted microphone.
Nonetheless Capabilities
Though the DJI Osmo 360 is an motion digicam meant for video, it may well take stills in each JPEG and DNG Uncooked. I simply used the JPEGs, as a result of darktable couldn’t deal with the built-in corrections. Nevertheless, in case your software program can deal with the lens corrections, modifying a DNG will probably end in a extra pure and fewer crunchy picture.
Just like the video mode, you may swap to handbook and management ISO, shutter pace, and white steadiness. So general, I’d say the Osmo 360 features like a mid-tier telephone. It may well report recollections effectively, however its stills are extra of an afterthought in comparison with the video.
Equipment
You’ll be able to both purchase the Osmo 360 within the Customary Combo or the Journey Combo. The Customary Combo comes with one battery, whereas the Journey Combo comes three batteries that may all match into the charger directly. That’s helpful as a result of the gadget can report for an hour or two relying on the decision used. So three batteries needs to be good for all-day use.
If these batteries will not be sufficient, you too can get a separate battery extension rod. It has a 15.5Wh battery in it, so it may well energy the Osmo 360 for for much longer. DJI claims it may well report in 8K for 4.5h.
The usual combo additionally comes with a digicam pouch, cleansing material, lens defending cowl, and a USB cable. It doesn’t include a micro-SD card, however you don’t really want it to start out out as a result of it’s received 128GB of built-in storage.
The Journey Combo additionally comes with a small 1.2m selfie-stick. In my thoughts, the selfie stick is sort of necessary until you’re already mounting it on one thing else, as a result of it’s a lot simpler to report vlogs holding it by the stick. There isn’t an ideal place to grip the digicam in any other case.
There’s additionally a bigger 2.5m selfie-stick offered individually. It’s helpful to create high-perpsective pictures. And when utilizing it, the digicam routinely clones out the stick when capturing 360º video.
Lastly, on the software program facet, there’s DJI studio for MacOS and Home windows. It’s a easy video editor, however it does have some devoted perspective correction and modification instruments that aren’t obtainable in Davinci Resolve. For example, it may well rework the 360º footage into the “tiny world” perspective that’s more likely to be essentially the most fascinating whenever you’re really utilizing the 360º characteristic. However the footage may be additionally utilized in any video editor as effectively.
In comparison with a Telephone
How does the Osmo 360 evaluate to a telephone? In some methods, it’s lots like a telephone contemplating the minimal controls and restricted characteristic set. Nevertheless, it does have a number of benefits over a telephone, the primary being indicated by its title: Osmo 360. Telephones can’t sometimes create video from two cameras concurrently just like the Osmo, not to mention sew them right into a 360 diploma shot.
And naturally, the Osmo is extra ergonomic, extra rugged, and higher weather-sealed than a telephone. It’s meant for extra superior necessities, as indicated by the devoted tripod socket, comparatively massive sensor, and wonderful stabilization. To not point out swappable batteries for all-day recording.
All of this stuff put collectively actually make this digicam simple to make use of and well-suited to motion and tough environments, whereas a telephone would simply be cumbersome and present its fragility.
Nevertheless, top-of-the-line telephones have some options that the Osmo doesn’t, like a greater variety in focal lengths and helpful apps. And naturally, some telephones can focus their lenses, whereas the Osmo 360 can’t.
Nonetheless, telephones and the Osmo 360 fill very completely different niches, so it’s most unlikely {that a} telephone will work in locations the place the Osmo 360 shines.
Weaknesses
No gadget is ideal, and the Osmo 360 isn’t good both. What I like least is that it’s a must to activate it utilizing an iOS or Android app. There’s no motive for this. What in case you don’t have a telephone or dislike telephones like I do? Moreover, the digicam reminds you to replace the firmware each time you flip it on!
The firmware replace should be carried out by way of the app, too, and it’s simply over 700MB for “minor stability enhancements.” Undecided how that’s potential on condition that the Z8 firmware is below 100MB and has code for a customized focus limiter. It actually isn’t very good for somebody with a restricted knowledge connection.
Lastly, I feel it will be good to have some extra management over the general look of the video with out resorting to Log format. The Log format is nice, however I feel it will even be good to have an possibility to cut back the distinction of the video in regular coloration mode. Even with the feel set to the minimal, it nonetheless seems a bit contrasty for my tastes.
Conclusion
The DJI Osmo 360 may be very simple to make use of for intense, outside motion scenes and straightforward video seize with none fuss. Its picture high quality is probably not good, however for its supposed objective, it’s not dangerous in any respect.
As somebody who likes to report vlogs outside, I’m going to make use of the DJI Osmo 360 lots. That’s not simply because it’s simple to make use of, but additionally as a result of I typically don’t have house to carry an additional ILC and audio gear to report, particularly after I journey. Total, I’m joyful so as to add the DJI Osmo 360 to my instruments to report video.
For those who’re within the DJI Osmo 360, you will get it with the hyperlinks under: