By David Tressel, CJ&N Senior Consultant
Wait – we have something to say before you wrap up your shopping for your favorite journalist. A few days ago, I received an alert that DJI Technology is releasing a new product that could be a gamechanger for YouTubers, particularly vloggers. Broadcasters and professional videographers know the name DJI for the rock-steady video its drones and camera gimbals deliver.
Its new product, called the Osmo Pocket, takes all of the groundbreaking technology they’ve developed for their drones and gimbals and put it into a tiny and affordable ($349) pocket-sized four-inch hand-held device. It includes a camera sensor capable of delivering 12 megapixel still images and 4K video (up to 60 fps), stabilized by a three-axis gimbal and a tiny touch screen monitor… and that’s just the hardware highlights!
On the software side, DJI packs in many of the software features they’ve pioneered for their drones, including ActiveTrack, which trains the lens to follow a subject, and FaceTrack, which identifies a human face and locks it into the frame for stills and moving video. DJI promises a full array of accessories, including an extension “selfie” rod, wireless module and a waterproof case.
The device is scheduled to start shipping later this week. While the Osmo Pocket is sure to be a hit with the internet video and selfie crowd, early reviewers also say its compact size makes it the perfect “second camera” for professional photographers and videographers.
If the light bulb hasn’t turned on yet, let me flip the switch for you… This pocket powerhouse should find a home in the glove box of every one of your news vehicles! Cutaway shots, second camera perspectives, one-man-band reports, Facebook lives,promo tweets… and don’t forget all the ways it can be used back at the station in marketing and news. The list is limited only by your imagination.
Below is a link to DJI’s website. We’re not officially endorsing it, merely pointing out the possibilities. Maybe an Osmo Pocket will find its way into your Christmas stocking this year!
