I tested DJI’s tiny 4K action camera for several weeks – and now I’m ditching my GoPro for it

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It seems like everyone and their dog is recording their adventures these days. And why not? Whether it’s for posterity, to bore your friends and family, or for the sake of YouTube fame, capturing important moments has never been easier.

Unlike the cameras I used “back in the day” – which required being held over the shoulder and close to your eye (so that the person recording the moment got a weird filtered reality) – cameras are now small enough to clip onto a baseball cap or hang from a pendant.

Cameras don’t get much smaller than this dji osmo nanoAnd I’ve been testing this setup extensively for the past few weeks.

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The Osmo Nano is marketed as a 4K POV camera and vlogging camera. It’s a step down in performance and robustness compared to full-on action cameras like osmo action 6 Or gopro hero13 blackBut it is a step forward in terms of compactness and usefulness.

A tiny camera that packs a punch

The Osmo Nano is small. The main camera measures 2.25 × 1.16 × 1.1 inches and weighs 1.8 ounces. It’s not much bigger than my thumb (although I have big thumbs). Even when combined with the Multifunction Vision Dock, which adds another 2.33 × 1.66 × 0.88 inches and weighs 2.5 ounces, it remains compact.

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Both units are built to handle outdoor activities, with the camera capable of being submerged down to 30 feet and the dock able to survive rain and splashes.

But don’t let the size fool you. That little camera has a 1/1.3-inch sensor with an incredible 13.5 stops of dynamic range (putting it on par with pro-grade cameras). This means it’s perfect whether you’re in bright sunlight, snow, or low-light conditions. It can capture cinematic 4K/60fps or 4K/120fps slow-motion video using the 143° ultra-wide lens.

Output can be saved as 10-bit video, capable of understanding up to a billion colors, or as a Pro-Grade D-Log M profile that preserves more detail in highlights and shadows, allowing greater flexibility in color grading during editing.

There’s also a SuperNight mode to capture the best, less-grainy night shots.

A note about the D-Log M profile: Use this profile only if you’re going to be doing some editing beyond the basics and know what you’re doing (and what a LUT is). If you try to use raw footage, it will look flat, washed out, desaturated, and low contrast. Although it has more color and contrast than the full D-Log profile, it still needs editing.

Built-in storage goes a long way

Videos can be stored on the internal memory (Osmo Nano comes) 64GB And 128gb variants), and you can expand it with a microSD card up to 1TB. I love that modern cameras have built-in memory because it eliminates those heart-stopping moments when you realize you’ve gone to a quiet location and left all the microSD cards at home.

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While DJI is known for its drones, the company really knows how to get the best out of small cameras, and it applies this expertise to its ground-based cameras.

Battery life is surprisingly enough

Since these cameras are designed for on-the-move use, they require their own power, and batteries are another area DJI knows a lot about. The camera has a 530 mAh battery, and the dock adds an additional 1,300 mAh.

The camera alone can last for about 60 minutes, with the dock extending that to 200 minutes. I’ve tested it, and it’s definitely achievable. When the battery is low, I found that a 20-minute charge gets the camera up to about 80%. The camera can also be connected to a dock that can charge itself.

What about audio?

Audio often plays the biggest role in this type of compact action camera, but the Osmo Nano delivers once again. It has two microphones built into the Osmo Nano, which are perfect for capturing both conversations and ambient sound. If you want more, you can connect the camera to two dji mic 3 transmittersWhich makes it a perfect setup for vlogging and even interviews.

This feature, for me, takes the Osmo Nano to a whole new level as I’ve found that audio – especially voice recording – is often a weak point in many action-style cameras.

strength in numbers

OK, so what’s the deal with the dock? In addition to the extra battery, the Multifunction Vision Dock adds a touchscreen. This gives you a quick, simple way to interact with all the camera’s settings, as well as a screen for framing shots.

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If you learn to use the button controls to navigate through all the different shooting menus instead of fumbling with the touchscreen, you’ll save battery. However, if you’re like me and don’t use the camera regularly, the easy-to-use screen interface is a welcome addition.

The dock also has another trick up its sleeve: You can use it to transfer video files from the camera’s internal storage to a microSD card. This provides a quick and easy way to free up the camera’s internal storage while on the go.

The combo kit also comes with some neat accessories. There’s a magnetic pendant for wearing the camera around your neck and clipping it to clothing (you put the pendant under your clothes), and a rotating clip that can attach to the pendant or clip to a hat.

There is also a protective case for the camera which DJI recommends using if kept for a long period of time (as it may get damaged somewhat). I keep the camera in a case most of the time for added protection (I’m not using it in particularly hot conditions in the UK).

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The combo kit also comes with a suction cup holder, which is great for occasional use, but I wouldn’t attach it to a car or anything where my camera might get lost. But if you open up the suction cup, you’ll find a super-useful and ubiquitous 1/4″-20 threaded hole for a tripod or selfie stick.

There are some additional accessories that those looking to take videography to the next level may appreciate, like a set of ND (neutral density) filters, which are a must for brightly lit scenes.

Why did I switch from my GoPro?

OK, so why has the Osmo Nano replaced me gopro hero13 black? Bottom line: convenience. With the Osmo Nano, those “oh shhh…bucks!” There is built-in storage for. moment, and a built-in fast-charge battery means there’s no messing around with an external battery.

It’s also small and light, and I can leave the screen on when I need a compact system.

The connection to my iPhone is great at all times, and I love the DJI Mimo app (iOS/Android) for quick footage editing before uploading. And throw the ability to connect with me dji mic 3 transmitterAnd that for me is the cherry on top of an already loaded cake.

It’s this combination of hardware and software that feels like a meaningful advantage for DJI compared to my existing GoPro setup, and I’m especially excited to see what’s next for GoPro as it continues to be released. mission 1 soon

ZDNET’s shopping advice

dji osmo nano It’s proof that good things really do come in small packages. It’s compact, feature-packed, and incredibly easy to use, making it perfect for adventurers, vloggers, and anyone who wants to capture life’s moments without the hassle of bulky gear.

At $409 for the 128GB version (I recommend Over 64GB version Since this compromise only saves you $30), it’s not a cheap camera, but it’s an exceptionally nice setup. It is perfect for

If you’re looking for a camera that’s both portable and reliable, the Osmo Nano could be your new best friend. It has definitely become my bestie!