DJI Pocket 2 After a Few Weeks: The Best Pocket Camera Ever!

DJI Pocket 2 is the second generation of the Osmo Pocket gimbal camera. We have been expecting this device for quite some time, and apparently, it is not much different. But the insides have been changed significantly. It is an excellent device and is supposed to widen the gap between similar devices with its exceptional performance, hardware changes, and some improvements in critical areas.

So, here is a comprehensive review of DJI Pocket 2 after using it for a few weeks.

Let’s Inspect!

Overview

In a hurry, read this short overview stating the pros and cons of DJI Pocket 2.

Pros

• Great value for money.
• Shoot up to 4K 60FPS and 1080p 240FPS
• Handy mini control stick and Do it all Handle
• Good Battery life
• Excellent video quality and tons of modes and features
• Stereo sound and ability to connect wired and wireless mics.
• Valuable carrying case

Cons

• Body is not waterproof.
• Wide angle lens is not wide enough
• A few firmware issues

Price

All the Accessories of Pocket 2 Creator Combo

The price is unchanged, and it also has two combos. The first one costs 350$ and comes with the Pocket 2, hard case, mini control joystick, smartphone adapters, power cable, tripod mount extension, and lanyard. The second one is called the creator combo. It costs 150$ more and has some extra valuable accessories, including wireless microphone, microphone transmitter, Do it all Handle, tripod, USB splitter charging cable, and wide-angle lens.

The price of the camera is unchanged, but the features, accessories, and performance has enhanced significantly. So, DJI is giving incredible value for money.

Unboxing

The unboxing is pretty different. I have the creator combo that comes in an old-style smartphone-like box. All the accessories are well-packed, which is remarkable because the box is not very big.

Handy Hard Case with Dedicated Slots

Overall, it was nice, and all the contents were safely packed. The second generation also has the smart hard case. It does not only keep the camera safe and accessible but has slots to accommodate lenses and accessories. I always carry my wide-angle lens, Type-C adapter, and mini control stick in the case.

Appearance and Build Quality

DJI Pocket 2 is very similar to the previous version except for some material and texture differences and a power button. The screen size is the same, button positions, universal connector, and charging port are precisely where they were in the previous generation. The lens is comparatively bigger and has a distinctive red ring around the lens which looks quite good. Moreover, it has four mics on all four sides of the camera, which is excellent as it records stereo sound.

The only thing I don’t like is the dedicated power button. It is nice, but the placement is not great. I often end up clicking it unintentionally.

Technical Specifications

• Image Sensor: 1/1.7-inch IMX 686 image sensor
• Lens: 93° FOV and f1/8 aperture
• Camera Resolution: 64MP, up to 4K 60 FPS and 1080p 240 FPS
• Weight: 117 grams
• Stabilization: 3-axis stabilization
• Mechanical Range: Pan -230° to 70°, Tilt -100° to 50°, Roll ± 45°
• Battery: 875mAh battery

Features

DJI Pocket 2 on Compact Tripod

DJI Pocket 2 is truly the best-in-class camera, and none of the competitors gets even close to its class and performance. It is a perfect social media content creation gear with fantastic audio and video.

Let’s start with my favorite part of the combo, the “Do it all Handle.” The handle comes in a combo pack, or you can buy it separately. It is the most useful accessory and adds significant value to the camera. The handle is like a hub that enables wi-fi, Bluetooth has an in-built microphone receiver, or you can connect a wired mic through 3.5mm jack. It also has a quarter-inch mounting hole for the tripod and sticks.

The Mini Control Stick

Another excellent accessory is the mini joystick or control stick that attaches to the universal connector. It gives you an extra button and an analog stick to control movement and zoom. It is part of the default camera pack.

The screen is another excellent addition; this time, it has far better software than Osmo Pocket. Still, it is tiny, but now it has a lot more calibration options and settings. You can easily choose between different modes, and it has a pro mode where you can individually adjust shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and much more. It is a touch screen that makes selecting the focus object easier. Overall, the screen is bright and crisp, but the small size and square aspect ratio do not help in filming.

In addition to the software side, hardware is also fantastic. The material is better and feels a bit more premium and textured. The stabilization is quite good, and it has a lot of options for configuration. With DJI MIMO, you can tweak the stabilization algorithm to enhance performance.

Video Recording

Like Osmo Pocket, it is primarily a video camera and excels the task excellently. The image sensor is almost 3mm bigger than the previous generation and can shoot 4K at 60FPS. It can shoot video, timelapse, motion lapse, slow motion, and hyper lapse. Unlike Osmo Pocket, slow motion does not cap at 1080p 120FPS; it can record up to 240FPS for 8x slow Mo.

Moreover, the bigger lens has a broader field of view, which helps a lot in better focus and Active Tracking. Autofocus has also improved; it does a great job adapting to variable focal lengths without stuttering. Most smartphone struggles in the jungle but Pocket 2 seems to be doing good. Active Tracking is not up to the mark, but we expect it to improve in the next few firmware updates.

With a bigger lens, the low-light performance is very impressive. The sensor captures more light, making the videos brighter and sharper and making it good enough for social media.

DJI Pocket 2 has stereo sound; the mics are on all four sides, improving the audio quality. The in-built mics are great for a relatively quiet and non-windy environment. For non-ideal scenarios, you can use the Do it all Handle to connect the DJI wireless microphone or a 3.5mm jack to link your desired mic.

In addition to video recording, Pocket 2 is an excellent still camera. It can capture 16MP or 64MP with 8x zoom. The quality is as good as the video; zooming in the low light environment can cause noise. Other than that, it’s pretty good.

DJI Pocket 2 is a top-quality professional video camera; it’s a small, portable, point-and-shoot camera that gets the job done with excellent quality and takes the burden of heavy equipment.

Drawbacks

• Power button placement is not ideal.
• Active Tracking needs some fine-tuning.
• Not waterproof.
• Firmware has some minor issues.

Conclusion

DJI Pocket 2 is genuinely no less than a vlogging king; it is perfect for people who like to film themselves and needs a small, discrete, lightweight, and capable camera. DJI has taken a normal smartphone image sensor and has turned it into a perfect handheld camera with some minor drawbacks. But for me, it is a better and more reliable solution.

Right now, it is hard to imagine some device beating Pocket 2.

Where to Buy?

If you are planning to buy this camera, here is the best offer. Learn more about the pocket device on our YouTube channel.