DJI Osmo Nano
pros and cons
- Compact and lightweight design for adventures and daily use
- 4K/120fps recording and D-Log M profile offer excellent video quality and editing flexibility
- Built-in storage and fast-charging battery.
- Harder to recommend to newbies due to the depth of recording features
- Limited durability compared to other rugged action cameras.
on Google.
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 YouTube fame, it’s never been easier to capture important moments.
Unlike the cameras I used to use “back in the day” — which required shouldering and holding up to your eye (so the person recording the moment got a weird filtered reality) — cameras are now small enough to clip onto a baseball hat or hang off a pendant.
Cameras don’t get much smaller than the DJI Osmo Nano or GoPro HERO13 Black
A tiny camera that packs a punch
The Osmo Nano is tiny. The main camera measures 2.25 × 1.16 × 1.1 inches and weighs 1.8 ounces. It’s not much bigger than my thumb (though I do have large 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 the outdoors, with the camera able to be submerged down to 30 feet and the dock able to shrug off rain and splashes.
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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 surprising adequate
Since these cameras are designed for on-the-move use, they need their own power, and batteries are another area DJI knows a lot about. The camera houses a 530 mAh battery, and the dock adds an additional 1,300 mAh.
The camera alone can run for around 60 minutes, with the dock extending this to 200 minutes. I’ve tested this, and this is definitely achievable. When the battery is low, I found that a 20-minute charge brings the camera up to about 80%. The camera can also run while connected to the dock, which can itself be charging.
What about audio?
Audio is often the Achilles’ heel of this sort of compact action camera, but the Osmo Nano once again delivers. It has two microphones built into the Osmo Nano, perfect for capturing both talking and ambient sounds. If you want more, you can connect the camera to up to two DJI Mic 3 transmitters
Integration with the DJI Mic 3 microphones is a winner for me.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This feature, for me, takes the Osmo Nano to a whole new level because 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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You’ll save on battery if you learn to use the button controls to navigate through all the different shooting menus instead of pawing at the touchscreen. However, if you’re like me and don’t use the camera regularly, that easy-to-use screen interface is a welcome addition.
The magnetic pendant makes attaching the camera to clothing easy.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
There’s also a protective case for the camera that DJI recommends using if you hold it for extended periods (because it can get somewhat toasty). I tend to keep the camera in the case most of the time for added protection (I’m not using it in particularly hot conditions here 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 I could lose the camera. But if you unscrew 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 wanting to take their videography to the next level might appreciate, such as a set of ND (neutral density) filters, a must for bright-lit scenes.
Why I Switched from my GoPro
OK, so why has the Osmo Nano replaced my GoPro HERO13 Black, and that’s the cherry on the already overflowing cake for me.
It’s this marriage of hardware and software that feels like a meaningful advantage for DJI over my existing GoPro setup, and why I’m especially excited to see what’s next for GoPro as it’s releasing the Mission 1 soon
ZDNET’s buying advice
The DJI Osmo Nano since this compromise only saves you $30), it’s not a cheap camera, but it’s an exceptionally good setup. It’s perfect for
If you’re looking for a camera that’s both portable and dependable, the Osmo Nano might just be your new best friend. It’s definitely become my bestie!