Using DJI Osmo Pocket 3 cameras

General Information

  • All cameras are configured to shoot in h264 format / 1080p / 30 fps, which makes bigger files but is more standard and less compressed (= faster) than the default HEVC
    • If your editing software is still getting slow with this faster format, there's a way to create what are called “proxies”. You edit on a low-def copy of the video, and it's only when exporting that it takes the original full-quality file (see video demonstration here)
    • If you want to use the HEVC codec, please install K-Lite codec pack
  • The image proportion is set to 16:9, resolution to 1080p and framerate to 30fps
  • If you use the wireless microphone, audio files are stored on the internal memory of the microphone itself. The microphone, like the camera, connects to USB-C to charge or retrieve the files
  • But the camera can record audio with its internal microphone too (and you can record both on the microphone and on the camera)
  • All menus can be accessed by swiping the tactile screen

Before using the camera (5 minutes)

  1. Very carefully remove the camera from its casing (see video demonstration)
  2. Rotate the screen to switch the camera on. While it is starting up, be careful not to block the motors of the head (and, generally, be careful to never block or constrain them)
  3. What to check before shooting
    • on the bottom left corner of the screen, check that there’s a video camera icon. If it’s a photo camera icon, or other, tap it, and select the video mode
    • on the top left corner of the screen, check that there’s a SD card icon, and an indication about the available space and maximum shooting time
    • swipe the screen from bottom to top, check that the aspect ratio is 16:9. Swipe from top to bottom to close the menu
    • swipe from top to bottom to enter the main menu
      • in the “rotational speed” submenu (running person icon), it should be set to “fast”
      • in the “gimbal modes” submenu (osmo pocket 3 icon), it should be set to “follow”
      • in the “settings” submenu (nut icon), scroll to the following settings
        • “slider control” should be set to “zoom”
        • “built-in mic audio backup” should be set to “on”
        • “video compression” should be set to “h264”
        • “sounds” should be set to “mute”
        • “scrn off when rec” should be set to “never”

Using the cameras

  • Very carefully remove the camera from its casing (see video demonstration)
  • Rotate the screen to switch the camera on. While it is starting up, be careful not to block the motors of the head (and, generally, be careful to never block or constrain them)
  • If you want to use the wireless microphone
    • swipe top to bottom to enter main menu -> then tap the nut icon to enter the settings -> then tap “wireless mic” to access the dedicated screen
    • power on the wireless mic by pressing its “on/off” button
    • if it doesn’t appear in the “wireless mic” screen, it’s not paired
      • Press and hold the “record” button of the mic until the led turns blue
      • then press and hold the “pairing” button of the mic until the led blinks blue
      • It then should pair automatically
    • when the mic is paired, check in the “wireless mic” screen that the “audio-to-video sync” option is “on”
  • then, there is only 4 super simple actions to do
    • start recording by pressing the record button of the camera
    • if you use the wireless mic, check that its LED turns red when you start recording on the camera (ok click its "record" button, if it didn't start automatically)
    • you can rotate the motorized head of the camera (gimbal) by using the joystick
    • turn off the camera by rotating back the screen