I’m not giving up on DJI cameras just yet – not when they can annoy my GoPro like this

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

Unlike the cameras I used to use “back in the day” — which required you to hold your shoulder and hold your eye (so the person recording the moment would get 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 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 durability compared to full-featured cameras like the Osmo 6 action or GoPro HERO13 Blackbut it is a step up for compactness and usability.

A small 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. Not much bigger than my thumb (even though 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 designed for outdoor use, the camera can be submerged up to 30 feet and the dock is rain and splash resistant.

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

The output can be saved as 10-bit video, capable of seeing 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 get the best night shots, with minimal blur.

A note about the D-Log M profile: Use this profile only if you are going to do more than basic editing and know what you are doing (and what a LUT is). If you try to use a raw image, it will look flat, washed out, watery, and low in 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

Video can be stored in the internal memory (Osmo Nano comes in 64GB again 128GB different), and you can expand it with microSD cards 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 somewhere cool and left all the microSD cards at home.

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

Battery life is impressive enough

Since these cameras are designed to be used on the go, they need 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 run for around 60 minutes, the dock extends this to 200 minutes. I have tested this, and this is definitely doable. When the battery is low, I’ve found that a 20-minute charge brings the camera up to about 80%. The camera can also work while connected to the dock, which itself cannot charge.

What about noise?

Sound is often the Achilles heel of this type of compact action camera, but the Osmo Nano delivers again. It has two microphones built into the Osmo Nano, perfect for capturing both speech and ambient sounds. If you want more, you can connect the camera to two DJI Mic 3 transmittersmaking it a perfect setup for video blogging and even interviews.

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 most action-style cameras.

Strength in numbers

OK, so what’s wrong with the dock? In addition to an extra battery, the multi-functional Vision Dock adds a touch screen. This gives you a quick, easy way to interact with all the camera settings, as well as the image formatting screen.

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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 scrolling through the touchscreen. However, if you’re like me and don’t use the camera often, that easy-to-use on-screen preview 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 microSD cards. 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 is a magnetic pendant to wear the camera around your neck and clip it to your clothes (you put the pen under your clothes), and a rotating clip that can attach to a pendant or a clip on a hat.

There is also a protective case for the camera that DJI recommends to use if you hold it for a long time (because it can get sticky). I tend to keep the camera in position most of the time for extra protection (I don’t use it in hot conditions especially here in the UK).

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

There are some additional accessories that those who want to take their video to the next level can appreciate, such as a set of ND (neutral density) filters, which are necessary for illuminated scenes.

Why I switched to my GoPro

OK, so why did the Osmo Nano replace me? GoPro HERO13 Black? Bottom line: easy. With the Osmo Nano, there’s built-in storage for those “aww shhhhhhhhhh….ucks!” times, and the built-in fast-charging battery means there’s no fumbling with external batteries.

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

The connection to my iPhone is always strong, and I like the DJI Mimo app (iOS/Android) for quick setup before loading. Then throw the power to connect with me DJI Mic 3 transmittersand that is the cherry on the cake that is overflowing for me.

It’s this marriage of hardware and software that feels like a beneficial advantage for DJI over my existing GoPro setup, and why I’m so excited to see what’s next for GoPro as it releases the Mission 1 soon.

ZDNET shopping advice

I DJI Osmo Nano it’s proof that good things 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 this over the 64GB version since this compromise only saves you $30), it’s not a cheap camera, but it’s an excellent setup. It’s ready

If you’re looking for a portable and reliable camera, the Osmo Nano might be your new best friend. Of course it is my love!