DJI is finally competing in the 360 market .. today officially announcing the Osmo 360. This dual lens camera can shoot up to 50 frames per second at 8K resolution, 60fps at 6K and 100fps at 4K.
“With the Osmo 360, DJI is challenging the status quo of the 360 camera market,” said Christina Zhang, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at DJI. “We are revolutionising panoramic innovation by leveraging DJI’s long history of innovation in creative camera technology. With each technological breakthrough, from 1-inch 360° imaging with an industry-first square HDR sensor, to outstanding low-light performance, we aim to change what’s possible in a 360 camera.”
That square sensor makes better use of the pixels than a standard rectangular option.
Although the Insta360 X5 is the logical contemporary competitor, for years I’ve used the GoPro Max for 360 videos and it has served me well but when I tested the Osmo 360 on Sydney Harbour I was immediately impressed. Of course all I did was shoot 8K/50fps and the higher resolution was clearly evident, even on the small camera display. But the Osmo 360 is more than resolution. The whole system, from the buttons, battery life and editing software results in a “fun” experience. You’ll see that in the two videos I’ve produced for this story. First is showing the Osmo 360 in action and the second is the 360 content from the camera. Like most 360 cameras, the Osmo is excellent for car videos. Using the normal 10-bit picture profile and D-Log M 10-bit, I was able to achieve vibrant colours and detail.
KEY FEATURES
- 1-inch 360° imaging
- Square HDR image sensor for more efficient capture.
- 8K/50fps 360° video
- 4K/100fps 360°
- 4x slow motion
- 8K/30fps continuously for 100 minutes (yet to test this)
- Low light performer: 13.5 stops of dynamic range and larger pixels
- f/1.9 aperture
- 120 MP Photos
- Hands-free control using gestures
- Smart Stitching
- HorizonSteady and RockSteady 3.0 stability
- 105GB of built-in storage
- Edit with DJI Mimo phone app – DJI Studio on computer – Premiere plugin.
- Action Cam mode – use one lens – 5K/60fps or even 4K/120fps – 155° ultra-wide angle or Boost Video 170° field of view
- Switch between the front and rear lenses without stopping recording
- Intelligent tracking makes it possible to lock onto and track people, vehicles, pets, and more.
- Can record for over 1.5 hours in freezing conditions as low as -20° C (-4° F)
- Invisible Selfie Stick
- Direct connection from DJI Mics
- Bluetooth earbuds connection
When shooting 8K/50fps the battery will deplete much faster. The review unit I’ve been using is the ‘Adventure Combo” and it includes a triple battery pack with charger. Just like the Action 5. Although you can get away with one battery for the action camera, you really can’t with a 360 camera. If you want the best quality recording. So I would definitely recommend getting the adventure pack.
The other key item is the Osmo Invisible Selfie Stick which vanishes from 360° videos with no editing needed. If you get the position right, as you can see in the picture above on the ferry, you will not see the camera attached to anything. Now, you don’t have to buy the exact selfie stick from DJI, but I found the results were excellent, even with a rocky harbour boat ride.
The phone app is excellent and even pre-launch it made it very easy to edit short clips in either 360 or flat video. The beauty of 360 video when cutting a 16:9 or 9:16 clip is the amount of options you have from just one camera source.
The design is similar to the GoPro Max. It’s squarish, unlike the longer, rectangular profile, of the Insta360. The round instant record button is located on the front, just below the display. The adjacent square button will switch between camera views. The power and selector button on the side is pretty standard, as are the access panels on either side of the camera.
ACCESSORIES
- Osmo 360 Battery Extension Rod
- Osmo Motorcycle Heavy-Duty Mount
- Osmo Adjustable Quick-Release Adapter Mount
- Osmo 360 Transparent Lens Protectors
- Osmo Hanging Neck Mount Max
- Osmo Third-Person Helmet Mount Kit
- Osmo 70cm Invisible Selfie Stick
- Osmo 1m High-Strength Carbon Fibre Invisible Selfie Stick
- Osmo 1.2m Invisible Selfie Stick Kit
- Osmo 1.6m Tripod Selfie Stick
- Osmo 2.5m Extended Carbon Fibre Selfie Stick
- Osmo Dual Heavy-Duty Clamp
- Osmo Vortex Rotating Handle
- Osmo 360 Carrying Bag
- Osmo Bike Rear Mount Kit
Although more testing is needed, in many different environments, I’m pretty pleased with the Osmo 360 and I’ll definitely be buying one after I return my review unit to DJI. Make sure you make use of the rubber lens protector because the lens aren’t easily replaceable I believe. I picked up a few scratches on my GoPro Max because I kept losing the caps. This protector is a better design even though it’s bigger.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The DJI Osmo 360 is available to order from store.dji.com and authorised retail partners, with shipping starting today.
- Osmo 360 Standard Combo – $759 AUD
Includes Osmo 360, Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus, Osmo 360 Protective Pouch, Osmo Lens Cleaning Cloth, USB-C to USB-C PD Cable (USB 3.1), Osmo 360 Rubber Lens Protector.
- Osmo 360 Adventure Combo – $989 AUD
Includes Osmo 360, Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus, Osmo Action Multifunctional Battery Case 2, Osmo 360 Protective Pouch, Osmo Lens Cleaning Cloth, USB-C to USB-C PD Cable, Osmo Adjustable Quick Release Adapter Mount, Osmo 1.2m Invisible Selfie Stick, Osmo 360 Rubber Lens Protector.
