Hi there, it's Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, we're reviewing the DJI Osmo
Mobile 2, and determining whether it's worth getting for your next trip.
(light chiming music)
We recently did a video on whether you need a better travel camera. In that video, I
suggested checking out gimbals and they seemed like a great way to improve the
stability of your videos. I've been really impressed with the three axis
gimbal stabilization found on my DJI Mavic Air drone, so I thought I'd try out
the latest mobile phone gimbal called the Osmo Mobile 2 that was just
released in January 2018. The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 is the second generation of
their mobile phone handheld gimbal, and it's actually a lot cheaper too. The
original used to run for $299 while the new model costs only $129 US dollars.
That's a pretty significant difference in price. Most of that comes from DJI's
switch from an all-metal design to a plastic build. However, the Osmo Mobile 2
also has some new capabilities that were not found in the original model, like the
ability to orient the phone in portrait mode rather than just landscape. Before I
get into what I like and dislike about the Osmo Mobile 2, I do want to add a
caveat that this is not a comprehensive tech review, but one that is geared more
for the traveler. If you want to see every feature and capability, then you'll
want to check out some of the great reviews posted by other tech reviewers
on YouTube. I've included some of my favorite ones below. So, let's start with
what I like about the DJI Osmo Mobile 2. Well to start, I think the build quality
seems to be solid. Even though the body is plastic, it still feels substantial.
And as with other DJI products, it seems very well-built and seems like it
would survive the wear and tear that would occur during travel. Another thing
that I like is the battery and charging capabilities. The battery is rated to
last 15 hours. Though even more interesting is the fact that you can
charge your mobile phone in the event that you need additional power. In that
case, the Osmo Mobile 2 can function like a spare battery charger. And on the
flip side, if you need to charge your Osmo Mobile 2 while away from a plug,
you can use a portable battery charger. The Osmo Mobile 2 also has some awesome
modes and features. The Active Track feature allows you to track a subject,
and from my casual testing, seems to work pretty well. The gimbal also has a Motion
Lapse mode which allows you to capture motion time lapses. This is an awesome
feature and can help take normal time lapses to the next level. So the
Osmo Mobile sounds great, right? Well, there are some serious issues.
First off, I knew going in that the original Osmo Mobile was known to have
issues with jittery video, particularly with mobile phones that have optical
image stabilization or OIS that can't be locked or disabled. I don't know the
technical ins and outs, but essentially the camera's OIS and the gimbal are in
conflict when it comes to stabilizing the video, which causes this weird
jittery effect. Unfortunately, this is still an issue with the Osmo Mobile 2.
What makes it even more weird is it seems to be more present when capturing
video using the DJI Go app. If you look at the footage, you'll notice that the
video seems to jitter whenever I take a step. However, when I use the native Apple
Camera app, then you'll see that the video seems smoother, though not
completely free of the jitter. You'll also notice that when I use a
front-facing camera, the video is much smoother. This is because the front
camera doesn't have OIS which means that the gimbal is able to do its job of
stabilizing the movement and vibration. I also did a side by side with the DJI Go
app and the native camera app while using the Osmo Mobile 2, and I honestly think
that the native app looks better, which is just strange since the DJI app is
supposed to be optimized for the gimbal. The differences are less apparent when
using the front-facing camera. This makes sense as the front camera doesn't have OIS
So, if your primary use of the Osmo Mobile 2 is more vlogging or selfies,
this might still be a viable option for you. The other thing that concerns me
with the Osmo Mobile 2 is its size and clunkiness when traveling. I honestly
didn't expect this to be an issue, but i couldn't figure out a good way to carry
it while I was walking around the LA Travel and Adventure Show. With a normal
camera, I can just have it strapped to my body. However, I think you would need some
kind of holster in order to carry the gimbal hands-free, which is something to
consider when traveling especially when you need to sign receipts or carry items.
Calibrating the gimbal with my phone was also another annoyance with the Osmo
Mobile 2. While I understand why I have to do it, I didn't realize that I have to
do it throughout the day, especially after holding the gimbal
under my arms. It might not seem like a big deal, but I feel like at least half
of the videos and photos that I capture when traveling are spontaneous, and I
don't know if I would be able to use the Osmo Mobile as quickly during those
kinds of situations. Lastly, using your phone while in the gimbal is cumbersome.
I realized that if I'm placing the phone in the Osmo Mobile 2, I'm gonna use it
primarily as a camera. But when traveling, I use my phone all the time to get maps,
information, or stay in contact. What I didn't anticipate was a difficulty of
having to pull out the phone each time I need to use it, and even using it while
still in the gimbal. So unfortunately, I think I'm going to return my Osmo Mobile
2. For me, the big deal breaker was the jittery video. From what I understand,
it's not DJI's fault. This is more of an issue with the OIS not being lockable on
certain phones. However, I do think that it would be better for DJI to put a label on
the box or a note on the website letting folks
know of the issue. It might be something that can be addressed
in a future app update, but for now, it's enough of an issue for me not to
recommend the unit. Personally, I would rather carry another camera that isn't
as cumbersome. Cameras like my Canon G7X have pretty good in-body stabilization,
though you have to learn to walk like a ninja. I'm also a bit more picky about my
video, so you might not care as much about the jitter, which can probably
smooth out using video editing software. If you do decide that the Osmo Mobile 2
is right for you, I recommend watching the DJI Support videos on setting up the
device. I made the mistake of relying on the instruction manual and didn't quite
get the calibration right. After watching the video, it made a lot more sense and I
was able to properly calibrate the gimbal. Do you have any experience with
the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 or any other gimbal? If so, I'd love to hear how you
carry them when traveling and whether you find them to be an essential part of
your travel camera gear. I've included links of some of the products shown in
this video. Trip Astute does get a percentage if you
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