DJI has simply launched the Osmo Nano, a tiny, thumb-sized motion digicam able to 4K movies. On paper, it seems like a dream for FPV pilots — light-weight, compact, and highly effective. However how does it truly evaluate to cameras just like the DJI O4 Professional Air Unit? On this overview, I’ll undergo its strengths and weaknesses as an FPV motion digicam, and the place it matches into your setup.
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The place to Purchase
Get the DJI Osmo Nano digicam from:
Design and Options
The DJI Osmo Nano is extremely small — concerning the measurement of your thumb — and weighs solely 52 grams. It’s designed as an all-in-one digicam, with no detachable battery or SD card slot. As an alternative, it depends on a dock module that handles charging, knowledge switch by way of USB-C, and features a microSD slot for exterior storage. The dock additionally incorporates a touchscreen, permitting you to look at footage straight. The general idea is just like the Insta360 GO 3 we reviewed a few years in the past.
DJI gives two variations, 64GB and 128GB. For under US$30 distinction I feel it’s value it to get the 128GB option- you’ll want the additional storage for 4K footage, and it saves the trouble of regularly offloading recordsdata.
The Osmo Nano itself doesn’t have a built-in display screen, which helps hold the digicam compact and light-weight. Nonetheless, this additionally means you possibly can’t view recording standing or modify settings straight on the digicam. As an alternative, you’ll want to make use of both the dock’s touchscreen or the DJI Mimo app in your smartphone (linked by way of Wi-Fi) to vary modes and settings.
Other than 4K decision, the digicam helps D-Log M colour mode for higher post-processing flexibility, and photographs may be stabilized utilizing Gyroflow or DJI’s built-in Rocksteady stabilization.
One other nice contact — the lens is detachable, permitting you to swap it out for ND filter to attain smoother, extra cinematic footage and added safety throughout flights.
Picture High quality: DJI Osmo Nano vs O3 and O4 Professional
Let’s get to the massive query — how does the DJI Osmo Nano evaluate to DJI’s FPV programs?
In opposition to the DJI O3 Air Unit
The Osmo Nano is a noticeable enchancment over the O3. It handles publicity and highlights higher, the picture is cleaner, and higher colour grading outcomes. The O3 usually struggles with shiny gentle transitions and crushed blacks — one thing the Nano handles gracefully. For FPV pilots nonetheless flying O3 or older analog programs, it is a main step up in video high quality.
In opposition to the DJI O4 Professional
Total, the Osmo Nano’s footage high quality rivals the DJI O4 Professional, delivering wealthy colours, secure 4K footage and spectacular dynamic vary. The colour copy is shut between the 2, although the O4 Professional stays barely sharper with a wider discipline of view (FOV). The distinction is refined until you zoom in and evaluate facet by facet.
In case your drone already makes use of a DJI O4 Professional Air Unit, including an Osmo Nano isn’t actually needed — you’ll get fairly related high quality footage from these cameras, so would even argue the O4 Professional footage look barely higher. Nonetheless, for drones that don’t have HD recording functionality, resembling analog system, the Osmo Nano is a good light-weight motion digicam.
Efficiency and Recording Modes
The DJI Osmo Nano helps 4K at 120fps and makes use of the identical picture processor because the Motion 5. It gives each regular bitrate mode (60–80 Mbps) and excessive bitrate mode (110 Mbps). Most individuals could be pleased with regular bitrate, however excessive bitrate offers barely extra effective element — although it additionally makes the digicam run hotter and movies take up extra space.
Thermal testing confirmed that the Nano does get heat, particularly in excessive bitrate mode. When mounted on a drone, it advantages from airflow, so it’s often effective throughout flight. Nonetheless, if you happen to dwell in a scorching local weather, it’s possible you’ll wish to keep watch over temperatures, as overheating might trigger early thermal shutdowns.
In 4K regular bitrate mode, you possibly can count on about 20 to 25 minutes of steady recording time per cost. Whereas that’s not sufficient for a whole day of flying, you possibly can put the digicam again within the dock for a fast cost between battery change.
Utilizing the Osmo Nano on FPV Drones
The DJI Osmo Nano is marketed as a wearable motion digicam, however as FPV pilots, the query all of us need answered is: is it an excellent FPV drone digicam?
Not like cameras built-in into FPV programs such because the DJI O4 Professional, the Osmo Nano data independently. This implies its recording settings don’t intrude along with your FPV feed — for example, you possibly can report in 4K 30fps with a hard and fast ISO for higher picture high quality, whereas maintaining your DJI FPV system set to 100fps with dynamic ISO for minimal latency and optimum publicity throughout flight. And even when your drone loses sign or energy mid-flight, the Nano continues recording with out interruption.
This independence is a large benefit, particularly for pilots flying FPV programs with low onboard recording high quality, resembling analog or HDZero. It additionally makes the Nano extremely versatile — you possibly can simply transfer it to a special drone, giving each rig high-quality 4K recording functionality with none rewiring or configuration modifications.
It makes use of the identical magnetic mounting system because the DJI Motion 4 and Motion 5, so if you happen to already use these cameras, mounting the Nano is easy.
Nonetheless, there are some trade-offs:
- It’s yet another gadget you could keep in mind to cost.
- Not like the O4 Professional, you possibly can’t see its recording standing or remaining recording storage by means of your FPV goggles.
- It provides one other 50 grams to your drone — which reduces flight time and efficiency.
- That further weight gained’t matter a lot on bigger quads, however on smaller cinewhoops, it’s important.
Ultimate Ideas – Ought to You Purchase It?
The DJI Osmo Nano looks like a mini model of the Motion 5 — acquainted in interface, capturing modes, and total usability.
It’s a fantastic various to the DJI Motion 2, in addition to different thumb-sized cameras just like the Insta360 GO 2 and GO 3, Hawkeye Thumb, and RunCam Thumb. For FPV pilots who wish to cut back weight, fly smaller rigs, or improve from older analog setups, the Osmo Nano strikes a candy steadiness between efficiency, picture high quality, and portability.
Nonetheless, in case your drone already has the DJI O4 Professional Air Unit, for most individuals there’s no need to make use of it — the O4 Professional already gives the identical degree of picture high quality, if not even barely higher. However if you happen to’re flying the rest and wish cinematic 4K video from a light-weight, self-contained digicam, the DJI Osmo Nano is totally value contemplating.
