Think Media - The Best Gimbal for Smartphone? (DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Review)
The DJI Osmo Mobile 7 is a versatile smartphone gimbal designed to enhance video shooting with features such as a tracker, built-in LED light, and microphone receiver. It comes in two models: the Osmo Mobile 7 and the 7P, with the latter offering additional features like an extension rod and a multifunctional tracking module. Setup is straightforward, with automatic power-on and adjustable phone clamps. The gimbal supports various shooting modes, including follow, tilt lock, FPV, and spin shot, allowing for creative and smooth video capture. The active track feature is particularly beneficial for solo creators, ensuring subjects remain in frame. Gesture controls further enhance usability, allowing for hands-free operation. The gimbal's battery life is impressive, lasting up to 10 hours, and it can charge the phone during use. However, it has limitations in tilting range and weight capacity, which may affect performance with additional accessories. Despite these drawbacks, the Osmo Mobile 7 offers significant advantages for mobile videography, making it a valuable tool for content creators.
Key Points:
- The Osmo Mobile 7P includes a tracker, LED light, and microphone receiver, enhancing video quality and usability.
- Setup is easy with automatic power-on and adjustable clamps for most smartphones.
- Offers multiple shooting modes for creative video capture, including follow, tilt lock, FPV, and spin shot.
- Active track and gesture controls allow for hands-free operation, ideal for solo creators.
- Battery life lasts up to 10 hours, with the ability to charge the phone, but has limited tilting range and weight capacity.
Details:
1. 📱 Introduction to DJI Osmo Mobile 7
- The DJI Osmo Mobile 7 is a smartphone gimbal equipped with advanced features including a Tracker, built-in LED light, extension rod, and microphone receiver, designed to enhance mobile filming experiences.
- There are two models available: the DJI Osmo Mobile 7 and the more advanced DJI Osmo Mobile 7P.
- Distinctively, the 7P model offers additional features such as an extension rod and a multi-functional tracking module, catering to professional videographers.
- The review unit provided by DJI was the 7P model, which allowed for extensive evaluation of these enhanced features.
2. 🔧 Setting Up the Gimbal
- The gimbal automatically powers on when flipped open, simplifying setup.
- The adjustable phone clamp fits most smartphones, even with a case, ensuring broad compatibility.
- The phone snaps onto the gimbal securely, providing a strong and reliable hold.
- For the 7p model, a tracker can be attached using magnets, which also powers the track module through connection pins.
- To fully utilize the gimbal's features, connect your phone via Bluetooth.
- For users of the DJI mik mini, connecting the included USBC cable to your phone is recommended for optimal performance.
3. 🏃♂️ Testing Smoothness and Movement
3.1. Walking Tests
3.2. Running Tests and Common Mistakes
4. 🔄 Exploring Gimbal Modes
- The gimbal offers multiple modes that can be switched using the 'M' button, allowing for different types of camera movements.
- The 'Follow Mode' smoothly follows pans and tilts while keeping the horizon level, enhancing stability in footage.
- The 'Tilt Lock Mode' locks the tilt angle but allows smooth side-to-side pans, ideal for maintaining a consistent vertical angle.
- The 'FPV Mode' allows free movement including roll, creating an immersive drone-like filming experience.
- The 'Spin Shot Mode' enables 360° barrel rolls for creative rotation shots.
- To relevel the camera, double-click the trigger; click three times to switch between rear and selfie cameras.
- To change the phone's orientation between vertical and horizontal, double-click the rotate button for quick adjustments.
5. 🎥 Enhancing Video Quality: AVLS
- The Osmo Mobile 7 is highlighted as an essential accessory for improving phone video quality.
- The acronym AVLS is introduced, standing for Audio, Video, Lighting, and Stabilization, as key elements in creating high-quality videos.
- Using AVLS as a guideline can help users remember the critical aspects of video production to focus on for better results.
6. 📷 Active Tracking and Gesture Control
6.1. Active Tracking Features
6.2. Gesture Control Features
7. 🎤 Audio Connectivity with DJI Mik Mini
- The DJI Mik Mini can be directly connected to the receiver using a simple USBC cable, offering a streamlined setup with iPhones.
- Recording with the DJI Mik Mini provides high-quality audio, enhancing the overall recording experience.
- The feature of connecting directly without needing the receiver to be attached to the phone on the gimbal prevents interference with the gimbal's movement, avoiding potential disruptions in shots.
8. 💡 Built-in LED Light Feature
- The LED light can be activated by holding down the left side toggle, providing additional lighting in low light situations.
- Brightness and color temperature of the LED light can be adjusted using the toggle, allowing customization between warmer or cooler light.
- The LED light serves as a practical solution when other lighting is unavailable, though it may not always offer the most flattering illumination.
- Ideal for use during power outages, outdoor activities, or as a backup light source in emergency situations.
9. 🔋 Convenience and Battery Life
- The Osmo Mobile 7 is extremely user-friendly, allowing for a quick setup as it powers on when flipped open, making it ready to use immediately.
- Features like the integrated tripod and extension rod enhance its convenience and functionality.
- The device folds down to a compact size, increasing its portability.
- It offers seamless rotation from horizontal to vertical orientation in seconds without needing additional adjustments.
- The battery life supports extended use, lasting up to 15 hours on a single charge, with a quick charging time of approximately 2 hours.
10. ⚠️ Limitations and Drawbacks
- The Mobile 7 has a battery life of up to 10 hours, which is an upgrade from the Mobile 6, enhancing usability for extended periods.
- The device can charge your phone, supporting continuous shooting throughout the day without battery concerns, adding convenience for users who shoot extensively.
- Due to its limited tilting range, the Mobile 7 can affect stabilization during extreme angle filming, potentially ruining shots that require dynamic movement.
- The limited weight capacity of the Mobile 7 may restrict the use of additional accessories like ND filters or lenses, particularly with larger phones such as the iPhone Pro Max, which could limit creative filming options.
11. 📏 Size and Portability
- The phone gimbal is average in size when folded but is larger than the Osmo Pocket 3, which offers greater compactness and discretion.
- Osmo Pocket 3 is significantly smaller, enhancing portability and ease of carrying, making it ideal for situations where minimal gear is preferred.
- While the phone gimbal is portable, its larger size compared to devices like the Osmo Pocket 3 might require more careful consideration in terms of transport and use in discreet settings.
- Choosing between a phone gimbal and a more compact device depends on the specific needs for size and portability in various filming scenarios.
12. 🔍 Advantages Over Other Devices
- Phones are widely accessible as most users already own one, eliminating the need for additional device purchases.
- Phones offer multiple focal lengths such as normal wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto (e.g., 120 mm lens), providing versatility in shooting different scenes.
- Using a telephoto lens with a gimbal can effectively smooth out shots even at long focal lengths, as demonstrated with filming an alligator from a distance.
13. 💰 Pricing Options
- The Osmo Mobile 7P is priced at $149.
- A more compact version is available for those looking to save money, though it lacks some of the features of the full version.
- The compact version omits certain premium features such as advanced stabilization and extended battery life available in the full version.
14. 🤔 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
- If filming exclusively with a phone, the Osmo Mobile 7P is the top accessory choice for mobile content creators.
- The Osmo Mobile 7P is more than a gimbal; it includes a mic mini receiver, tracker, LED light, selfie stick, and tripod stand, forming a comprehensive mobile rig.
- This setup enables easy capture of high-quality video and audio.
- The ideal pro model enhancement would be the capability to record to an external SSD, alleviating storage concerns.