DJI has simply launched the Osmo Nano, a tiny, thumb-sized motion digicam able to 4K movies. On paper, it appears like a dream for FPV pilots — light-weight, compact, and highly effective. However how does it really examine to cameras just like the DJI O4 Professional Air Unit? On this evaluation, I’ll undergo its strengths and weaknesses as an FPV motion digicam, and the place it suits 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 a substitute, 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 encompasses a touchscreen, permitting you to observe footage immediately. 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 believe it’s value it to get the 128GB option- you’ll want the additional storage for 4K footage, and it saves the effort of regularly offloading recordsdata.
The Osmo Nano itself doesn’t have a built-in display screen, which helps maintain the digicam compact and light-weight. Nevertheless, this additionally means you possibly can’t view recording standing or modify settings immediately on the digicam. As a substitute, 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.
Aside from 4K decision, the digicam helps D-Log M shade mode for higher post-processing flexibility, and photographs could 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 examine to DJI’s FPV methods?
Towards 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 shade grading outcomes. The O3 typically struggles with shiny mild transitions and crushed blacks — one thing the Nano handles gracefully. For FPV pilots nonetheless flying O3 or older analog methods, it is a main step up in video high quality.
Towards the DJI O4 Professional
Total, the Osmo Nano’s footage high quality rivals the DJI O4 Professional, delivering wealthy colours, steady 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 except you zoom in and examine aspect by aspect.
In case your drone already makes use of a DJI O4 Professional Air Unit, including an Osmo Nano isn’t actually crucial — you’re going to get fairly comparable high quality footage from these cameras, so would even argue the O4 Professional footage look barely higher. Nevertheless, for drones that don’t have HD recording functionality, equivalent to 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 can be proud of regular bitrate, however excessive bitrate offers barely extra superb 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 superb throughout flight. Nevertheless, for those who reside in a scorching local weather, you might wish to control temperatures, as overheating may 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 a very good FPV drone digicam?
Not like cameras built-in into FPV methods such because the DJI O4 Professional, the Osmo Nano data independently. This implies its recording settings don’t intervene together with your FPV feed — as an illustration, you possibly can document in 4K 30fps with a set ISO for higher picture high quality, whereas holding 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 big benefit, particularly for pilots flying FPV methods with low onboard recording high quality, equivalent to analog or HDZero. It additionally makes the Nano extremely versatile — you possibly can simply transfer it to a distinct drone, giving each rig high-quality 4K recording functionality with none rewiring or configuration adjustments.
It makes use of the identical magnetic mounting system because the DJI Motion 4 and Motion 5, so for those who already use these cameras, mounting the Nano is easy.
Nevertheless, there are some trade-offs:
It’s yet another gadget you should keep in mind to cost. Not like the O4 Professional, you possibly can’t see its recording standing or remaining recording storage via your FPV goggles. It provides one other 50 grams to your drone — which reduces flight time and efficiency. That further weight received’t matter a lot on bigger quads, however on smaller cinewhoops, it’s important.
Last Ideas – Ought to You Purchase It?
The DJI Osmo Nano seems like a mini model of the Motion 5 — acquainted in interface, capturing modes, and general usability.
It’s an incredible 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 stability between efficiency, picture high quality, and portability.
Nevertheless, 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 for those who’re flying the rest and need cinematic 4K video from a light-weight, self-contained digicam, the DJI Osmo Nano is totally value contemplating.
