New DJI Osmo Mobile 4 gimbal with magnet-aided video stabilization

27/8/2020

DJI has announced the Osmo Mobile 4 – shortened to OM 4 – the latest version of its video stabilisation gimbal designed for smartphone videographers. The successor to the highly-regarded Osmo Mobile 3 now includes a pair of magnetic mounts that enables the smartphone to be quickly attached and detached from the new motorised gimbal, which offers three-axis stabilisation.

There’s a magnetic finger ring that attaches to the back of the phone, which can enable a better grip when filming or can be used as a kickstand. There’s also a magnetic clamp to keep the phone secure while in use.

This is a major improvement over the previous generation, which required users to physically unclamp their phones in order to check messages, look back at the footage, etc..

Beyond that we’re looking at a quite similar device that still offers that impressive 15-hours battery life and USB-C charging port. The button configuration will enable users to keep their mitts off the touchscreen while filming.

In terms of capabilities there’s a new Dynamic Zoom feature, replacing the dolly zoom, which enables a Hitchcock-like effect when the camera will zoom in on the subject as the videographer physically moves away from it.

There’s also a CloneMe Pano feature that “creates one epic panorama from several photos, pausing so you can get to the next frame and strike a pose,” the company says. You can see an example below.

Popular features like Active Track, Story Mode, and Gesture Control are all on board, along with various creative time-lapse features. We’ve also got the neat 240-degree panoramas as well as those 3×3 panos that provide a much richer and deeper depiction of the landscape. As before, the device, which is slightly lighter and with more powerful motors, is able to be folded down to fit conveniently in a bag.

The Osmo Mobile 4 is a great way to level up your smartphone video, the Osmo Mobile 4 combines solid stabilisation, versatile camera moves and excellent value. There’s a slight learning curve to mastering its many tricks. The magnetic clamp makes it much more portable, which means you feel inclined to take it out more often.

The pricing for Osmo Mobile 4 is $149 (~SGD $203), about $20 more than the Osmo Mobile 3 cost at launch, but it’s worth pointing out that the higher price includes a lot more accessories: a magnetic ring holder, magnetic clamp, carrying case, and a tripod in addition to the wrist strap that you’d usually get in the standard package with the previous Osmo Mobile.