These latest pocket video gizmos from DJI called "Osmo pocket 4P" and the competition from Insta360 with their "Ultra Luna" - are really fascinating, I must say. It is the first time, i feel a tingling feeling - that it might be interesting to use such tools.
On the other hand - I am not a video blogger. So, with prices between 7000 and 10000 SEK / 650 to 900 € it feels too steep for me; somebody who isn't really into video blogging, YouTube and all that stuff. But i am mighty impressed what these two models can do. Truly impressive !
Then, weeks later - I thought of something different, yet not that different. The "next best thing" so to speak.
DJI Osmo Mobile 8P
It might not be as pocket friendly - but i think it is both more affordable and more suitable for someone who isn't 24 hours into video blogs. Instead more for the casual video blogger, maybe.
Here is the thing
I have always been a fan / been keen of LITTLE video snippets embedded in homepages.
I think they are cute. Like little windows.
Windows into the more private sphere of people's lives, thoughts and situations. Lasting a couple of minutes, doesn't require high resolution or other features and tinkering. I personally never liked the thought to be pulled into the endless ocean of Video and film making. Resource-wise, it is even "worse" than spending millions of Swedish kronor over a life time on photography.
The world of video and movie-making can easily go multi-fold that of photography (the more professional it gets).
Wasn't my thing.
But little video clips have been something of a secret favorite of mine. Also, let's face it: no matter what resolution a cool video scene has today - the majority of people "enjoy" (consume) video clips - in a fast and furious and often mindless manner... (flip,flip)... on tiny little screens.
So, there goes all that effort you had put in.
Ha-Ha. (ironic)
So no.
Or yes, I keep things to just... little video clips in the future.
That's it !
Here is a little clip Sal made (2021)
together with Ruth dancing at the Rågsved Grafitti area 12 August 2021. The cat staying in the middle of those two dancing figures *LOL*
Daniel is dancing on the smelly, seaweed beach - (2012)
I am not sure which camera i used, but probably the Olympus EM-5 (or perhaps i used Daniel's Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera) - while Daniel was doing some funny movements at that very smelly beach at the island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea, Aug 2012.
Stromboli Thunderstorms (22 Sep 2010)
With Daniel at the volcanic Island of Stromboli, (Aeolian Islands, north of Sicily) looking towards the Italien mainland, where thunderstorms raved far away in the distance, during fullmoon light. Probably made with Canon EOS 7D Daniel had, alt. EOS 5D Mark II - combined with the bright Canon EF 24mm ƒ/1.4L lens.
I don't really remember which camera, because video files from that time had no EXIF data present.
Vastly compressed videos
Of course i compressed these video massively, as they reside on the server my homepage resides on. I don't really mind high compression and some artifacts in such personal video clips. It is part of the original charm with videos on the internet back in the days 20-25 years ago.
I think it was the Canon EOS 5D Mark II (or was it the original Canon EOS 5D ?) which kicked off a huge wave of digital video inspired production and never ending products originated from it all. It was huge back in the days to be able to do much higher quality videos with a fullframe camera. From there it all started, literally exploded. The roots what would become YouTube videos and video productions, reportages and digital indie films - suddenly vast many more people got access to produce.
In my archive i do have around 4000 (memory) video snippets. So, i was active on a private level. However, not so much after 2014.
I am a personal photographer creator
Loving a camera - to be a camera. I never liked to use the cameras as a video tool, to be honest. (Here i like today's handy iPhone video making much better of course).
Today's video capable tools are astonishing small giving way for astonishing high quality, combined with AI supported gimbal stabilization etc...
DJI "Osmo pocket 4P"
Tools such as DJI "Osmo pocket 4P" and Insta360 "UltraLuna" - are in quality way beyond of just a normal video tool. I am very, very impressed from a totally amateur stand point. I am sure however others will agree, that those "little" tools are extremely capable in ways now, that just a couple of years where not even close.
I mean, with the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P you can get the new D-Log 2 mode, which allows you to get 17 stops of dynamic range from the special designed sensor (Then you have to grade the video file in order to get beautiful colors and contrast).
The 17 stops ensure that you don't get blown out highlights compared to normal digital iPhone type of movie clips.
However, I leaned that with the D-Log 2 you have to set the camera manually; shutter speed, ISO and the use of ND gray filter in order to get thebrightness down. (shutter speed = 2 x fps/sec). Which apparently means if you do cinematic movie clips - then you use 24 fps/sec (alt 30 fps for social media publishing etc) resulting into a general desired shutter speed of 1/50 sec (1/60 sec) you aim at. While the ISO is high in this D-Log 2 setting, you need to use ND gray filter in order to get down the general lightness.
So far, my primitive theoretical understanding *LOL*
I might hoever just use D-Log (14 stops), because here you can use both the wideangle lens as well the "tele" lens in the Osmo Mobile 4P. I am at the very beginning anyway... so my road of learning is long.
Gimbal my iPhone, bääbe
Now, my solution (??) having ordered a DJI Osmo mobile 8P instead - it likely good enough. Because it uses your current mobile phone was its primary tool - but gives you all the seemingly endless features combined in a rather handy gimbal - in order to get better videos and video experience.
So, i will go that route instead.
With little tiny video clips out of our lives and moments. Plus i am sure some goofy video clips when Sal and i rave around - which we basically do daily.
There is a LOT of laughing in our house DAILY !!!
Now I don't know how fun that is, for others to watch "goofy" videos from two old hags in the age of 60 ? Well, my PhotoDiary isn't truly about to be seen and watched. It is primarily my personal tool to deal with thoughts (from time to time), with beautiful photography - also stimulating my own creation of things, when sometimes my mind goes dry.
It is a personal, self-driving engine in order to stimulate my personal photography. In the future, it will from time to time be accompanied with some personal video clips from our lives.
That is my idea with the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P
Where is that going ?
We will see, where it is going. I have really no idea. I do however realize, that LEARNING everything about the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P - is a LOT more than i thought *LOL*
Here a video which explains in depth how that thing works... Just to give you a hint.
There is a lot to learn about the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P. At least that one doesn't pull out 10 Swedish quids out of my pockets, in order to make smooth(er) little video clips. Since both Sal and I have already video capable iPhones ... why not using them for something more then the normal stuff we do with them.
One thing i think is really cool. The way DJI implements wireless sound to the videos. With help of one, max two tiny little microphones... you can set at people's chest.
Boy so handy !!
Which gives the sound landscape a totally different image, when two people are talking. More natural and close - instead of thin speaking sounds the further away a person stands from the camera.
Oh by the way - apparently, those wireless microphones and receiver also can be stuck into or onto an iPad, computer as well cameras. That too would change the sound landscape to a much better one (when you stick the microphones on the people you take a video of).
