DJI Pocket 3 Review
DJI Pocket 3 Review
Product Name: DJI Pocket 3
Product Description: The DJI Pocket 3 is a compact vlogging camera featuring a 1-inch sensor for stunning 4K video and superior low-light performance. With built-in auto-tracking, wireless audio, and excellent stabilization, this camera is designed for creators seeking a powerful, portable solution.
Brand: DJI
Offer price: 519-663
Currency: USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
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Build Quality
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User Experience
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Features
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Image Quality
Summary
The DJI Pocket 3 is a compact, feature-packed vlogging camera with a 1-inch sensor, 4K video, and excellent stabilization. With auto-tracking and wireless mic support, it’s the perfect choice for creators on the go.
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Wireless mic included
- 1-inch sensor
- Compact and portable
Cons
- Accessories not backward compatible
- Slight overexposure tendency
- Menu navigation can lag
- Limited 8-bit color in slow-motion
A Vlogger’s Dream Camera in Your Pocket
The DJI Pocket 3 is finally out, and after all the anticipation, it’s time to see if it lives up to the hype. This tiny vlogging camera is designed for portability and ease of use, and it’s packed with features that make it an appealing choice for vloggers, content creators, and anyone who wants to shoot high-quality footage without lugging around a heavy setup. But is it really as good as it looks? Let’s dive into the details in our DJI pocket 3 review.
Size and Portability
The first thing you’ll notice about the DJI Pocket 3 is just how small it is. It’s so compact that you can easily spend hours vlogging without even noticing you’re carrying it. This makes it perfect for those spontaneous shoots where you don’t want the hassle of a bulky camera. Its size doesn’t sacrifice image quality, though—despite its small footprint, the DJI Pocket 3 delivers fantastic footage.
Vlogging and Auto-Tracking
One of the standout features is the auto-tracking mode, which comes in especially handy for vlogging. Whether you’re holding the camera for a selfie or setting it up for a hands-free shoot, the Pocket 3 automatically keeps you in frame. What’s even better is that you can adjust the headroom, ensuring you’re perfectly framed without awkward empty space above your head. It’s one of those features you didn’t know you needed until you experience how much smoother your shots look.
Creator’s Combo: A Worthwhile Upgrade
If you’re serious about maximizing the potential of the DJI Pocket 3, the Creator’s Combo is worth the investment. This package includes a wide-angle lens, which alone justifies the extra cost. With it, you get a much wider field of view—perfect for landscape shots or capturing more of your surroundings in a vlog. And if you need to go even wider, you can always attach a selfie stick.
The Creator’s Combo also adds a 100-minute battery, bringing the total recording time to over four hours. That’s an incredible bonus for long shoots or travel days when you need to capture a lot without worrying about your camera dying.
Image Quality and Stabilization
Even without ND filters, the Pocket 3 does a remarkable job with image quality. You can achieve a blurred background on the wide-angle lens, which is perfect for vlogs or any footage where you want to isolate your subject. Once you add ND filters (which are recommended), your footage will look even smoother, with less choppiness caused by high shutter speeds. This tiny camera really packs a punch in the image department, delivering professional-looking results in a compact body.
The stabilization is another strong point. Whether you’re walking, running, or just holding the camera steady, the gimbal ensures your footage stays smooth. The Pocket 3 has multiple gimbal modes, such as Tilt-Lock and Pan Follow, giving you control over how the camera moves with you. For action shots, the Full Lock and Spin Shot (similar to the Inception mode) make it easy to capture dynamic, cinematic footage.
Upgraded Audio and Wireless Mic
Another major upgrade with the DJI Pocket 3 is the wireless radio mic included in the Creator’s Combo. It connects effortlessly to the camera, and once paired, you can record without worrying about levels—thanks to the 32-bit audio signal, you’ll never experience clipping, no matter how loud or quiet the environment. This mic records both internally and externally, so even if there’s interference, you’re guaranteed to have backup audio.
For vloggers, having this high-quality audio solution built into such a small setup is a game-changer. You no longer need external mics or complicated setups—the Pocket 3 does it all.
1-Inch Sensor for Superior Image Quality
One of the most significant improvements over the Pocket 2 is the 1-inch sensor. This larger sensor means more light enters the camera, resulting in better low-light performance and richer image quality. Even without ND filters, you can achieve shallow depth of field, separating your subject from the background for that cinematic look.
The DJI Pocket 3 also offers multiple color modes, including D-Log (a 10-bit color space) and HDR. I personally prefer using the D-Log color profile for more control over color grading in post-production. You can shoot in 4K at 60fps in D-Log, giving you plenty of flexibility for slow-motion shots that look sharp and vibrant.
If you want even more slow-motion, the Pocket 3 can shoot up to 120fps at 4K, though this mode is limited to 8-bit color. But even then, getting 4K slow-motion footage from a camera this small is impressive.
User Interface and Menu Layout
The Pocket 3 features a 2-inch OLED screen that’s a huge improvement over the previous model. The screen is bright and easy to see even in direct sunlight, and the menu layout is intuitive and user-friendly. Whether you’re shooting in portrait or landscape, the screen adjusts seamlessly, and the larger size means you can see more detail as you shoot.
A minor drawback, however, is that switching between gimbal modes can feel a bit sluggish at times. I hope this can be resolved with a firmware update, but for now, you may need to be patient when navigating the menus.
Accessories and Compatibility
It’s worth noting that the DJI Pocket 3 is a complete redesign, meaning accessories for the Pocket 2 won’t work with it. That includes filters, mounts, and other add-ons. On the plus side, new accessories for the Pocket 3, such as the magnetically attached filters, feel more secure thanks to stronger magnets.
The improved carrying case is also a nice touch. It’s designed to hold both the Pocket 3 and its filters, ensuring that everything stays in place while you’re on the move. As more third-party accessories become available, the Pocket 3’s versatility will only improve.
Low-Light Performance
As part of this DJI Pocket 3 review, I tested the low-light capabilities of the Pocket 3, I took it to the British Museum. Even in extreme low-light conditions, the Pocket 3 performed amazingly. Shooting at an ISO of 1600, I was impressed by how little noise appeared in the dark areas of the frame. Lowering the ISO to 800 produced even cleaner results, showing that this camera can handle challenging lighting situations well.
Of course, the DJI Pocket 3 wasn’t built to be a low-light beast, but it certainly holds its own when the lights go down. For vloggers or filmmakers who often shoot indoors or in less-than-ideal lighting, this is a huge plus.
Final Thoughts: Is the DJI Pocket 3 Worth It?
The DJI Pocket 3 is a massive upgrade from its predecessor in nearly every way. From the 1-inch sensor that delivers stunning image quality to the improved OLED screen and the wireless audio, everything about this camera is designed to make your vlogging experience easier and more enjoyable. The compact size, combined with features like auto-tracking and excellent stabilization, makes it a perfect companion for creators on the go.
As part of our DJI pocket 3 review, we came to accept that, while there are a few minor drawbacks—such as the slightly sluggish menu navigation and limited accessory compatibility, the overall experience of using the Pocket 3 far outweighs these small issues. For anyone looking for a lightweight, powerful vlogging camera, the DJI Pocket 3 is an excellent choice.
