Want to record a video that sees what you see? That’s what a POV camera is all about! I got the new DJI Osmo Nano in order to wear it on my hat brim, so I can film hands free! In this first look, I fire up the tiny action camera and preview what it can do.
Buy the DJI Osmo Nano by clicking here on my Amazon affiliate link. You’ll have this pocket camera ready to go to capture your adventure from your own point of view.
It’s the Size of an ERASER!
So the DJI Osmo Nano comes in two parts: the actual camera, and the docking station. The camera is the size of those pink erasers we had in our desks at school back in the day. Remember those? My buddy Adam could chuck his at high velocity, peg a kid across the room, and be looking down hunched over his school work before the kid even turned around.
That was the 80’s, gentlemen!
Who could have imagined back then that in the future we’d have tiny cameras that size? An eraser sized device that could capture in clear, high resolution video? And we could share that video on television screens all over the world? The future is now thanks to DJI!
Yea, we pulled a lot of stunts back in the 80’s that would have been cool to record with the DJI Osmo Nano. But, you know, maybe it’s best that some of those things stay in the past. Know what I’m saying?
Waterproof and Rugged
Here’s an important note that DJI put right on the camera itself. The camera is waterproof. It’s docking station is not. That is just splash proof.
So you need to understand that these two devices click together. You can record without them being clicked together. That’s what you need to do if you’re jumping in the water or whatever. But eventually you’ll have to click them together and charge the camera and transfer the video files to the other half.
That breakout box, as I call it, interfaces with your computer via USB C, or your phone, and you can download the files. There’s internal storage. The one I got has 128 GB, but there’s a less expensive 64 GB version.
The DJI Osmo Nano has slot to pop in one of those tiny little micro SD cards, so you can expand the storage. The USB C port and the SD slot are behind a little door.
Video Summary
Check out the unboxing and first impressions video that I posted to my new YouTube channel called Dad Cam Reviews. It’s all about reviewing cameras, video, and audio gear for guys like us… dads!
Anyways, here is a summary of the above video generated by Google’s Gemini AI:
DJI Osmo Nano: Compact Point-of-View “Dad Cam” Review
The DJI Osmo Nano is an ultra-compact action camera designed for high-quality, hands-free recording. Measuring roughly the size of a pencil eraser, this device is built to capture point-of-view (POV) footage without the weight or footprint of a standard action camera.
Key Features and Design
- Rugged Portability: The camera unit is waterproof down to 10 meters, allowing for underwater shots in swimming pools or shallow outdoor environments.
- Multi-Function Vision Dock: The camera pairs with a dedicated dock featuring a touchscreen “breakout box.” This allows for live-view monitoring, setting adjustments, and battery boosting. While the camera is waterproof, the dock is not and should be kept protected from the elements.
Included Accessories
The standard kit provides several mounting options to achieve the perfect POV:
- Magnetic Lanyard: A necklace-style mount that uses a powerful magnet to secure the camera through clothing, ideal for a “chest-cam” perspective.
- Hat Clip: Designed to attach to the brim of a hat, providing a true eye-level point of view.
- Suction Cup Mount: A versatile mount for securing the camera to flat surfaces, such as vehicle dashboards or workbenches.
- Protective Case: A slim, robust housing that protects the camera from drops while maintaining access to physical buttons and magnetic mounts.
Technical Specifications
- Video Quality: Supports 4K recording at up to 60 frames per second.
- Sensor & Color: Features a 1/1.3-inch sensor with 10-bit color depth and D-Log M support for advanced color grading.
- Battery Life: Offers up to 200 minutes of extended use when utilized with the vision dock.
- Connectivity: Features a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, along with a dedicated slot for a microSD card in the vision dock.
The DJI Osmo Nano offers a robust, high-performance solution for creators looking for a discrete, high-resolution camera that can go anywhere and capture everything from a first-person perspective.
Conclusion
This isn’t the first POV action cam I got. I purchased the Insta360 Go. While I liked the form factor, the way it locked the orientation drove me crazy. Maybe I was missing something, but it kept changing the orientation across its square sensor unbeknownst to me and actually ruined a few shots.
I’m hoping that the DJI Osmo Nano doesn’t have that problem. I’m going to take it out and use it. So stay tuned for the results! Check out my camera review YouTube channel, Dad Cam. For G-Shock, EDC gear, and tool reviews, keep your browser open to JimKinkade.com, and go to my primary YouTube channel, Jim Kinkade. Thanks, guys!