DJI unveiled an updated version of its Osmo handheld gimbal, the Osmo+. The announcement comes just over a month after DJI unveiled the Zenmuse Z3 aerial unit, the first drone camera with an integrated zoom lens. Similarly, the Osmo+ becomes the first handheld gimbal with a built-in zoom.
“The Osmo+ opens up entirely new capabilities for creators who love the Osmo’s ability to deliver crisp, sharp, and detailed handheld imagery,” said Paul Pan, DJI’s senior product manager, in a statement. The Osmo+ camera features a 3.5x optical and additional 2x digital zoom which combine for a 22-77mm equivalent focal length range.
The digital zoom offers lossless image quality, but is only available in 1080p mode. The camera can also shoot 4K, but is limited to use of the optical zoom in that case. (It’s worth noting that the standard Osmo also features the same 2x digital zoom ability.)
Like the Osmo, the Osmo+ offers a variety of NTSC and PAL frame rates for global compatibility, but strangely tops out at 60p on the NTSC side, while it goes all the way to 100p on the PAL side, as noted by The Verge. The equivalent 120p for NTSC is mysteriously missing, although it is available on the standard Osmo. Interestingly, the Zenmuse Z3 — the camera on which the the Osmo+ is apparently based — only goes up to 50p on the PAL side.
The Osmo+ is fully compatible with the DJI Go app for iOS and Android devices. Users can view a live, wireless HD stream right on their devices and easily share images and videos online. Naturally, it can also be used with standard Osmo accessories, including a bike mount, tripod, and extension rod.
The Osmo+ is available now for a price of $649. Customers in China and North America also have the option of adding a new extended warranty, called Osmo Shield, for $65. The Osmo Shield doubles the coverage of the standard warranty to two years and includes unlimited maintenance and a one-time-use accidental damage repair.
