Test: DJI Osmo Mobile 6 – gives more professional videos

One of the most annoying things about videos recorded with mobile phones is that they are often horribly shaky and therefore difficult to watch. Subjects that jump and bounce, shakes from both voluntary and involuntary camera movements make some material difficult to watch. This is where aids such as gimbals come in. We’ve tested DJI’s new Osmo Mobile 6 to see if it adds anything to a market where more and more mobile phones have built-in image stabilization.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is a three-axis gimbal (three motors that counteract your movements and keep the camera still) that connects with compatible phones via bluetooth and then you can control the recording and the stabilization of the camera via the gimbal’s handle. There are six different buttons and controls on the OM 6 as it is called in short form. A record button, a gimbal mode selector, a multi-function button (although several buttons have multiple functions), a small dial to adjust zoom and focus, and a shutter release button on the front of the grip. It has a built-in lithium battery that provides approximately 6.5 hours of filming.

Easy to get started

You attach the phone to a holder with two arms. You then attach the holder to the gimbal using strong magnets. The app for DJI is not in Google Play, but in the App Store. Android users can instead of Google Play use a qr code found in the packaging and download the program file directly that way. Then you need to approve the installation of programs from unknown sources.

It is then quite quick to get started with the gimbal by attaching the mobile phone and linking the two with bluetooth. In DJI Mimo, you then use the app’s built-in camera app to film. It should be said that it is possible to use the OM 6 without having the app in the phone and without having a compatible phone, this because the gimbal stabilizes the phone regardless of whether it is connected to the phone or not. But you lose the ability to control the recording function, zoom and focus, as well as the ability to change the camera via the hand grip, which is a big part of the whole experience. That is, you get the stabilization, but nothing else. (Here you can see which phones are compatible)

Functions

The gimbal itself has four different modes for stabilization. You can choose for the gimbal to keep the phone stable in all directions, that is, forwards backwards, sideways and when it rotates. For example, you can choose to lock it in all directions if, for example, you want to simulate that the camera is a “look” that looks around, you can also choose to only let it stabilize laterally but not forward. There is also a special mode where the phone can be rotated (sideways) to create an effect when filming. You can also control the gimbal’s movements with the joystick, which is conveniently located by the thumb.

One of the functions you will probably use frequently is centering, that is, the gimbal adjusts the phone so that it points straight ahead again. Namely, it has a tendency to start leaning a little in one direction if you move it a little carelessly or forcefully. It is done quickly and smoothly with two quick presses of the front shutter button. OM 6 also has a telescopic stand in the handle, which allows you to send the phone away from your hand a bit, which can give nicer angles and a little more distance if you’re filming yourself.

You can quickly switch between the front and rear cameras with the press of a button, and two presses of the same button will rotate the phone from portrait to landscape, or back. Zooming and focusing manually during filming does not produce completely smooth movements in the film without practice, but with a little practice it is possible to achieve decent focus movements and zooms.

Active track is a feature where you can tap the screen to draw a box around a subject that you want the phone to follow. If you move the phone sideways or up and down, the gimbal will move to keep your chosen subject centered in the frame. A good function for those who want to film something that moves. There’s also a face lock, but sometimes you might want to follow something that isn’t a person.

Better than built-in

We have tested OM 6 mainly with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but also the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, the latter is not compatible with OM 6 according to DJI. We chose to test it also with the Samsung phone because it has an image stabilization that already works well for video without a gimbal. In this way, it was possible to compare material stabilized by the gimbal with material stabilized by the phone itself. The iPhone 14 Pro Max also has built-in image stabilization but not as high a resolution as Samsung, which may give Samsung an advantage in terms of stabilization. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra thus has more pixels to work with when stabilizing the video.

What we can state regarding both of these is that the gimbal in both cases gives a better result than what the cameras themselves can perform. Both the iPhone and the Samsung can’t quite remove the last faint sway from the steps when walking. If you go carefully and softly it will be better, but with OM 6 you don’t have to think about it so much.

The biggest advantage, however, is that when you choose to stabilize with the phone, the phone will crop the image, which means that you will not get as high a resolution as if you were filming without stabilization in the phone. With the phone mounted on the gimbal instead, you can use the phone’s highest resolution modes and also get the widest possible wide angle when filming.

One thing that also makes filming with a gimbal better than with the camera in hand is that the ergonomics are better. You get a more stable handle to hold and it is easier to make soft movements than when you hold the phone directly with your hand.

However, it must be said that you need some practice to get a feel for how fast and how much you can move the gimbal without it being overwhelmed. Because it should also be said that it can quite easily get its hands full and not really keep up if you move it too fast. It also doesn’t have a lot of room to stabilize in the tilt joint, i.e. when leaning forwards and backwards, which is a disadvantage even though it contributes to the compact size.

The app from DJI contains several videos that give tips on how to use the gimbal and how to get started to get the most out of it. You can also easily cut your videos together in the app’s editing section.

Mainly for good film in the best resolution

Who is OM 6 aimed at and who can benefit from the functions it offers? I would say that you who film a lot with your mobile and want stable material and be able to choose which resolution you want to film in, would benefit from a gimbal of this kind. A reporter who doesn’t need a bigger camera or creators who post on social media can also be suitable audiences. OM 6 is small, flexible and can be quickly folded and packed into a bag, or even into the pocket.