DJI Osmo 360 Review and Hands-On – A Bikepacking Trip through Kyrgyzstan

This autumn, I fulfilled an enormous dream of mine and went on a bikepacking journey into the wild nature of Kyrgyzstan. To say that it was an unimaginable journey could be an understatement. Generally, it felt as unreal as if we had traveled to a different planet. My husband and I are filmmakers, so we determined to movie a brief documentary alongside the way in which. Other than a small mirrorless cam and a compact drone, we additionally took with us a DJI Osmo 360 and gave it an intensive check drive. The way it survived our journey, what footage we may seize with it, and what our real impression of the digital camera and post-production workflow was – learn in an in depth Osmo 360 assessment under!The Osmo 360 is DJI’s first-ever 360 digital camera. Typically, the Osmo collection is understood for sturdy efficiency in motion and running a blog, in addition to skilled documentary work. (For example, watch Johnnie check out the DJI Osmo Pocket 3). But, coming into the market phase, which already has a well-established chief, was a daring transfer. (I’m speaking about Insta360, in fact.) So, the corporate needed to introduce some options that might make their product stand out. These embrace massive square-shaped picture sensors, 8K 50fps recording, and claimed 13.5 stops of dynamic vary. (If you wish to examine all the technical specs, head over right here to our devoted article.)DJI Osmo 360 assessment: our subject journey conditionsA description of DJI Osmo 360’s capabilities gave the impression of the proper match for our use case. Let me provide you with a fast overview of our journey situations, and also you’ll know why. Throughout our journey, we spent a substantial period of time within the mountains, with temperatures starting from 0 °C (32 °F) to +24 °C (75 °F). Precipitation-wise, we largely obtained fortunate, although we did must push by way of hail and snow on one of many steepest ascents.Some photograph impressions from our bikepacking journey. Photos credit score: Imanuel ThallingerOur longest streak off-grid, with no entry to civilization, electrical energy, or cellular reception, lasted for 5 consecutive days. The important thing from the beginning was easy: since we needed to carry the whole lot on our common (not electrical!) mountain bikes, it was important to take as little as doable. We would have liked an motion digital camera that was robust, adaptable, and lightweight. The DJI Osmo 360, together with its equipment, appeared like the proper match. Our setup with the Osmo 360 for the tourOur Osmo 360 setup for the tour included:The Osmo 360 itself, with a mushy pouch for carrying it when not in use.Clear lens protectors – we not often used them. I most well-liked preserving the lenses uncovered in good, dry climate to keep away from any lack of picture high quality.Osmo Bike Heavy-Responsibility Mount – largely used to rig the digital camera on the handlebars, and it felt 100% safe.Osmo Twin Heavy-Responsibility Clamp for additional rigging choices.Osmo Hanging Neck Mount Max, which we utilized for all of the point-of-views, shot from the chest. (On an essential word, if you wish to use this accent with the Osmo 360, you’ll need an motion cam quick-release adapter mount, which DJI additionally affords however is bought individually.)Osmo Motion Multifunctional Battery Case with further batteries. Fortunately, DJI made Osmo 360 appropriate with Motion 5 batteries, and we had some spares in CineD’s storage. I’ll contact on battery life later, however with out this case, we wouldn’t have been in a position to preserve filming by way of your entire bikepacking journey.Osmo 1.2m Invisible Selfie Stick to magnetic quick-release mount. The fast-release labored splendidly, however the mount got here unfastened and was misplaced throughout a protracted, bumpy downhill part, so I’d advocate eradicating it from the bike when not filming. DJI OM Grip Tripod – for all of the stationary conditions, like interviews, timelapses, and such.2x Lexar SILVER PLUS 512 GB. Compatibility-wise, these microSD playing cards are amongst these particularly really useful by DJI. We managed to refill each of them throughout 14 days (largely filming on 360 8K mode, 25fps, in D-Log M). The DJI Osmo 360 additionally has 105GB of built-in storage. We didn’t have to make use of it, however it’s nice to know that you’ve a security internet, simply in case.Picture credit score: Mascha Deikova / CineDIt seems to be like lots, but it truly made a fairly compact equipment, which didn’t take up a lot house or add a lot weight in comparison with our tenting gear and clothes. With this setup, we have been in a position to cowl all of the pictures and angles we wished for our documentary, and nearly the whole lot labored out completely. (Beneath, we’ll additionally discuss what didn’t).Rigging the DJI Osmo 360 on a bikeNaturally, most of our time on the journey was spent on the bikes, so we needed to experiment with totally different filming angles and rigging setups. After some testing, we settled on three primary configurations and rotated between them alongside the way in which.The primary one was fixing the Osmo 360 on a handlebar through the use of the DJI’s Bike Heavy-Responsibility Mount. This setup captured all of the panorama pictures in the course of the trip and turned out to be one of the best angle for filming my teammates from behind. Other than that, it was the best digital camera place for deep talks or indignant rants throughout probably the most difficult elements of our journey. (Or no less than, that’s how I used it.)This rig appeared like this. Picture credit score: Imanuel ThallingerTo seize me (or different riders) in motion in a large view from above, we constructed a seatpost rig, utilizing the Heavy-Responsibility Clamp, a selfie stick, and a few lashing straps to extend stability. I do NOT advocate this setup. First off, the invisible selfie stick that we had with us just isn’t made for environments with sturdy vibrations (and DJI formally recommends it for handheld use solely), so it wobbled lots. (In accordance with DJI, for vehicle-mounted functions, it is best to use a Excessive-Power Carbon Fiber Invisible Selfie Stick.) Secondly, after a while on a bumpy street, the clamp tended to loosen, inflicting the stick and digital camera to tilt till they practically touched the bottom. Lastly, DJI affords a devoted Bike Rear Mount Equipment, which we couldn’t get earlier than the journey, however would have been a greater strategy to mount the Osmo 360 underneath the saddle.Picture credit score: Imanuel ThallingerPoint-of-view shotsOur third go-to set-up was the chest rig for downhill sequences or different point-of-view pictures. To me, the versatile Hanging Neck Mount felt very cozy. My husband would disagree. So, I suppose, it is best to attempt it on and transfer round in it earlier than taking it on a protracted trip. On this rig, we all the time used single-lens mode as a result of that was the one possibility that made sense. On reflection, I want I had had extra reframing flexibility. But, typically, it’s an awesome angle to create a visceral, immersive feeling. See for your self:Person-friendly interfaceAs you’re conscious, the first benefit of a 360-degree digital camera is that it captures the whole lot round it. That means: You don’t must level the cam within the appropriate course right away, and might reframe and export as many clips as you want afterwards. Usually, I’m a fan of intentional filmmaking, planning pictures prematurely, and framing every composition fastidiously, so I don’t have a lot expertise with panoramic recording.Nonetheless, for this specific sort of documentary, it was a good selection. When a lot motion occurs unexpectedly, you don’t all the time have time to arrange an exquisite body. Additionally, it really works effectively by way of enhancing. Simply click on the report button, and you’ve got a number of angles to chop to, captured in a single second. Right here, for instance: Holding in thoughts that I didn’t have a lot prior expertise with 360 cameras, I need to say that the Osmo 360 felt tremendous user-friendly and simple to grasp and discover. Its interface is self-explanatory, and the settings are versatile. In the event you neglect which button to press to alter the recording mode, there’s a corresponding icon on the touchscreen that triggers the identical operate. I did watch a tutorial previous to our journey, however I’d have understood the best way to set it up even with out.Making a time-lapse. Picture credit score: Mascha Deikova / CineDFirst impressions from the Osmo 360My impression of the DJI Osmo 360 is that it’s remarkably strong. It dealt with each sort of climate, from freezing chilly to scorching solar, in addition to heavy mud and some drops to the bottom, all with solely minor scratches on the coating. Each lenses appear like new after the journey, despite the fact that, as I discussed, we not often used lens protectors.Alternatively, I usually wished for an extended battery life. It did maintain as much as the requirements promised by DJI (“as much as 100 minutes of runtime in 8K 30fps”), however it was not all the time enough in our case. Notably, this was notably evident throughout time-lapses. I’d set one as much as run for roughly one hour, and the battery could be nearly empty afterward. When your solely power supply is a small, foldable photo voltaic panel, you’ll undoubtedly suppose twice earlier than switching the digital camera on, all issues thought of.Go-to modesOne of the sensible options of the DJI Osmo 360 is that it permits customers to arrange customized modes and swap between them every time they like. Personalization is vital once you wish to movie one thing particular, and it undoubtedly saves quite a lot of time.In our case, we filmed the whole lot in D-Log M to permit for additional grading flexibility, and went for 25 fps (to match recorded clips with different footage down the enhancing line). Largely, I’d swap between:8K 360 mode, 25fps – for using and motion sequences;single-lens 5K mode (16:9), set to super-wide subject of view, 25fps – for POVs, nature, and static pictures;and time-lapse in 360 mode, additionally at 25fps.Initially, I additionally manually set the shutter pace to 1/50 and outlined the ISO limits for proper publicity, however I rapidly modified these to automated. As climate situations have been unpredictable, we have been all the time on the transfer, and I usually needed to hit report spontaneously; it was a less complicated answer than diving into exact settings every time. Nonetheless, if you happen to have been to make use of the DJI Osmo 360 for extra correct work, you’d have the ability to manually set the whole lot you want.DJI Osmo 360: action-readyAmong different issues I loved in Osmo 360 is how rapidly it reacts and jumps into motion. My feeling: It takes a mere second from being fully switched off to taking pictures, supplied you don’t want to alter the mode. Additionally, when it’s shut down, you may push the report button, and a micro-moment later, it’s already up and operating. This felt good as a result of we encountered so many magical moments, wild animals, and sudden scenes, and have been in a position to seize them with out hesitation.One other function I used usually was voice management. When the digital camera was fastened in a single place on the bike and I didn’t plan to maneuver it, voice instructions have been very handy. Nonetheless, they didn’t all the time work reliably. It may need been my accent, as I’m not a local speaker, or maybe it’s one thing that might be refined in a future firmware replace.Additional featuresWhat else? In my view, the Osmo 360’s stabilization and horizon locking programs work very effectively. Positive, in 360 mode, you may stabilize the footage nevertheless you want in put up, however I additionally didn’t have any points in single-lens mode with this. The DJI Osmo 360 is waterproof and can be utilized underwater (in keeping with DJI, at a depth of as much as 10 meters). We didn’t dive that deep, however we have been nonetheless in a position to seize some pictures in the course of the river crossings. Nonetheless, it isn’t really useful to movie 360 in these sorts of situations with out particular housing; in any other case, the underwater gentle refraction would possibly trigger picture distortion and stitching errors. Moreover, some check studies warn in opposition to utilizing this cam underwater with out the case altogether, because the lenses can get condensation inside. Nicely, we did. That is what a clip shot from a single lens with out a cage seems to be like. (In no way preferrred and clear, however will work for a fast transition):The Osmo 360’s dynamic vary and video qualityOkay, that’s not a lab check! Thus, we gained’t have the ability to scientifically both confirm or disprove the mentioned 13.5 stops of dynamic vary. What we are able to do, nevertheless, is present you the ensuing clips, shot by the DJI Osmo 360 in numerous lighting situations, and allow you to decide.Heads-up! All of the pictures under use the automated “Coloration Restoration” function in DJI Studio. I utilized it to D-Log M throughout post-production to transform it to Rec. 709.Right here’s a video from the sundown swim on the Son-Kul lake:The subsequent shot was taken round noon within the shade, as we tried to flee the dazzling solar.And right here’s an inside shot from the airport, with a keyframe animation to create motion:What do you suppose? To me, it seems to be respectable. Perhaps I simply have very low expectations in relation to 360 cameras, however that is undoubtedly not the worst dynamic vary I’ve seen thus far.D-Log M 10-bit flat colour recordingAs already talked about, we recorded in D-Log M 10-bit colour profile every time it was doable. (It isn’t on a Tremendous Night time mode, or for time-lapses, for instance). For us, it was essential to protect the very best doable flexibility for grading, because the documentary may even embrace different footage from totally different sources. All of the pictures proven thus far have been exported utilizing the automated Coloration Restoration instrument in DJI Studio. Now let’s see how a lot additional they are often taken with skilled grading in DaVinci Resolve.Right here’s the identical lake shot, exported in flat D-Log M profile. (Sadly, not as ProRes – I’ll discuss it down under):And right here’s the way it takes care of the primary grading checks:You’ve already seen the export of this shot with an mechanically utilized Rec709 LUT above, so it’s simple to check them.Within the subsequent instance, I’ve cropped in on the 360 footage (which visibly degraded the standard), added some keyframes for slight movement, and exported the end result making use of the Coloration Restoration and automated Noise Discount options in DJI Studio:Now, the identical shot, however exported in D-Log M, after which graded in DaVinci Resolve:I suppose an expert eye will all the time discover the noise, blur, and different artifacts. Nonetheless, that’s high-quality. These pictures will work for our documentary and might even maintain up on a cinema display screen. In spite of everything, when the story is partaking, most viewers gained’t dwell on minor high quality points.Tremendous Night time mode on the Osmo 360The subsequent clip is shot utilizing the Tremendous Night time mode, a preset supplied within the Osmo 360 out of the field.Resulting from its bigger sensor, DJI claims the Osmo 360 has fairly good “night time imaginative and prescient,” capturing the next quantity of sunshine. Naturally, it applies to the traditional modes as effectively, so, for my part, you don’t all the time want to change to Tremendous Night time. Tremendous Night time is a preset that primarily helps to attenuate the quantity of noise. Its drawback, although, is that it doesn’t enable using a D-Log M colour mode, which we mentioned earlier.Constructed-in audio testedThe Osmo 360 has the OsmoAudio Direct Microphone Connection. This implies you may join the cam on to as much as two DJI microphone transmitters and use it as a receiver. So, if you happen to already work inside the DJI ecosystem and have a DJI Mic 2 or Mic Mini, good for you!As we tried to be frugal with the gadgets we took with us in the course of the journey, we determined to depend on Osmo’s inside 360-degree audio recording. Right here’s how the speech sounds with a river within the background and with none enhancement or post-processing by any means:In a second clip, my teammates stroll additional away from the digital camera and speak to one another within the metropolis of Bishkek. (Please, ignore the glitch within the video – I attempted the “Clever Monitoring” function, and it didn’t work correctly right here.)That’s spectacular, contemplating town noise and the gap from the digital camera – we may nonetheless clearly hear their dialogue. For our documentary-style recordings and dwell sound, the Osmo’s inside mic was enough. For interviews or extra centered conversations, although, I’d undoubtedly select DJI’s lavalier mics.Time-lapses, made by the DJI Osmo 360Just a couple of notes on time-lapses. What undoubtedly lacks, for my part, is the flexibility to report time-lapse footage in single-lens mode. For some cause, the cam doesn’t provide this feature (no less than, in the mean time of penning this assessment). To me, if you happen to solely want one lens and one course, it seems like wasted house and battery to report it in a 360 mode.But, in fact, the potential of making a time-lapse in 360 can encourage you to check out enjoyable concepts, so I’d undoubtedly preserve it as an possibility.For individuals who are keen on hyperlapses, they’re additionally out there on the Osmo 360.Publish-production within the DJI StudioDJI Osmo 360 video information are both saved in MP4 (with HEVC compression) when filmed by way of a single lens or OSV, which is DJI’s panoramic mode video format. The latter requires post-production with DJI software program – both within the DJI Mimo cellular app or DJI Studio in your Mac or PC.  The smartphone app could be very simple to navigate and in addition means that you can management the digital camera in the course of the recording. I haven’t used it for post-production a lot as a result of I want to view the clips on a bigger display screen. So, as an alternative, a lot of the pictures you’ve seen on this article have been exported utilizing DJI Studio.Screenshots from DJI Studio, displaying totally different options. Photos credit score: Mascha Deikova / CineDI’m positive, for many use circumstances, DJI Studio is an ideal match. It’s fast, easy, and has all of the features one would possibly want for primary edits. But, I wasn’t proud of it in any respect and can attempt to keep away from utilizing it for our documentary post-pro. Right here’s why:Just one timeline (with one video and audio monitor) per undertaking. Think about importing 1,000 OSV clips that must endure choice and reframing processes earlier than being exported for grading. That might be a cumbersome job to sort out all this in a single timeline. Particularly making an allowance for that you may’t set in- and out-points for the export. On prime of that, the software program lacks a batch export operate for skilled workflows.While you drag one clip on the timeline and reframe it, the whole lot works completely. Nonetheless, if you wish to cut up it after which reframe the clip sections in a different way, the DJI Studio has a bizarre glitch. (By the way in which, the identical occurs once you pull numerous clips onto one timeline.) All of the changes that you just make to the primary clip appear to be fully deleted when you go to the following one. And similar to that, you’re again to Step 1. The one workaround I discovered is to put one keyframe in the beginning of every clip, locking in place the reframing you made. That’s not how enhancing is meant to work, although. So, I actually hope that this will probably be fastened in one of many later software program updates.My largest challenge with DJI Studio, nevertheless, is that it doesn’t enable customers to export pictures in high-quality codecs for additional post-production, similar to ProRes or DNxHR. Sure, you may protect the D-Log M flat 10-bit colour profile, disable automated Noise Discount, and set your export bitrate to as much as 160 Mbps (click on “Customized” for that), however it’s nonetheless not the identical when it spits out the compressed H. 264 MP4.The one different possibility we at present have is a free Adobe Premiere Professional plugin referred to as DJI Reframe. Its benefit is that you may work immediately with DJI OSV information on the timeline, permitting you to entry the unique video high quality and use your acquainted enhancing strategy (for example, pancake enhancing) as you proceed.Nonetheless, it’s at present solely out there for Mac customers. And to be trustworthy, we’re planning on enhancing our bikepacking documentary in DaVinci Resolve. So, it will be nice if DJI thought of additional NLE integrations. In any other case, I’m afraid, we’d have to determine an advanced and painful workflow.Palms-on with DJI Osmo 360: conclusionSo, right here it’s, our trustworthy (and thorough) account of utilizing the DJI Osmo 360 on a bikepacking journey by way of Kyrgyzstan. I’ve highlighted the options we appreciated and identified the place there’s nonetheless room for enchancment.General, we have been proud of the digital camera. It seems like an awesome alternative for our specific sort of journey and documentary. Let’s hope that DJI will proceed engaged on the Osmo 360 and, particularly, on the DJI Studio software program, and in addition take into account different integrational prospects with the foremost NLEs.What about you? Have you ever already had the chance to check this cam in motion? What have been your impressions thus far? Tell us within the feedback! Moreover, when you have any remaining questions on our Osmo 360 assessment, please don’t hesitate to submit them under.Characteristic picture credit score: Imanuel Thallinger.