The world of content creation is a fast-moving space, and to stay ahead, your gear needs to be as adaptable as your ideas. DJI, a name synonymous with drones and gimbals, is now aiming to dominate the portable camera market with its latest innovation: the Osmo Nano. This isn’t just another action camera; it’s a completely new take on a familiar concept, designed for creators who demand professional-grade results from a device that can fit in their pocket. We’ve had a chance to put it through its paces for the last couple of weeks, and the verdict is that in a really crowded camera marketplace the Osmo Nano just made your purchase choice significantly more difficult.
At first glance, the Osmo Nano’s standout feature is its modular design. The device is split into two primary components: the camera unit itself, which is remarkably small and lightweight at just 52g, and the Multifunctional Vision Dock. This separation of brain and body is a stroke of genius. The camera unit can be mounted magnetically to virtually any surface, allowing for unique angles and perspectives that would be impossible with a traditional camera. Meanwhile, the Vision Dock acts as a live viewfinder and a complete remote control. With a crisp OLED HD touchscreen, it allows you to frame your shots from up to 10 metres away. When attached to the camera unit you can face the screen towards you or away, allowing for versatility in vlogging yourself or filming a subject, providing an unprecedented level of creative freedom.
But what truly sets the Osmo Nano apart is the incredible power packed into its minuscule frame. Beneath its minimalist exterior lies a 1/1.3-inch sensor that captures stunningly crisp footage. For those who need cinematic quality, it can shoot 4K video at a smooth 60 frames per second. If you’re looking to add some dramatic flair, it handles 4K slow-motion at an impressive 120p, allowing you to capture every detail of a high-speed moment. The camera also supports 10-bit video and DJI’s D-Log M profile, features typically reserved for high-end professional equipment. This gives creators the ability to colour-grade their footage in post-production with precision, ensuring their final product looks exactly as they envisioned.
For a device this small, stability is a critical factor, and DJI has risen to the challenge with its Rock Steady 3.0 stabilisation technology and Horizon Balancing. This combination ensures that even when you’re running, jumping, or navigating a bumpy trail, your footage remains incredibly smooth and stable. It effectively eliminates the kind of shaky, unprofessional shots that can ruin a piece of content. And for those who are brave enough to take their creations into the elements, the camera unit is waterproof down to 10 metres, so a sudden rainstorm or a quick dip in the pool won’t be a problem.
The Osmo Nano is a masterpiece on its own but a significant part of its appeal lies in its integration with the wider DJI ecosystem. The camera’s innovative design is complemented by a host of official accessories that elevate its versatility. Take the dual-direction quick-release mount, for example. It’s not just a clip; its magnetic, two-way design allows you to snap the camera onto a helmet or backpack strap in seconds, and in either direction, making it effortless to switch between a first-person perspective and a selfie view. For those on a mission to protect their investment, the dedicated glass lens cover is an absolute essential. This high-strength glass protector not only safeguards the lens from drops and scratches but also features a hydrophobic coating that causes water to bead up and slide off, ensuring your footage remains crystal clear in any weather.
Beyond its impressive video capabilities, the Osmo Nano is also a highly capable stills camera. It can capture sharp, vibrant 35-megapixel images in both JPEG and RAW formats, giving photographers the flexibility they need for detailed editing. The versatility extends to its power and audio as well. The Multifunctional Vision Dock comes with a USB-C port for convenient charging, and its extended battery life of 200 minutes means you can shoot for hours on end without interruption. For professional-level sound, the Osmo Nano is also fully compatible with DJI’s Mic units, so you can automatically link two mics directly to your camera without the need of a seperate reciever and your audio is as clear and professional as your video.
Battery level is surprising for such a small device as you can record 200 minutes of 1080p footage on a single charge (when using the vison dock). Basically the two devices are uses as in a symboitic workflow. On high settings you get around an hour, then pop it on the charger for 20mins and it will super charge back to around 80%. This is all dependent on the settings you have the camera on, adjusting things like bitrate can affect it, but in settings you’ll find all this very intuitive if you’ve used a DJI product before.
Testing this camera confirmed its vlogging potential, especially in a dynamic, on-the-go scenario. I put it to the ultimate test by mounting the camera unit to the handlebars of a Segway Ninebot electric scooter. The magnetic base held firm, and I could zip through the paths, the Rock Steady 3.0 stabilization effortlessly absorbing the bumps and vibrations from the pavement. The real magic came from the Vision Dock in my other hand. With a quick glance, I could monitor my framing in real-time and even switch shooting modes, ensuring every angle was perfect without having to stop and adjust. It gave me the freedom to capture a first-person perspective that felt truly alive and completely immersive, something a phone or a larger camera could never achieve with such ease.
Solving problems that I didn’t know I had is something the engineers at DJI love to do, and there’s a feature on the device that most people aren’t talking about called “Pre-Rec”. In a real world scenario I was filming a presenter where we had time for one take and they were counting me in for a record. It was on the fly and I hadn’t hit record quick enough during the count in. Luckly with “Pre-Rec” capturing the footage from just before I hit record, we didn’t have to mask with a clever edit or redo the shot.
In an increasingly crowded market, the DJI Osmo Nano manages to stand out by not just offering a new product, but by reimagining the creative workflow. It’s perfect for the traveller who wants a discreet camera, the vlogger who needs a reliable and high-quality setup, or the adventurer who wants to capture their exploits without the burden of bulky gear. While it faces stiff competition (mostly from DJI’s own other products), the Osmo Nano’s blend of modularity, portability, and powerful performance makes it a game-changer. It’s another good example of DJI’s ability to miniaturise professional technology into a fun, accessible package.
Perhaps the most exceptional aspect of the device is its pricing. In Australia, the standard 128GB combo is available for an attractive $589, with a 64GB combo is offered at $529.
Osmo Nano Standard Combo (64GB) – $529 AUD
Includes Osmo Nano Camera (64GB), Osmo Nano Multifunctional Vision Dock, Osmo Nano Magnetic Hat Clip, Osmo Nano Magnetic Lanyard, Osmo Nano Protective Case, USB-C to USB-C PD Cable (USB 3.1), Osmo Nano Dual-Direction Magnetic Ball-Joint Adapter Mount
Osmo Nano Standard Combo (128GB) – $589 AUD
Includes Osmo Nano Camera (128GB), Osmo Nano Multifunctional Vision Dock, Osmo Nano Magnetic Hat Clip, Osmo Nano Magnetic Lanyard, Osmo Nano Protective Case, USB-C to USB-C PD Cable (USB 3.1), Osmo Nano Dual-Direction Magnetic Ball-Joint Adapter Mount
There are plently of other features I’m still discovering like gesture controls and Auto recording, but see more www.dji.com/nano
