If you were hoping for a new DJI drone at CES, you'll be disappointed. Instead the company is catering to its more down-to-earth market— handheld camera gimbals—by introducing two new models, one for mobile phones and a second for SLRs and mirrorless cameras.
The Osmo Mobile 2 is a follow-up to the company's popular handheld gimbal for smartphones. It has a clip to hold your phone, and a three-axis brushless gimbal to keep video silky smooth, even beyond what optical stabilization in modern smartphones can provide.
Flagships like the iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 record crisp video at 4K quality, and are also capable still shooters. For many, they've completely replaced a point-and-shoot camera. The Osmo Mobile 2 not only makes it possible to record smooth handheld video with a phone, it supports landscape orientation (for traditional capture) and portrait, the format used by Snapchat and Instagram Stories.
The new model uses an internal battery rather than a swappable one. It does limit the lifespan of the device—we know that batteries lose power over time—but by opting for an integrated cell the battery life has improved dramatically. The original Osmo Mobile was good for just under five hours of use per charge—the Mobile 2 can go for 15 hours. It also has an integrated tripod socket at the bottom of its pistol grip, which wasn't possible due to the battery door on the original version.
The Osmo works with the DJI GO mobile app (available for Android and iOS) to communicate with your phone. There's a physical USB connection, so your phone is powered by the grip and there's no Wi-Fi pairing necessary.
There's a d-pad on the handle to tilt and move your phone as desired. But you can also activate ActiveTrack on the app to identify and track a specific subject. Other app features include Motion Timelapse and Hyperlapse video, as well as Panorama, Long Exposure, and LightTrail options for still capture.
The Osmo Mobile sold for $199. The new Osmo Mobile 2 is less expensive, just $129, making it a more appealing option for smartphone filmmakers. Pre-orders open up on Jan. 23, and it will start to ship in February.
If you're more serious about video, you may use an SLR or mirrorless camera instead of a smartphone. DJI has those devices covered with the Ronin-S, the first single-hand stabilizer in the Ronin family. It's designed to handle cameras as big as the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, but can also stabilize footage from popular mirrorless video cameras like the Panasonic GH5 and Sony a7S II.
The gimbal can be locked down for camera mounting and calibration, so setup is easier than with other devices. It has a Push mode that lets you move the camera by hand, but also has a joystick to adjust it with the gimbal motors.
Like the Osmo Mobile 2, the Ronin-S supports Panorama, Hyperlapse, and subject tracking. It adds CamAnchor, which sets up multiple shots and lets you toggle between them when shooting a scene. It also supports a number of add-on accessories, including an optional vehicle mount, a dual handle support for heavier rigs, and a Focus Control Center to add more advanced camera moves and precise focus control.
The Ronin-S is set to ship in the second quarter of 2018. Pricing is not yet set.