Tech Sharing: DJI POCKET 3 Vlogging Camera

I. Introduction

Em, guess it turns out you gotta stumble through some stuff to find what works. I've always been pretty picky about video recording, you know, with work and everything. At first, I thought I could just use my phone. Since I'm always ragging on Apple, I started trying to make the Xiaomi 10 Ultra work for video. Big surprise, it was a total flop – the video on that thing was a mess. Then came the 13 Ultra, which was way better for photos, but the video problems? Still a headache. I even had this weird thing happen where a whole long video just vanished from my gallery after I shot it. That's when I realized phones just weren't gonna cut it, so I switched to a real camera. I'd messed around with full-frame cameras before, but they were seriously overkill for what I needed now – just too big and heavy. So, after a bit of back and forth, I grabbed the ZV1. Man, the image quality on that thing was a letdown. It was heavier and pricier than my phone, and the video was worse. Optical zoom was the only thing it had going for it, otherwise, it was kinda useless. Didn't take long to sell it off (actually made a few bucks!). Next up was the Insta360 RS ONE complete kit. Seemed cool – a panoramic camera that could maybe open up some new creative possibilities. Yeah, nah. Overheating, SD card slowing down, randomly shutting off – it was a joke. Finally, I saw the light and got the DJI Pocket 3. After using it for a while, I can finally say, without a doubt: for shooting video on the go right now, this is it.

II. What's Great About It

Other Stuff: There's other gear out there for specific situations, but I don't think it's really necessary. Like those action camera mounts – if you need those, why not just get an action camera? Same with backpack clips or neck mounts. The longer you shoot, the more footage you have to edit, and that gets tiring. The Pocket 3 is perfect for quick shots on the go. And those big fancy cases and covers? They just make it less portable, which defeats the whole purpose, in my opinion.nd stopping as needed. As for more complex storage boxes, covers, etc., they severely impact the portability of the POCKET 3, which the BLOG owner sees as counterproductive.

Rock Solid Stability:
Anyone else out there doing more than just snapping pics of their everyday life? Think training videos, company events, creative stuff, music videos, even weddings. For that kind of stuff, you usually don't get a second chance, so no matter how good the image is, stability is king. I can't deal with gear that overheats and dies, crashes because of some bug, or just gets laggy and stops recording. With the Pocket 3, I've shot hundreds of clips, the biggest being an 11GB monster, and it hasn't skipped a beat. The stability is miles ahead of any phone or action cam I've used.

Super Chill Vibe:
One of the best things about the Pocket 3 is how low-key it is. If you do interviews or street photography, you know that even whipping out your phone can make people tense up and act weird. It's a real problem if you're trying to capture something genuine. When I'm using the Pocket 3 for street stuff, just grabbing quick interviews with people, it's like it's invisible. Nobody really notices it, and it doesn't freak people out during interviews. Seriously, it's the least intrusive camera I've ever used – way better than the ZV1 or any action cam.

Plays Well with Others:
DJI's built this whole ecosystem of accessories for the Pocket 3. I've pretty much bought them all. After trying a bunch of stuff, here's what I think are the must-haves (and the ones that cost a pretty penny but are worth it):

Mic: The DJI Mic 2 that comes with the Creator Combo, or you can buy it separately, is a no-brainer. Forget messing around with other mics. You buy the Pocket 3 for its grab-and-go convenience. Having to add a cold shoe and plug in a mic every time? That kills the vibe and makes you not want to shoot. Especially for those spur-of-the-moment shots. I got the Creator Combo and then snagged another Mic 2 on Xianyu (it's like the Chinese eBay). Needed it for interviews and stuff with multiple people. For most folks, the Creator Combo mic is plenty.

Filters: Honestly, I think those CPL and soft focus filters are mostly a gimmick. The only filter you really need for the Pocket 3 is an ND filter. I compared those adjustable ND filters from other brands with the official DJI fixed ones and went with the DJI. ND filters are key for controlling your shutter speed when it's super bright out, which gives you smoother motion blur. It makes your footage look better and more consistent. Since the Pocket 3's lens is tiny, stacking filters isn't really an option. So, since you're pretty much gonna be using an ND filter, you probably won't bother with other ones that much. Of course, if you have specific needs like shooting close-ups of bugs, or want that cinematic look with a special filter, that's different. And soft focus filters can be okay for selfies if you don't care about looking super sharp.

Grips and Cages: I tried a bunch of those "rabbit cage" things and different grips, and ended up with the Ulanzi short legs and base. Like I said before, the Pocket 3 is all about being portable. Adding a big cage just makes it bulky and annoying to hold. You'll end up not wanting to use it. Unless you're a pro who needs all those extra mounting points and has time to set everything up perfectly, I wouldn't bother with a cage. A base, though, doesn't get in the way of storing it or holding it (it might even make it feel better in your hand). The Ulanzi base has that GoPro mount, so you can already attach a bunch of stuff to it – that's good enough for the Pocket 3. As for the short legs, I'll admit, I bought them because they look cool. But honestly, even a USB cable can make this tiny tripod fall over. It's not very useful.

Power: Since I got the Creator Combo, it came with that extended battery grip. It charges kinda slow with a 10W charger, that's for sure. But the Pocket 3's internal battery is small, and the extended grip isn't huge either. Shooting in 4K at 30fps, you get about 3.5 hours with both batteries. It's just enough for work, and totally fine for everyday stuff. You can always use a power bank or get a third-party extended battery, which are cheap, but they can look a bit clunky and add some weight.

Lights: A small fill light is almost a must-have for the Pocket 3, especially if you're shooting with the sun behind your subject, even outdoors. Most lights need a cold shoe, and since I really didn't want to use a cage, I ended up getting a cold shoe mount that attaches to the strap. It doesn't look amazing, but it's the easiest way to add a light without making it harder to hold.

III. What's Not So Great

1. Transfer Speeds Are Slow:
   This is the biggest pain. When you plug the Pocket 3 into your computer, the transfer speed is only around 40MB/s. It's a real drag when you're moving big video files. Definitely get yourself a fast SD card reader.
2. Paint Can Chip:
   If you're like me and don't use a bulky case all the time, the paint on your Pocket 3 will probably start to chip after a while. It's almost impossible to avoid, especially since the case it comes with doesn't cover everything. But hey, these things are meant to be used. If you're too worried about keeping it pristine, you'll probably not use it as much, and that's a waste. As long as it still works, don't sweat the small stuff.
3. The Editing App Is Just Okay:
   The official editing app isn't bad, but it's not super user-friendly, and trying to do precise edits on your phone is still a pain. The templates are kinda limited too. Unless you don't really care about how your videos turn out, you probably can't use it for serious editing. For the Pocket 3, you're still better off doing your post-production on a computer.
4. Live Streaming Isn't Great:
   You can technically stream in 4K with the Pocket 3, but it gets super laggy and pretty much unusable. You'll have to drop it down to 1080p. So, if live streaming is a big deal for you, the Pocket 3 isn't the best choice.

IV. Final Thoughts

The main thing the Pocket 3 tries to solve is that "dust-gathering" problem. Lots of people buy cameras that end up just sitting on a shelf. So, before you buy one, really think about whether you need something that does the same thing as your phone camera. If you just want to snap pics of your pets or kids, where it's all about quick shots, your phone is probably more convenient, and the Pocket 3 will probably just collect dust. The Pocket 3 is perfect for more "planned" stuff, like work projects, travel videos, vlogs, and short films. For those situations, it's definitely the most portable and reliable little gimbal camera you can get.