DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo Review

When the DJI OSMO Pocket arrived in 2019, there was no doubt it was an impressive piece of kit. A pocketable compact 4K camcorder on a motorised gimbal. However, there was an issue, although it was good, why would you need it when most people have their smartphones.

The answer was that it’s a dedicated device, it has better video and stills quality, it had features such as mechanical stabilisation that smartphones don’t have, and with the connection to the Mimo App you can take all sorts of amazing video creations that you can instantly share.

It’s true the OSMO Pocket was better than most smartphones, the image stabilisation is still incredible, and the video quality and preset video projects are amazing, but it’s still another device and it didn’t feel like it did enough to be that much different

DJI had to do something impressive with the Pocket 2 to make it stand out, and they’ve done exactly that.

Opening the box and at first, you’re hit by what looks for all intense and purpose like the DJI OSMO Pocket, and it is. But, delve into the box a bit further, and there are some interesting new additions, as this is the Creator Combo.

The Creator Combo is the DJI Pocket 2 with a bunch of accessories, and for an additional £100, it takes the Pocket 2 from a nice gadget into something that all vloggers should seriously consider.

For a start, there’s the Do-it-all handle and the wireless microphone transmitter, mini control stick and wide-angled lens. In effect everything you need to go out and film, vlog and so much more.

This time DJI has listened to all the feedback about the potential of the Pocket and thrown it all into a box ready to go.

Of course, there’s still the question of can’t my smartphone do all this? The answer is yes, but the added accessories that you’d need to get this quality and the features would firstly still set you back a few hundred, and be far more bulky and weighty than the small DJI Pocket 2.

There are of course still a few frustrations and annoyances, let’s take a look at what the DJI Pocket 2 has to offer.

As with the previous generation, the DJI Pocket 2 is a camera with built-in 3-axis motorised stabiliser. This has the benefit over an EIS (Electronic Image Stabilisation) system such as the GoPro or OSMO Action in as far as there’s no image cropping of image processing.

The major benefit of the DJI Pocket 2 is the size, which before clipping on extras measures in at 124.7 x 38.1 x 30mm and weighs 117g. This is roughly the same as the old GoPro’s.

The small camera is mounted on to an equally small motorised gimbal. The gimbal despite being small offers a controllable pan of -230º to 70º, tilt of -100º to 50º and Roll 45º. There’s a mechanical range of pan -250º to 90º, tilt -180 to 70 and roll of 90º which is all impressive.

The max controllable speed is 120º/s, which is fast enough for any use that I can think of.

The camera, while being small, features a large 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor with 64mp effective pixels. This is fronted by a lens with a 93º field of view and fixed f/1.8 aperture. The 35mm equivalent is 20mm.

The sensitivity range for 16MP photo’s and video is ISO 100-6400 and 100-3200 for 64mp stills.

Shutter speeds range from 8sec to 1/8000 sec, which again is an impressive range.

Video resolutions at 4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160 at 24/25/30/48/50/60fps, 2.7k 2720×1530 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60fps and FHD: 1920×1080 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60fps.

Using the HDR mode 4K isn’t available, but you do have 2.7K: 2720×1530 @ 24/25/30fps and FHD: 1920×1080 @ 24/25/30fps.

There’s also the slow-motion mode in 1080p of 240fps and 120fps.

The max video bitrate is an impressive 100Mbps.

Powering the DJI Pocket 2 is an 875mHa LiPo battery.

I’m looking at the Creator Combo kit which also includes the micro tripod, Mini control stick, tripod mount, wide-angled lens, smartphone adapter (USB Type-C or Lightening), Do-it-all handle and wireless mic transmitter.

The build quality of the DJI kit is always exceptional, the design is well thought through, and the basic unit is as solid and robust as they come.

A nice feature is a protective cover that fits snuggly around the Pocket when not in use. This has been designed perfectly for the device itself, and DJI has had the foresight to design it in such a way that even with the accessories installed the Pocket will still snuggly fit.

The overall design of the Pocket is exceptional, and the longer form with the Do-it-all handle in place makes using the new Pocket far more comfortable than the old.

As with the previous generation, I still have some misgivings over the mobile phone connection with the adapter in place.

While the device is nice and light the connection between the Pocket and Smartphone always seems a little loose, and in use, it’s not ideal. This wouldn’t be too much of an issue with the new Do-it-all handle fitted as once in place you can then operate Pocket remotely. However, that direct connection is required for the Storys feature.

As the Mini control stick and the phone adapter both use the same port this means that only one can be used at any one time, and I found the handling of this all a bit fiddly and far from ideal.

Why access to the Story feature isn’t available through the wireless Do-it-all handle, I have no idea, maybe something to do with processing or a feature that could be added through firmware in the future.

Overall, however, the use of the Pocket is really excellent, even if the handling to get the Story’s feature along with the physical connection to the smartphone could be improved.

That annoyance aside, the Creator Combo kit gives you far more to play with than just the entertaining gimmick of Story. Uppermost on the list of accessories is the Wireless Microphone transmitter.

To use the Wireless Microphone you need to add the All-In-One handle and then making sure the mic module is powered on it’s all but ready to go.

The audio quality is excellent, and with a small 3.5mm jack in the Do-it-all handle to monitor the audio, this feature proves to be extremely well thought out.

The features and handling are impressive and getting the small Pocket 2 out in the field the size and weight are a definite advantage.

When it comes to use, that size and shape, make it infinitely more comfortable to use than a mobile phone especially with the Do-It-All handle attached. Then there’s the wireless mic that can be quickly clipped to my jacket and I’m ready to vlog, no fuss it’s just fast and easy.

Capturing small video pieces to the camera couldn’t be easier, but as ever when a device like this makes such larges leaps forwards, any features that are omitted instantly leap out.

While recording in the usual less than sunny conditions of a British Autumn, the addition of a touch of lighting wouldn’t go amiss. The good thing is that size of the Pocket with the Do-It-All handle means that there’s now plenty of room for a small addition in the form of light bracket or some other type of lighting accessory to be clipped on.

However, at present, there is no light bracket, but I’m sure there will be from some manufacturer very soon.

When it comes to visual performance, the video looks amazing, even in low light conditions. This small camera does better than most, although there is some loss of quality. While the footage lacks the punch in tone and colour due to the light conditions, it doesn’t lack detail.

Likewise, the grain is well handled, and while the conditions are far from ideal, the small camera did an excellent job.

For direct, to camera stuff, the small Pocket 2 performed well, with the video performance boosted by the addition of the wireless mic.

Used to capture some drop-in shots, the small gimbal also does a great job of steadying footage, a pan and sweep are incredibly easy and the movement looks natural.

For anyone looking to do product reviews or any video to the camera, the DJI Pocket 2 is just incredibly convenient and capable of capturing superb quality footage.

Used in a more family orientated environment with the onboard mics rather than the wireless option and again the small size means that it is far less obtrusive than other cameras.

Using the small mini controlled and joystick makes manoeuvring the head easy and the speed of the movement can all be easily adjusted from within the app.

Again I felt frustration with the inability to use the Story mode without removing the mini controller and switching to the phone adapter, and this is a niggle that I felt throughout the review.

The final use that appealed to me is the different photo options. Pop the Pocket 2 on the small and I mean small tripod provided and you can use the Mino App to take a panoramic.

The Mimo app is a powerful tool, and being able to control the Pocket 2 from a distance is an excellent additional feature.

I was impressed by the original DJI OSMO Pocket, but there’s being impressed, and there’s the DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo.

I’ll start with the brief downside, and that’s the smartphone connection, it just doesn’t seem well thought out compared with the excellence of design for the rest of the Pocket 2.

However, the only real reason for physically connecting the Pocket 2 and a smartphone is to activate the Pocket 2, or to use Storys. While Storys is a fantastic feature, it’s also one that loses it’s charm relatively quickly.

So while it’s fun initially, a week in it’s all but forgotten and the actions and music all become tiresome.

The real fun, and the heart of the Pocket 2 comes when you start to use it.

The new Creator Combo kit gives you everything you need to start creating great content, and the depth of the features is more than enough for anyone wanting to get into all types of film making.

The benefits for vloggers and anyone creating online video content is huge. This is a go-anywhere mini film studio that will fit in your pocket.

The size means that there’s never an excuse not to report or create that video because you couldn’t be bothered to carry another camera with audio gear with you. It’s all here in one small and convenient package.

I can also see how families would love the Pocket 2; again, it makes things easy to capture those close intimate events. The simplicity of use means that you can pass it from the youngest to the oldest member of the family and they’ll all know how it works, point and shoot.

But for me, the most interesting use will be for those filmmakers who have been using their smartphones to create some great content. The Pocket 2 opens up another world of opportunities and film making potential on a budget.