A cameras most valuable specification isn’t always the thing with the largest number beside it. Sometimes, a relatively simple change has a much greater impact on how you shoot. In the case of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P, that change is the addition of a 60mm equivalent camera alongside the familiar wide-angle one. And that change might just make it one of the best vlogging cameras you can buy.

　　DJI Osmo Pocket 4P at a glance: £529 Standard Combo; £605 Vlog Combo 20mm equivalent f/2 camera with 1-inch sensor 60mm equivalent f/1.8 camera with 1/1.28-inch sensor 4K recording at up to 240fps Approximately 37MP still-image capture Built-in 3-axis mechanical gimbal 2in rotating touchscreen 103GB internal storage and microSD card slot dji.com Previous Osmo Pocket models have been very effective for vlogging, travel footage and general walk-around video, but their wide lenses have imposed some limitations. They’re ideal when you want to include plenty of the surroundings, but less useful for a flattering close-up of another person or isolating a small detail.

　　The Pocket 4P addresses this by having two cameras on its motorised gimbal. One combines a 20mm equivalent f/2 lens with a 1-inch type CMOS sensor, while the other uses a 60mm equivalent f/1.8 lens and a separate 1/1.28-inch type sensor.

　　Each camera therefore has its own lens and sensor, so the tighter framing isn’t created by cropping into the wide-angle image. Switching cameras produces a genuine change in perspective.

　　DJI already uses multiple cameras on some of its drones, where changing focal length avoids the need to fly closer. With the Pocket 4P, it might save you from stepping into a flower bed, obstructing someone else’s view or positioning the camera uncomfortably close to somebody’s face.

　　The 20mm camera records 4K video at up to 240fps, while the 60mm camera reaches 200fps. The Pocket 4P also captures still images at approximately 37MP and records vertical 3K video at up to 60fps.

　　There’s 103GB of internal storage, so a memory card isn’t essential, although the microSD slot accepts cards up to 1TB.

　　At 159.5 x 63.3 x 33.5mm and 230g, the Pocket 4P is larger than earlier models, but its far easier to carry than a mirrorless camera, two lenses and a separate gimbal.

　　DJI Osmo Pocket 4P key features Proper telephoto The 60mm camera delivers a tighter optical view rather than a crop. Smooth operator Mechanical stabilisation takes much of the shake out of handheld footage. Quick start Flipping the screen can power up the camera and begin recording. Portrait-ready The rotating display makes switching to vertical video simple. No card, no problem! There’s a genuinely useful 103GB of internal storage. DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Why the second camera matters The 20mm camera is the natural choice for filming yourself at arm’s length. It includes plenty of the surroundings and works well for travel pieces, walk-and-talk videos, interiors and establishing shots. Helpfully, its focusing range also runs from 20cm to infinity, so it can also handle relatively close subjects.

　　Behind the lens is a 1-inch type sensor, which DJI claims enables up to 17 stops of dynamic range in supported modes. Regardless of the laboratory figure, it deals impressively well with high-contrast scenes, producing footage with attractive colour, good detail and well-controlled highlights.

　　Its standard sensitivity range is ISO 100-25,600, rising to ISO 51,200 in Low-Light Video mode. Meanwhile, the 60mm camera has a sensitivity range of ISO 50-12,800 normally and extends to ISO 25,600 in its equivalent low-light mode.

　　Although the 60mm camera’s sensor is smaller, I didn’t see a significant difference in quality when combining clips from the two cameras. Their colour and contrast are sufficiently consistent, and both resolve plenty of detail.

　　More importantly, 60mm is a better focal length for many shots of people. A wide-angle lens can exaggerate facial features when close to the subject. The longer lens lets you step back, providing a more comfortable working distance and a more natural-looking face.

　　That extra distance also makes filming feel less intrusive. You can maintain a conversational distance while still achieving a useful head-and-shoulders composition perfect for interviews.

　　The minimum focusing distance increases to 30cm, but that’s unlikely to cause problems in normal use.

　　A button beneath the screen on the Pocket 4P, switches directly between 20mm and 60mm. Double-pressing it activates the 6x zoom setting, after which the joystick can make further adjustments when configured as a zoom controller.

　　The digital magnification extends to 9x for stills and 12x for video, although it isn’t available in every mode. Predictably, quality declines as magnification increases, so I regard the two optical views as the important options rather than the headline zoom range.

　　DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Handling and operation The Pocket 4P feels much like its immediate predecessor (the Pocket 4) from the top of the handle downwards. The obvious physical difference is the larger gimbal assembly needed to accommodate two cameras.

　　Most of the additional weight is concentrated at the top, giving it a slightly top-heavy feel. Initially, I attached the supplied mini tripod and used it as a short grip extension, which made the balance feel better. After a little use, however, the extra weight ceased to bother me, and I reverted to holding the camera on its own.

　　At 230g, the Pocket 4P is still a very light filming setup. As someone who sometimes prefers a modest shoulder bag or handbag, or wants a dedicated video camera alongside a larger stills kit, I appreciate being able to carry the Pocket 4P routinely rather than packing it only for a specific shoot.

　　I would, however, like DJI to include a protector for the lenses and gimbal. These are the most exposed parts of the camera, and I’d feel happier dropping it into a crowded bag if the entire assembly had a secure, rigid cover.

　　The 2-inch touchscreen rotates snappily between vertical and horizontal positions. By default, turning it into the landscape position switches on the camera, and it can be set to begin recording automatically.

　　DJI sensibly delays recording until the gimbal has finished turning forwards. Otherwise, the opening frames of each clip might show a side view or a startled close-up of the photographer’s face. Rotating the display can also change the recording orientation. After tapping the on-screen ‘Continue’ prompt, you can move quickly between horizontal footage and vertical material for Instagram Reels, TikTok or YouTube Shorts.

　　The 2in touchscreen has a resolution of 556 x 314 pixels and a quoted brightness of 1000 nits. It’s clear enough for navigating the menus and general composition, although it can be difficult to check fine detail or absolute focus.

　　Connecting the Pocket 4P to the DJI Mimo app can turn a smartphone into a larger wireless monitor. This provides a much clearer view, but it also means handling two devices. Unless Im filming from a fixed position or I need to inspect the frame carefully, I prefer using the Pocket 4P by itself.

　　The joystick can be used to move the gimbal for careful framing and controlled movements, or it can operate the zoom. It just takes just a tap on the screen to switch between those functions.

　　DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Tracking and stabilisation DJI’s ActiveTrack 8.0 system recognises people, animals and vehicles, then moves the gimbal to keep the selected subject in the frame. It’s particularly helpful when filming yourself, as the camera can respond to your movements without requiring another operator.

　　The tracking is generally very good, but it can become overenthusiastic in crowded places. On occasion, it can latch onto somebody walking through the scene and the camera follows them. Consequently, it’s worth keeping an eye of the tracking or disabling it when there are lots of people nearby.

　　Gesture Control is another useful option for solo recording. With the camera standing on its mini tripod, you can initiate recording or tracking without returning to press a button.

　　The autofocus performance is also strong. Both cameras acquire their subjects quickly and usually maintain focus as either the subject or camera moves.

　　The 3-axis gimbal physically pans, tilts and rolls the camera to counteract movement. DJI specifies controllable ranges of -235° to 58° for panning, -125° to 58° for tilting and -45° to 45° for rolling.

　　There are four movement modes available for the gimbal: Follow, Tilt Locked, FPV and FPV-1. Follow is the most versatile and the mode I used most frequently. It responds smoothly to changes in direction without making the camera feel disconnected from the operator.

　　Tilt Locked keeps the vertical angle constant, while the FPV options refine how the gimbal responds to handle movement. They all have their uses, but Follow is likely to be the best starting point for most people.

　　The Pocket 4P’s stabilisation is extremely effective. My technique when walking with a camera isn’t the best, yet the Pocket 4P removes a great deal of the vertical bounce and small-scale shake that would otherwise be visible. You still need to walk with some care, as no compact gimbal can completely disguise heavy footsteps or abrupt changes in direction. Nevertheless, the results are far smoother than ordinary handheld phone or camera footage and require little effort to achieve.

　　For those who want to grade their footage, 10-bit D-Log 2 recording provides greater flexibility over colour and contrast. It’s useful when matching clips from other cameras, although processing log video adds complexity to a product that’s designed to be easy to use.

　　Files are recorded in MP4 format using HEVC compression, with a maximum bitrate of 180Mbps.

　　DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Image and Audio Quality The high frame rates allow the Pocket 4P to slow movement by up to eight times. I particularly like the 4x option, which gives water, animals and people a graceful appearance while making any remaining camera movement less obvious.

　　At 8x, however, fine textures soften and the tonal range contracts, so highlights and shadows look less nuanced. It may still be useful for emphasising very fast action, but 4x provides a better balance between dramatic slow motion and image quality.

　　Additional modes include Timelapse, Hyperlapse and Motionlapse. The last of these allows up to four gimbal positions to be programmed, so the viewpoint changes automatically during the sequence without requiring a separate motorised head.

　　Although the Pocket 4P is primarily a video camera, it also captures still images in JPEG, DNG or both simultaneously. Panorama mode can record four frames to create a wide letterbox-style image or nine frames for a larger square panorama, moving and stitching the shots automatically.

　　The three internal microphones deliver clear speech when the speaker is reasonably close and also capture natural ambient sound. They may be all that’s required for casual travel footage and quick clips. However, an external microphone is preferable for interviews, presentations or noisy locations, where it helps separate the speaker’s voice from surrounding sounds. The £605 Vlog Combo includes a DJI wireless microphone, while the £529 Standard Combo is the logical choice for anyone who already owns suitable audio equipment.

　　DJI quotes a maximum battery life of 210 minutes. Actual endurance varies with the recording mode, screen brightness, tracking and other settings, but USB-C charging makes it easy to top up the battery from a power bank.

　　Standard or Vlog Combo? The £529 Standard Combo is the better option for anyone who mainly records scenery and ambient sound, or who already owns a compatible external microphone. The £605 Vlog Combo includes one of DJI’s Mic Mini wireless microphones, plus a wireless remote control, making it more suitable for interviews, presentations and pieces to camera.

　　The Pocket 4P is available in black or pearl white, and buyers can add DJI Care Refresh protection. The one-year plan allows up to two replacement claims, while the two-year option permits up to four, covering accidental damage subject to the applicable replacement fee.

　　DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Our Verdict The Osmo Pocket 4P’s additional camera makes it more versatile and practical to use than its predecessors. The 60mm view is particularly valuable for recording interviews, details and situations where you cant get very close to your subject, while the autofocus, tracking and mechanical gimbal make it easy to capture smooth, accurately focused footage.

　　The larger camera and gimbal assembly make the camera slightly top-heavy; the screen is small and 8x slow motion carries a visible quality penalty. But the Pocket 4P combines creative flexibility, strong performance and genuine portability. As much as I love the Pocket 4, I would opt for the Pocket 4P to get the extra camera.

　　Related reading:

　　DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review the best vlogging camera perfected? DJI Osmo Mobile 6 arrives with improved subject tracking With DJI sidelined, the new Insta360 Luna Ultra could conquer the US vlogging market Do you want to win some great prizes for your photography? Enter your photos in our International Amateur Photographer of the Year competition. Free entry for photographers aged 13-21.

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