DJI Pocket 4P in hand: potential for an all-in-one camera
DJI has officially launched the DJI Pocket 4P, I don't know if I read it as 4 Pro correctly, it is equipped with 2 cameras, 1 full as traditional and an additional 3X close-up, for a closer viewing angle. Both near and far vision are enough, for me personally it has a lot of potential for an all-in-one camera, buying one is enough.
You can refer to more official configuration information here.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 3X, D-log, 4K30
What does 3X camera bring?
The biggest highlight of the Pocket 4P is the 3X optical zoom cam, which has a conversion focal length equivalent to 60mm, not digital zoom.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 3X, D-log, 4K30
While the 1X main camera (about 20mm) is suitable for wide angle, panorama and low-light, the 3X camera brings many other effects.
1X and 3X viewing angles For those of you who don't know, the 3X camera with a 60mm conversion focal length, although not quite telephoto, is enough to bring differences compared to the 1X - 20mm. The first thing to mention is the focal effect it brings, the background is more compressed, the viewing angle will be neat and less prone to unwanted things.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 3X, D-log, 4K30
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 3X, D-log, 4K30, cut from a review video I shot for you. Third, it is easier to blur the background than a 1X camera. Previously, you had to hold the camera very close to blur, but now, a reasonable distance is enough to blur the background, creating a frame that focuses more on the main character.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 3X, D-log, 4K30
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 3X, D-log, 4K30, strong sunlight
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 3X, D-log, 4K30
Fourth, combining the above 3 things, your video perspective will look more serious, especially because it is more similar to shooting with a camera, creating a more professional feeling.
The last thing and the one I feel is the best is the top shot setup. If you set up a top shot with a camera, it's very difficult, it's very difficult to adjust the angle, it takes up an extra screen to view and adjust... As for using the Pocket with a 1X camera, it's ugly, the angle is too wide, the operations are distorted, you see excess parts in the background.
With the 3X camera, just mount it up high, it will automatically balance, no need to weigh much, Pocket 4P connects to the phone, and adjust it a bit and you're done. I must say it's much more compact and convenient.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 3X, D-log, 4K30 Not to mention, Pocket 4P can be used with remote, wireless screen - DJI's new FrameTap, can watch liveview remotely, control parameters, adjust frames, using with 3X is the right thing.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30
Camera 1X & D-Log2 – Dynamic Range "huge" 17 stops
It wasn't until the last minute that DJI revealed the D-log2, giving a dynamic range of up to 17 stops - a number you only see on really big cameras like Arri or RED... I've seen the lab tests with this number, I tested it and it's really up to 17 stops, the file is really good, the editing is really good, but it's a bit thin compared to big cameras.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30 Anyway, D-log2 brings a new experience, a new way of measuring light, a completely new way of editing, workflow, and especially very impressive quality.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30 I tried testing with scenes with high contrast, the bright areas are very bright like sunsets, the dark parts can still see details, there is not too much noise, the highlights still have smooth transitions between areas, there are no breaks in the color transitions.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30 From there, shots with less contrast such as shots of people, human skin, under shade, bright background, or under sunlight, blue sky, can be completely satisfied. You can see more in the video, the shots I shot at the cafe, the color gradation is very beautiful.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30 D-log2 will help you get strong highlights, but still be able to get shadows, it's not only thanks to the new algorithm, but also the new hardware.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30 The new Pocket 4P sensor is equipped with new hardware called Lofic - a technology that helps receive more light. Recently, many devices are using it, such as Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and a new sensor recently launched by Sony.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30 Simply put, this technology will design an additional capacitor in each transistor. Whenever there is too much light, instead of no longer being able to contain it and the image being burned and white, these excess charges will overflow through the capacitor, thereby recording all the information entering the sensor without being burned.
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30 To put it simply, the sensor is like a glass of water, Lofic technology is like a spare glass of water. When water overflows, it automatically flows through the spare glass, thereby collecting all the water and no longer "burning".
Shot on DJI Pocket 4P, 1X, D-log2, 4K30 Hardware, combined with new algorithms, is the secret to the 17stop number that DJI announced.
Slow Motion
Similar to the Pocket 4, the 4P is also capable of recording 4K240, and on the 3X camera it is 4K200fps, these are very high numbers for a machine with a compact body like Pcoket. 240fps means you can record very fast movements, such as flowing water, spraying water, running and jumping... Those will be impressive highlights for the video if you use it properly.
In the video, I tested scenes with these speeds so you can watch more, but you must also note that if you use too much, it will lengthen the video, slow down and make you feel bored, so use just enough.
ActiveTrack 8.0
The good news is that ActiveTrack 8.0 works across the entire zoom range of the Pocket 4P, from 1X to 12X zoom. Shooting at long zoom ranges will be easier with tracking capabilities. For self-recorded shoots, you can now hold DJI's new FrameTap screen, view and select tracking, let the camera follow itself, from there you can freely do activities, such as DIY, tutorials, vlogs,... both with a 3X viewing angle and the ability to move freely. In the video, I tested the speed of 1X, 3X and up to 12X to see that DJI's tracking ability is now top-notch, the frame is narrow, the movement is fast but the camera still sticks firmly, without any source deviation. But it must also be noted that the tracking ability, not 360 degree rotation, is limited to the front part of the gimbal, you must preview the video recording activity area to place the camera.
Other points
The remaining, other small points I chose to put at the end of the article, but they are no less important
Regarding the battery, I feel it runs out a bit faster than the Pocket 4 version, but not significantly. In return, we will still have the ability to fast charge, I have a separate article to talk about this, you can see more here. The battery problem has long been absent for Pocket users, but since DJI removed the battery in the combo, people are more worried. It's true that without that backup battery, worry is inevitable. But in return, the Pocket 4 Series has a lot of battery upgrades. In many normal use cases, I think we rarely need a backup battery.
DJI Pocket 4P has 103GB of internal memory, a little less than the PK4, but it is enough for more than 2 hours and 40 minutes of 4K30 recording, actually this number is quite large, if you do not shoot timelapse or continuous source discharge. The built-in memory also has the advantage of copying files quickly. PK4 Series in general, is capable of wired file transfer up to 800MB/s, it is as fast as an ssd, dozens of GB but only a few minutes to wait. As for wireless file transfer, the speed also reaches somewhere around 60-80MB/s in actual use. With this you can quickly copy files to save to your phone, quickly edit, adjust colors with DJI Mimo...
Conclude
DJI Pocket 4P is not an upgrade, it is like a new product line, with more powerful usage, for new users as well as high-demand users. For me, if I only do reviews and record vlogs, it can be said that this Pocket 4P is enough, it can be "all in one". There are a few points I feel like there will still be upgrades, like D-log2 is only available on 1X, using 3X it's a bit annoying to change the format, then 3X can't go up to 4K240 to sync with 1X,... But it's not too annoying, and this can be updated in the future. Those interested in the product can see more here. Thank you VJS for accompanying me in this article.