DJI Pocket 3 vlog camera lying on the table

For at least a year now, I wanted to start making videos. The goal was to make vlogs from my travels and photo trips, but I could never get around to it.

When I try something new, my mind finds it very easy to slip into overthinking mode, which usually ends with me feeling overwhelmed and somewhat discouraged. Doesn’t matter if I’m trying to make a video or assemble an IKEA closet.
But it’s a whole different story when starting from the entry-level. Then I get excited about the whole thing quickly - and once I’m in, it goes usually very smooth.

I’d already tried getting into filming a few times and gave up.
Until I came across the DJI Pocket 3. It felt like the perfect no-brainer for someone like me. I convinced myself I needed it to finally start. Was I right?

DJI Pocket 3 creator combo set on the table, including a protection case, DJI mic 2, battery grip and a pouch

First, a quick disclaimer: nobody asked me to write this review, and it’s 100% independent.
I must say I like and trust the brand DJI. I used to own the DJI Mini 2 drone, and we worked well together. Also their customer support won me over more than once.

I ordered the Creator Combo edition (it includes a mic, tripod, extra battery, and a few other little accessories).

It arrived after a few weeks (this tiny device has taken over the vlogging and content creator world - and for a while, it was permanently out of stock, even on the secondhand market).

A hand holding DJI Pocket 3 camera in a protection case

First things first: it’s really small. Almost too small. I’ve got small hands, so for me, it’s perfect. But with the extra (battery) grip, it would be super comfortable to hold for any hand, I suppose.

Looking at this baby-sized cam hiding a 1-inch sensor inside, it’s easy to think it’s just a toy. But nope. Not even close.

DJI Pocket 3 - image quality and gimbal modes

The image quality is mind-blowing. After just one use, I knew it’s no joke.

A hand holding a camera DJI Pocket 3 on. There's a image of the room on the screen

You can shoot 4K in LOG (which gives more flexibility in post-production), but there are also a bunch of automatic shooting modes (including a surprisingly solid night mode, panorama, slow motion, and timelapse), which are great if you’re not too picky and want plug-and-play solutions.

A hand holding the gimbal, showing the lens of DJI Pocket 3 camera.

The image stabilization is just as impressive. The gimbal offers three basic modes (follow, tilt locked, and FPV), but what’s especially great for vlogging is the active tracking feature. The camera follows you - so when you’re recording a talking vlog, you don’t have to worry about whether you’re still in the frame. Perfect for solo videomakers.

The switch from horizontal to vertical video is done by flipping the touchscreen. Can’t be easier.

The lens is a full-frame equivalent of 20mm. Pretty wide already, but if you want it even wider, the Creator Combo includes a wide-angle lens that expands the field of view to 108 degrees. Want a tighter frame? You can use digital zoom or crop in post.

Sharpness is crazy! And since the lens has a fixed aperture f2.0, it actually allows for quite some background blur.

A screen of DJI Pocket 3 camera showing settings menu.

Manual settings are super easy to understand, even for a complete beginner like me, and offer plenty of flexibility. The menu is clean and intuitive - though the tiny touchscreen might be a bit of a pain for people with bigger fingers.

DJI Pocket 3 - sound quality

The sound quality honestly surprised me just as much.

Pocket 3 has a few audio input options: three built-in mics around the camera and the wireless DJI Mic 2.
The mic connects via Bluetooth just seconds after you turn it on - super easy. It blocks out wind and background noise really well, but even if you don’t use the external mic, the audio quality is still solid.

Is DJI Pocket 3 for me?

Using this camera is genuinely fun. It really fits in a pocket, turns on very fast and is a real no-brainer in use. It helped me get over my fear of filming in public - it's so small, most people don’t even notice it.
I’ve shot a few short vlogs and social media clips, and I’ve still got a bunch of footage waiting to be edited.

For someone who struggled and procrastinated for so long to start recording videos, this is quite a significant step. I owe it largely to the plug-and-play nature of the DJI Pocket 3.

The pros:

size and weight - makes it the perfect travel cam
image and audio quality - even in auto modes
super intuitive menu - beginner-friendly
easy phone pairing with the DJI Mimo app

The cons:

no weather sealing
tiny screen might be tricky for people with larger hands

And that’s pretty much all I can say at this point in our relationship. I’ll be back soon with a post about Pocket 3 accessories.

If you were considering getting the camera and this blog helped you make decision, you can consider using this link to buy it. Your price stays the same, and I’ll get a small commission that helps support this blog. Thanks in advance!

I created a guide (well, a mini-course is a better word), which will help you make more compelling, clean pictures.
It includes a little bit of theory, example images and practical tips/exercises.
Do you want to start making minimalistic, clean images that stand out? That guide is for you. And yes, it’s FREE.

Download the guide here

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