- Lawrence Ng
DJI OM 5 Review: Now Lighter and More Compact, But...
Today, we have ourselves the new OM 5, sent by our pals at DJI. Now lighter, more compact and…. With the ability to extend! Plus we’re gonna check out some new updates for the DJI Mimo app. Let’s see what kind of shots we can get with this.
I, for one, adore the idea of being able to get smooth, stabilised footage without the hassle of gearing up for bigger gimbals. Prepping your DSLRs and mirrorless cameras may take too much time and it might even be impossible to fit in your bag.
But regardless of the setbacks, settling for handheld footage may not be in your favour all of the time, either. The much lighter and more compact OM 5 weighs only 292 grams, compared to the 290g weight of the OM 4. But this comes with a sacrifice - a smaller 1000mAh battery in this version, but it should still get you around six hours of use.
The magnetic clamp ensures a solid mount for all of your movements, and the improved ergonomics help you get a firmer grip while having all the necessary buttons within close reach.
Getting low or high shots with the OM 5 has never been easier, thanks to its built-in extension rod. Just as long as you get the right context of your shot or it’ll pretty much look like a mess.
A fun addition to the DJI Mimo app is ShotGuides. It aims to help creators shoot, edit and share in one swift flow. In a way, it acts as a template for moments when you want to share quickly online, without the legwork of editing the footage or embedding music. It's not a feature I see myself using, but it's there and a neat way for beginners to get into making videos.
Tracking movements, without a doubt, is now effortless with ActiveTrack 4.0 and I am truly blown away by how it holds up.
When you’re a one-man team or one-man production, having any camera track your movements while presenting something in this format, is a huge step up from the standard tripod. For more complex movements which normally takes a lot of time and skill to master, this is a big help.
Now it’s worth noting that this latest app update is only available on the DJI website, but if you’re using an iPhone, it should be fine because it’s completely updated. But if you’re using an Android, not to worry, we have the latest version here.
Stabilisation in itself does great for walking and slow movements, but it does tend to struggle when you start overloading the motors. Running with the OM 5 doesn't hold up too well and some low shots can come off quite jittery in some movements. Some shots may even be obstructed by the axis arm when held in certain positions.
Overall, it’s been a nice companion to have around. The ease of use and ability to just throw it in a bag, attach the phone with a magnetic clamp and you’re good to go. I think it’s without a doubt a great tool to have as a content creator, just on the notion of how great camera phones are becoming nowadays.
Even when knowing built-in stabilisation within phones are getting better and better every year, if you’re someone who is in need of a creative stretch for the videos you make and how to capture them, then the DJI OM 5 will not disappoint.
Content by Fitri Aiyub