DJI Osmo Gimbals for Journalism

Owned by Austin Russell
Last updated: Nov 19, 2024 by Murray Basham
5 min read

 

The Osmo Mobile 3 and the DJI OM 4 Smartphone Gimbal is for Journalism students to allow a reliable platform for your own personal phone to shoot with.

Although similar in appearance, DJI 3 is an older model allowing phones with a screen size up to 12cm and a weight of 140g

The DJI OM4 Gimbal, however comes with a magnetic phone clamp for the much larger phones with a screen size around 16cm with a weight over 190g (excluding phone covers).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove the Osmo from it's case and attach the stand. This makes setting up easier. You may wish to remove the stand if you are hand operating the gimbal.

Setup of the Gimbals from this point on are fairly similar, other than the mounting of the phone.

 

 

 

The Rode VideoMicro is a directional microphone to assist you in getting the best audio recording for your mobile phone. The microphone rig has been assembled for your convenience.

The short coiled cord that comes with the microphone has a Grey plug at one end with a Black Plug at the other.

Please insert the Grey plug into the Mobile phone (Android) or mic attachment first (iOS) and the Black plug into the microphone.

See below.

 

 

 

 

 

Apple phone setup shown

 

Attach the microphone mount to the Osmo, and slide the microphone onto it. Tighten the wheel and attach the Black plug TRS connector cable to the microphone and the Grey TRRS plug connects to the phone, Audio input.

Ensure that the Red interconnect cable does not impede the Gimbal movement as the phone is moving.

Picture 1

Lightning Splitter

 

Mic Attachment for iOS

Picture 2

 

 

 

If your phone is an Apple iOS type attach the lightning splitter provided with the Mic, (as shown in Picture 1 ) with the Mic attachment (as shown in Picture 1)

Then plug the provided Splitter into your phones socket. See Picture 2

Take Note:

Please ensure that the cable is free and does impede the movement of the gimbal once the Osmo is turned on.

IF YOU HAVE AN IPHONE 7 OR ABOVE, YOU WILL NEED TO SUPPLY YOUR OWN LIGHTNING TO JACK CONVERTOR.

THE MCASI STORE DOES NOT STOCK THESE.

Setup

Do Not have the Osmo switched on at this time.

To balance out the phone, place phone in the top clamp with the camera lens to the Left.

The microphone is attached to the phone at this point

Slide the phone so that the phone is as level as shown.

The gimbal will fine tune this for you once the Osmo is turned on.

 

Balancing the Camera

 

 

Portrait

 

 

Landscape or 16 x 9 Aspect.

 

 

Turn on the Osmo by pushing and holding the power button for 3 seconds.

This will now orientate the phone to Portrait position.

If you prefer Landscape or 16 x 9 Aspect then ‘Double Tap’ the 'M” button.

 

 

 

 

Download the DJI Mimo App from the Play or Apple App Store

 

 

Pair your phone with the Osmo 3 gimbal. Make sure Bluetooth on your phone is switched on. Please ‘Allow’ the App to connect to each request on screen, so the use of the App will be made easier.

Select Please connect device

 

 

Both the gimbal and smartphone are ready for use.

Use the Menu screen to set the gimbal and phone settings depending on your project.

 

 

This will move the gimbal to place the phone back to the Setup picture as explained above.

Once the phone has been returned to this position, remove the phone from the clamp and remove the Mic attachment plugged in.

Return the Osmo 3 to the case  and pack away the slide mount and USB cable into the zip up pouch.

 

 

 

The link to the left shows an easy demonstration of the Osmo 3

to help you get the best out of the device.

Click here to refer Beginner’s Guide to DJI Osmo Mobile 3 (with Videos Tutorial)

Now your ready to shoot..

This pdf document covers many Apps and suggestions for use with the Smart Device. These are not in any form a necessity to have, on your own phone while studying.