I never intended to be a videographer, and I definitely don’t consider myself one. However, as time went by and the blog started to grow, I experimented with new mediums. Shooting travel videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket wasn’t an idea that came to me overnight.
In the beginning, I would only use a Sony a6300 for my travel videos. Soon enough, though, I realized that I would need extra equipment to produce the videos I imagined. The footage was shaky, and since I’m not fond of slow-motion videos that much, it meant that I should have a gimbal with me.
Honestly, it didn’t sound that tempting. A couple of months ago, I wrote an article about running a travel blog with minimal setup. Being on the road with heavy video equipment sounded horrible to me. After all, I write and take photos, and shooting videos on my journeys is just a small side project. Sure, I would love to have some nice footage, but I know that I’m not a pro. That said, I started searching for a small device with an attached gimbal. In the meantime, I found all kinds of excuses to stop bringing my Sony a6300 with me. Too heavy, no time for videos, who cares, etc.
Then, I came across the DJI Osmo Pocket (check its current price here), and everything changed. This little device could shoot 4K videos, had a good lens, and had a gimbal. Moreover, it was lighter than a smartphone. How could I ignore such a video camera?
A couple of days later, I went to a shop and bought one. I started using it straight ahead, and I was delighted with the results. Of course, a small device like this has its limitations, but it was nothing to complain about for an amateur videographer like myself. After using it for several months, I also wrote an extensive review.
Therefore, in this article, you’ll see my travel videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket. Moreover, I share some tips and techniques for travel videos and talk about some of my mistakes.
*Some of the links are affiliate links. It means that if you buy something, I might earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Why shoot travel videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket
Well, as I already mentioned, I wanted to explore video as a medium. In order to make it tempting for me, I needed a lightweight device that had a gimbal. Even though this is a side project of my blog, it doesn’t mean that it would be okay to get horrible footage. I wanted to have decent results, clips that I would watch in the future, and get an impression of an old journey.
On the other hand, the DJI Osmo Pocket is also a great vlogging camera. Although I’m not a big fan of vlogs, I did shoot some of them during the last couple of months. I didn’t upload any of them on YouTube (you can follow me here), but shooting vlogs helped me better understand the camera.
The travel videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket are a different way to remember my journeys. Words and photos are usually enough for me, but sometimes I love watching a video. I also believe that a travel video offers value to the readers. Covering a destination with different mediums can offer a fuller experience to the reader -and that’s also why I started the Polaroid Diaries.
So, before I start presenting my travel videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket, I want to add some notes. First, the songs I use in the travel videos are mainly from YouTube’s audio library. While most of the pros use other platforms, for me, the YouTube Audio Library is okay. You won’t probably find mind-blowing tunes, but you don’t have to pay extra money if you want to have some travel memories.
Finally, I would like to mention that I edited my videos on Final Cut Pro X. The videos below are all either in 4K or 1080p. Most of the time, I shoot them at 30 fps.
My travel videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket
Whenever I upload a new travel video, I will add it to this post. Therefore, make sure to bookmark the article or follow me on YouTube.
Astypalaia, Greece
I had the DJI Osmo Pocket for a couple of days when I decided to fly to Astypalaia (July 2019). I haven’t used the device outdoors, and I just tried to learn the settings with some silly clips at home. Therefore, traveling to the small Greek island of Astypalaia was a challenge: I wanted to have decent footage without even knowing how to really use the camera. And here’s what I got.
Anafi, Greece
A couple of months later, in mid-September 2019, I traveled to another Greek island. Anafi is a remote island in the Aegean Sea, and I thought of shooting another travel video with the DJI Osmo Pocket. By this time, I have stopped filming with my Sony a6300, and I shot my travel videos entirely with the DJI Osmo Pocket. Anafi is one of these unique destinations where you want to take photos and videos all the time. So, here is my travel video from Anafi.
Bucharest, Romania: Izvor Park
This is actually the first of the two videos I filmed in Bucharest. Instead of presenting a travel video dealing with the city in total, I preferred to shoot a clip in a specific location. Izvor Park had still snow the day I visited it, and I thought of getting some fleeting impressions.
Bucharest, Romania: The Palace of the Parliament
Now, I thought of trying something else on this second travel video from Bucharest. As you might have read, I took a tour of the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest (you can book yours here). This time though, I wanted to see how well the microphone of the DJI Osmo Pocket would work. After all, it was an indoor tour, with many echoes due to the building’s size, and the low light situation seemed challenging. So, partly a travel video and partly a presentation, here’s what I got there on the Parliamentary Palace tour.
Berlin, Germany in 4K with the DJI Osmo pocket
I thought that 2020 would be a year full of journeys. Then the horrible pandemic destroyed every plan. I remained stranded for months in Berlin, being unable to go anywhere. I spent most of the time in my neighborhood, and I would only go somewhere if I could ride my bike. Nonetheless, I shoot several videos, mainly to remember the awful times. I’m adding here just one -the rest you can watch on YouTube. I’d instead leave this period behind. So, here’s a video from the first day of the lockdown in Berlin.
Donoussa, Greece in 4K with the DJI Osmo Pocket
The summer of 2020 was a bizarre one due to the Coronavirus regulations. Nonetheless, I decided to go on a short vacation, and I spent a couple of days in Donoussa. This tiny Greek island in the Cyclades offered me some carefree days. Even though I didn’t plan to work that much, I thought of shooting a 4K travel video with the DJI Osmo Pocket. So, here you can see my short film from Donoussa.
Mycenae, Greece
After Donoussa, I started visiting more places in Greece. This time it was not about the islands, though. Instead, I decided to explore a bit more mainland Greece. It’s been a while since I visited some of the famous spots of antiquity, and this time I thought of taking a day trip to Mycenae. That’s actually one of the most famous ancient cities -if not the most celebrated one. The light was harsh, but I used some ND filters for my travel video with the Osmo Pocket. Here’s what I got.
Nemea, Greece in 4K with the DJI Osmo Pocket
Nemea is one of the most prominent spots of Greek antiquity. Located in the Peloponnese and just half an hour away from Mycenae, Nemea is famous for the Temple of Zeus and its wine region. This is also the place where Hercules killed the Nemean Lion. When I visited Nemea, I thought of shooting a 4K video with the Osmo Pocket. The light was, somehow, softer, but I still had to use an ND filter.
Acrocorinth, Greece in 4K with the DJI Osmo Pocket
Acrocorinth is one of the lesser-known spots of Greek antiquity. Located just an hour away from Athens, a visit to Acrocorinth is a must because of the landscape and the fortified castle. Once again used ND filters for my travel video with the DJI Osmo Pocket due to the harsh light. I shoot the video at 30 fps and 1/60th shutter speed in 4K.
Folegandros, Greece in 4K with the DJI Osmo Pocket
Folegandros is one of the most beautiful Greek islands. While it doesn’t have the fame of nearby Santorini, Folegandros is stunning and a perfect location for videographers and video enthusiasts. Nature, the landscape, and the beaches will instantly become part of your memories. I shot a travel video in 4K with the DJI Osmo Pocket, and my friend John composed original music for it. Once again, the video is shot at 30 fps and 1/60th of shutter speed in 4K. Due to the intense light, I used an ND 64 filter.
Delphi, Greece (4K)
Delphi, the so-called “navel of the Earth,” is one of Greece’s most stunning locations. The world-famous landmark of Delphi is located in central Greece, and it’s one of the must-sees for Greek antiquity lovers. I shot a video in 4K with the DJI Osmo Pocket, and I used again the same ND 64 filter mentioned above.
San Marino
I was only for one night in San Marino. However, this micro-nation impressed me with its beauty and kindness. Although I didn’t have enough time to shoot a proper travel video, I managed to shoot a one-minute video with some of its landmarks.
Gothenburg, Sweden in 4K with the DJI Osmo Pocket
Sweden’s second-biggest city is one of the most beautiful places in Scandinavia. The days I spent in Gothenburg were fantastic -and the fair weather elevated the experience. Apart from walking around the city, I decided to rent a bike and cycle around. That said, in my travel video from Gothenburg, you will see footage from my walks and my cycling tours around the city.
Epilogue: can you shoot travel videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket?
As you can see, the DJI Osmo Pocket produced good quality footage. I’m thrilled with the results, and for a non-pro videographer like me, it’s a pleasure to have some clips from the places I visit. Sure, the device has limitations due to its size, but it is probably more than enough for amateurs or people just starting with videography. If you’d like to record your journeys, I can only recommend the DJI Osmo Pocket for your travel videos. You can check the current price of the Osmo Pocket here.
I plan to make even more travel videos, so bookmark this article and check back for updates. Also, follow me on YouTube for more travel videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket.
More about the DJI Osmo Pocket: Is this the future? An extensive Osmo Pocket review
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Last Updated on April 2, 2022 by George Pavlopoulos