The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P is a compact, dual-lens gimbal camera featuring a primary 20mm wide-angle lens paired with a new 60mm medium telephoto lens on a 1-inch sensor. Retailing from £529 / €599 for the Standard Combo, it introduces 17-stop dynamic range and ActiveTrack 8.0, though it adds roughly 40g of weight compared to the standard model and is currently unavailable in the US.
DJI has dominated the pocket gimbal category for years, mostly competing against its own iterative updates. That routine changed with the arrival of competitors like the Insta360 Luna Ultra, forcing hardware engineers in Shenzhen to rethink what a palm-sized stabilizer can pack into an aluminum chassis. According to Trusted Reviews, the standard DJI Osmo Pocket 4 delivered a larger sensor, more storage, and faster file transfers earlier in the year, but it kept the single-lens formula intact. The Pocket 4P drops that constraint, slapping a second optical assembly onto the front of the gimbal to challenge multi-lens rivals.
Dual-Lens Optics and Focal Length Performance
Hardware integration on a miniature gimbal requires meticulous balancing of weight and moment of inertia. Engadget reports that while Insta360 won the race to market with a dual-lens system, the Pocket 4P’s optical implementation represents a massive leap over simple in-sensor cropping. The familiar 20mm wide-angle glass handles general scenes, while the 60mm medium telephoto lens opens up tighter framing and creates a shallower depth of field via a larger aperture.
True optical zoom tops out at 3x, but the internal image processing pushes further without severe degradation. According to Engadget testing, shooting at 6x preserves an impressive amount of fidelity with minimal noise, and even pushing to 12x digital zoom yields usable results despite predictable resolution drop-off. However, physics dictates certain compromises. The physical distance between the two distinct camera modules introduces a minor perspective shift when transitioning at the exact 3x crossover point, occasionally accompanied by slight shifts in color or exposure.
Ergonomics, Tracking, and Ecosystem Trade-offs
Carrying an extra lens assembly alters the physical footprint. Trusted Reviews notes that the Pocket 4P is roughly 40g heavier than the standard Pocket 4. While the device remains pocketable and easy to operate with one hand, users testing the Vlog Combo—which retails for £605 / €689 and includes a FrameTap remote, fill light, DJI Mic Mini 2 transmitter, handle extender with a tripod mount, and mini tripod—will notice the cumulative heft if they strip away the grip accessories.
Software-side improvements attempt to offset hardware growing pains. ActiveTrack 8.0 runs smoothly across both the wide and telephoto cameras, allowing solo creators to maintain lock even when zoomed in. Yet, physical control ergonomics remain a point of friction. Engadget points out that the dedicated zoom button functions reliably—single presses jump between 1x and 3x, double presses hit 6x, and long presses execute smooth ramps—but the physical joystick is less intuitive for zooming, frequently requiring users to verify their current pan mode assignment. Furthermore, the on-screen zoom button disappears entirely when shooting vertical video in portrait mode, leaning heavily on the hardware button for adjustments.
Pricing, Availability, and the Market Landscape
The pricing structure positions the Pocket 4P as a premium tier option for mobile creators. The Standard Combo starts at £529 / €599, whereas the Vlog Combo scales up to £605 / €689. This sits comfortably below its primary rival, the Insta360 Luna Ultra, which commands a £649 starting price in the UK. Regional rollouts remain fragmented, with DJI omitting a US launch window for the device at this time.
For independent videographers dealing with top-down product shots or windy coastal environments, the addition of D-Log 2 color profiling and a 17-stop dynamic range provides genuine post-production flexibility. Trusted Reviews observed that while D-Log 2 introduces minor workflow restrictions, the hardware package successfully bridges the gap between casual vlogging gear and high-end cinematic tools.
