DJI has unveiled the latest entry in the popular Osmo smartphone gimbal series, the Osmo Mobile 8, which is capable of 360° pan rotation, equipped with ten hours of battery life, and utilizes more advanced subject tracking than previous models. Many of the new features, including the upgraded human and pet tracking, gesture control, wireless audio support, and dynamic fill lighting, are enabled by its Multifunctional Module, a small accessory that attaches to the side of the phone clamp and comes included with the Osmo Mobile 8. This Module is also sold separately if you’d like to add it to an Osmo Mobile 7.
So what’s new with the Mobile 8? Let’s start with tracking. The Mobile 7 did include ActiveTrack 7.0, but you needed to be inside the DJI Mimo smartphone app to use it. With the Multifunctional Module, tracking works in your phone’s native camera app, as well as other third-party camera apps. The Module also unlocks gesture control, which includes gestures for taking a photo, starting or stopping a recording, and making framing adjustments. Additionally, the Module acts as a receiver for up to two DJI Mic 3, Mic 2, or Mic Mini transmitters, and has a fill light with eight brightness levels and an adjustable color temperature.
Gimbal hardware improvements include the aforementioned ability to do full 360° horizontal pans at up to 120°/s, plus a built-in extension rod that telescopes out 8.5”, a handy tool for high- or low-angle shots that we previously saw on the Osmo Mobile 7P. The Mobile 8’s magnetic clamp works with phones up to 3.3” wide and weighing up to 300g. If you’re using a particularly heavy phone or one with large accessories, the new counterweight mounting holes on the back of the Mobile 8 will come in handy. The Mobile 8 also has a USB-C output for charging your phone, and the whole gimbal weighs only 370g.
Software-wise, expect a dual-lens boost function inside the Mimo app that utilizes both the wide-angle and telephoto lens for increased stabilization, plus an updated version of ActiveTrack 7.0 that DJI says works better when tracking subjects over long distances. On top of those features, the Mobile 8 includes classic Osmo intelligent shooting modes like time-lapse, hyper-lapse, three different panorama styles, and more. Additionally, the Mimo app enables AI-powered editing and gimbal control from an Apple Watch.
For phone shooters wanting full 3-axis stabilization and a host of smart features like tracking and gesture control, the Mobile 8 looks like a good balance of power and portability. If you’d like more information about the DJI Osmo Mobile 8, including features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product pages.
