OSMO Raw with Z Axis

Pretty cool. Like anything has limitations, as in, can't point cam down with Z-axis, and you're in trouble if you suddenly see a shot that demands lock down, and/or your battery just dies and your shot is going away as you fight with your device to get the connection to come back and readjust your settings, but lotta neat potential. Plus, of course ... RAW ...

I have the Osmo+, it's nice and stable of course, tested it to 120km/hr and it was awesome but I just find it hard to use the phone as a viewfinder, I have the Samsung S7 Edge but even I find the viewfinder and flip out screen on my old Xf305 to be better. I'm flying blind half the time focus wise with the Osmo+.

Got most of the bugs worked out by updating the firmware, software and the phone OS as well, it still manages to crash my phone hard once in awhile but not as often.

Another thing I don't like about it is it's size, color and shape.....from a distance or at night what does that thing look like when you hold it in your hand?

I'm using it but I'm leaning towards selling it and getting something else.

It looks like an alien sex toy, and feels like a ton of bricks after 10 minutes or so (especially with the X5R, and the Z axis.) Adding a vest or other support would be nice, but then would be less portable.

Using Samsung S7 (not Edge) no crashes but once it would not connect due to other WiFi sources competeing .. a phone reboot fixed that.

Use autofocus to set focus in general .. then leave it .. sadly, cannot change focus while approaching subject ... not smoothly ... I use my phone with case, which makes it harder, too.

I have specific reasons for having it .. I got a deal on the RAW kit, so jumped on it (4 batteries, extra SSD, case) ... and am using the Panasonic 14-42 EZ lens. I may sell the DJI lens. I want to use this X5R on my FloatCam and Flightcam rigs. So I basically paid for the Osmo kit what I would have paid for the X5R ... so have added functionality ... it will be really nice shooting off my boat in spring/summer. Hoping to figure out how to extend the WiFi signal over a tether so I can make a submersible housing for it and send it down on an ROV ... we'll see how that works out.

With some practice I'm finding it works well for through the woods and walking shots where a low drone flight would also work but be hard to do (dense forest flying is hard) or invasive.

Basically it makes you look like a geek, a target for thieves, and if you wanted to shoot with a normal cam, where to you put the Osmo down for a moment?

But while it is much slower to set up and deploy than the Feiyu gimbal I got for my RX100m4, it has added function, especially as I can operate remotely.

Finally, the camera records compressed to SD card at same time as RAW to SSD ... so you can preview files fast and even choose to use the compressed rather than import the RAW depending on the shot.

Oh I have the Osmo+ and I wasn't thinking alien sex toy, I was thinking from a distance and especially at night with it being black in color it could be mistaken for a gun especially by cops who've shot people who've had nothing more than a phone in their hand and they've mistaken that for a gun.

You're right about where to put it down when using your regular cam, I gave up, tried putting it between my legs, tried putting it in the case and using the strap but it just didn't work out so now it's one or the other.

Makes for one good camera for driving shots, I have started using the infinity focus setting, used it today while driving in the severe snow squalls, can't keep tapping the focus button all the time.

Which it had a longer zoom but it was still nice to have some zoom vs my regular HD dashcam which has no zoom.

Just amazing how stable that thing is in severe weather.

The other thing I like about it is it's good for shooting in places where you want to be discrete, if I show up with my XF305 and tripod I get asked right away who are you with and do you have permission to film here. Got that from security at Toronto city hall public square, I show up with the osmo+ and cell phone and I look like just another tourist and no problems at all.

And you are right, even the osmo+ does feel heavy after awhile, was filming a robotics competition on campus last month and it was like a full on scrum, I was holding the osmo+ over everyone's head to try and get a clear view and I could only hold it so long.

One of the participants at the event remarked "nice cell phone attachment".......went right over my head for about 60 seconds :)

Well you oughta see the X5R on the Osmo with the Z axis ... it weighs about 4x much as the Osmo+ (I also have the Z3 cam, and put that on the Osmo it feels like feather ... this RAW thing looks like alien sex toy or gun, you choose .. you'd get shot either way ... looks like this (but this guy is using the wrong Z axis) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JursJ6izwzc

Good to hear you've had the Osmo up to speed with the Z3 ... I don't think the X5R will put up with that much wind.

I'm about to do a test of a shot between both compressed and with RAW. Given that I have a keen hatred for the DJI compression, I suspect I will be very much liking the results ...

RAW wins hands down but does not help fix soft focus on a one-off shot .. dangit.

Tomorrow test Osmo on Cineslider for ultra-low angle shots ...

Osmo RAW on Cineslider is really cool - can shoot low shots of ice slabs, with camera 1" above the water, slider automated, and stand next to it in relative comfort (not crouched) operating camera parameters and gimbal position via the app on device.

Jib work is next.

Really expands control possibilities. No longer have to worry about leveling slider or jib perfectly ... that's pretty liberating.

Firmware update arrived today for my Osmo+, I installed it right away of course and it seems a bit better, smoother operation, haven't been able to do much testing as today I was filming Chinese new years stuff with my other camera.