DJI OSMO POCKET 4 User Guide | Settings and Shooting Techniques to Try First After Buying [2026 Edition]

You bought an OSMO POCKET 4, but
there are so many settings that you don't know what to do, right?

This camera
takes decent footage even with the default settings.
But actually,
just changing a few settings at the start will make the video quality completely different.

I also didn't understand it at first and shot randomly,
and for a moment I was disappointed, thinking, "Wait, is this all the Pocket 4 can do?"

But the moment I adjusted the settings,
I was surprised at how it suddenly looked like professional footage.
I couldn't believe it could change that much.

📌 Conclusion: Just change these 6 things first

If you are short on time, please just set these for now.

This alone will drastically change the stability and quality of your footage.

✅ Resolution → 4K
✅ Frame Rate → 30fps (Choose this if you're unsure)
✅ Beauty Mode → OFF
✅ Screen Rotation Power Off → "Never"
✅ Gimbal Follow Speed → Slow
✅ Audio Settings → Stereo (How to use the new POCKET 4 features)

In this article, I have summarized everything from the initial settings you should do after unboxing,

• New features unique to the POCKET 4 (Zoom, internal storage, Mic 3 connection, etc.)

• Recommended settings by scene (Travel/Low light/Cooking/Kids & Pets)

• Shooting techniques to take your footage to the next level

in an order that even beginners won't get lost in.

📌 I have also clearly organized the "points that changed in the POCKET 4" for those who upgraded from the POCKET 3 in the second half.

*This article has been updated to match the firmware as of July 2026. Since low-light shooting, tracking functions, and some button operations have changed since the release, the display may differ from older screens.)

■ What to do first after unboxing (Completed in 5 minutes)

1. Charge it
(Full charge in about 70 minutes with a USB-C cable. PD fast charging charger recommended)
2. Remove the gimbal clamp
→ Protective cover included with the Standard/Creator Combo. You cannot shoot if you forget to remove it

3. Power ON:
Rotate the touch screen clockwise or press the record button once
4. Select "Japanese" in language settings
5. Install the DJI Mimo app on your smartphone → Connect via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

6. Complete activation (just follow the app's instructions)
7. Update firmware to the latest version
💡 The POCKET 4 is equipped with
107GB of internal storage. You can start shooting immediately without an SD card. 📌 Internal storage recording time (DJI official data)

• 1080p/24fps: approx. 600 minutes (10 hours)

• 4K/60fps: approx. 220 minutes (a little over 3 hours)

→ Adding an SD card is recommended for long-duration shooting. ▶ Click here for detailed information on how to choose a recommended SD card

■ The 6 essential initial settings you definitely want to change!

【1】Resolution → Set to 4K

The initial setting may be 1080p, so be sure to check it.
If you shoot in 4K, you can maintain image quality even if you crop (zoom in) later.
4K is the only choice if you want to take full advantage of the 1-inch sensor.
You can rest easy knowing there is 107GB of internal storage.

How to set:
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen → Select resolution

[2] Frame rate → 30fps (daily) / 24fps (cinematic)

• 30fps: Smooth and natural footage. For YouTube and social media.

• 24fps: Cinematic atmosphere. For travel and landscapes.

• 60fps: If you want to edit in slow motion.

If you're unsure, 30fps is fine.

How to set:
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen → Select frame rate

[3] Glamour Effects → OFF

It may be ON by default.
Glamour Effects soften the entire image, blurring the high-quality footage you worked for.
It is best to turn it ON only when shooting close-ups of faces.
⚠️ Glamour Effects are only supported in Video and Low-Light Video modes.
They cannot be used in Photo or other modes (DJI official).
Also, Glamour Effects and Film Tone cannot be enabled at the same time.

How to set:
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen → Turn "Glamour Effects" OFF

[4] Power off when screen is rotated → Change to "Never"

By default, the power turns off automatically when you rotate the screen back.
Since it might accidentally turn off if you rotate it while shooting,
it is safer to change it to "Never".

How to set:
Swipe down from the top of the screen → Settings → "Screen Rotation Power Off" → Never

[5] Gimbal follow speed → "Slow"

With the default "Fast" setting,
the camera direction changes jerkily, resulting in restless footage.
Setting it to "Slow" creates smooth, professional-looking movement.

How to set: Swipe down from the top of the screen → Gimbal Settings → Follow Speed "Slow"

[6] Audio settings → Change to "Stereo" ← POCKET 4 new feature

The POCKET 4 supports "Spatial Audio," but
for vlogs and daily shooting, your own voice is often the main focus.
Spatial Audio can pick up too much ambient noise,
so "Stereo" is recommended first.
It is best to use Spatial Audio for landscape shots or events where you want to "preserve the sense of presence."

How to set: Swipe down from the top of the screen → Audio Settings → Select "Stereo"

■ Mastering the new features unique to the POCKET 4

Here is a summary of the new features not found in the POCKET 3.

[New Feature 1] 107GB Internal Storage

The biggest improvement that allows you to start shooting without an SD card.
📌 Estimated recording time (for 107GB internal storage, DJI official data)

• 1080p/24fps: Approx. 600 minutes (10 hours)

• 4K/60fps: Approx. 220 minutes (a little over 3 hours)

💡 If you are shooting for a full day while traveling, adding an SD card is recommended.
Switching between internal and external SD storage can be done via settings.
💡 Footage on the internal storage can be transferred directly to your smartphone or PC using a USB-C cable.

[New Feature 2] Lossless Zoom + Zoom Button

One of the biggest evolutionary points of the POCKET 4.
You can zoom without degrading image quality (lossless zoom).
Furthermore, you can operate the zoom while recording.
Lossless zoom during recording was not possible on the POCKET 3.

📌 Lossless Zoom Limits (DJI Official)

• 4K recording: Up to 2x (no image quality degradation)

• 1080p recording: Up to 4x (no image quality degradation)

• Exceeding the limit results in digital zoom, which reduces image quality

📌 Operation Method

• Press zoom button once → Switch to 2x (press again to return to 1x)

• Press zoom button twice → Switch to 4x (only in some modes)

• Joystick up/down → Fine zoom adjustment (when set to tilt/zoom switch)

📌 When to Use

• 1x: Normal wide-angle shooting (scenery, selfies)

• 2x: When you want to get closer to the subject (food, details) → Lossless even in 4K

• 4x: Distant subjects (stages, animals) → Lossless if in 1080p

💡 4K/2x lossless is the most practical.
Being able to "zoom in while shooting" is revolutionary for a small gimbal camera.

[New Feature 3] Custom Button

You can assign frequently used operations to the custom button.

There are more assignment options than at launch,
and the current firmware allows you to set functions for long-press operations as well.
Since you can choose between zooming out or opening the custom settings menu with a long press,
the need to touch the screen repeatedly while shooting has been reduced.

It is recommended to decide based on your shooting style as follows:

• Travel or street walking: Gimbal re-centering

• Selfie Vlog: Switch between front/rear orientation

• Use zoom frequently: Long press to zoom out

• Change settings frequently: Long press to open custom settings

For vertical shooting, you can also use the virtual custom button on the screen.
Since you can assign different operations to single press, double press, triple press, and long press,
it is convenient for those who shoot short videos in vertical orientation.

The assignable items and display names
may vary depending on the firmware.
Please use the items displayed on the device's settings screen as the standard.

How to set:
Long press the custom button → Select the function you want to assign

💡 Default assignments (DJI official):

• Single press → Switch between tilt/zoom joystick control

• Double press → Gimbal recentering

• Triple press → Gimbal lock/unlock

[New Feature 4] DJI Mic 3 Bluetooth Direct Connection

POCKET 4 can connect directly to the DJI Mic 3 transmitter via Bluetooth. No receiver is required.
📌 For the Creator Combo
→ The included DJI Mic 3 transmitter is
pre-paired with the camera at the factory
You can use it immediately just by opening the box and turning each on.
📌 When connecting a separately sold DJI Mic 3

1. Turn on the DJI Mic 3 transmitter

2. Swipe down from the top of the POCKET 4 screen → Bluetooth settings

3. Select the transmitter and connect

💡 Up to two wireless microphones can be connected simultaneously.

▶ Click here for more details on the differences between combos

[New Feature 5] Use "Auto Low-Light Enhancement" in dark places

With the current firmware,
"Auto Low-Light Enhancement" can be used for normal videos at 30fps or lower.
It is ON by default,
and since it automatically adjusts brightness and noise when darkness is detected,
you can basically leave it as is.

If you are continuously shooting night views or dark indoor scenes, select the dedicated "Low-Light Video" mode.

• Street walking or travel vlogs where brightness changes: Normal video + Auto Low-Light Enhancement

• Shooting mainly in dark places: Low-Light Video

• If you want to manage exposure yourself: Turn off Auto Low-Light Enhancement and use Pro mode

Instead of switching to a dedicated mode every time you shoot in low light,
you can now choose based on the shooting scene and exposure management method.

To find the settings, swipe up from the bottom of the screen in standard video mode,
and check "Auto Low-Light Enhancement" under shooting settings.

■ Recommended Settings by Scene

The POCKET 4 can handle various scenes with a single device.
The following are recommended settings for each scene.

[Daily Vlog / Walking Shots]

• Resolution: 4K

• Frame Rate: 30fps

• Gimbal Mode: Follow Mode

• Exposure Compensation: 0 to -0.3

• Tip: Turning on ActiveTrack (face tracking) keeps your face centered in the frame at all times

[Travel (Outdoor Daytime)]

• Resolution: 4K

• Frame Rate: 24fps (cinematic) or 30fps

• ND Filter: Attach ND16 to ND64

• Exposure Compensation: -0.3

• Tip: Use an ND filter to prevent overexposure and achieve cinematic footage

→ ND filters are compatible with the OSMO POCKET 3, so
there is no need to purchase additional ones if you already own them.

▶ Click here for recommended ND filters

[Indoors/Low Light (Restaurants, Night Views, etc.)]

• Resolution: 4K

• Frame Rate: 30fps

• Low-Light Mode: ON ← Easily done with the POCKET 4's new feature

• White Balance: Auto or Manual 5600K

• Tip: Use Low-Light Mode to capture beautiful footage without worrying about ISO settings. If you prefer manual, set the ISO limit to 1600

[Food/Table Photos]

• Resolution: 4K

• Frame Rate: 24fps

• Gimbal Mode: Tilt Lock

• Zoom: 2x to get close to the food ← Utilize the zoom button

• Tip: Shoot with slow horizontal movements. Mounting it on a tripod to shoot from directly above is also recommended

▶ Recommended mini tripod (Ulanzi MT-08 / approx. 1,942 yen)

[Children/Pets]

• Resolution: 4K

• Frame Rate: 60fps (because movement is fast)

• ActiveTrack: ON (Subject tracking)

• Tip: Shooting from a low angle provides footage closer to the eye level of children or pets

[Timelapse / Hyperlapse]

• Select Timelapse mode

• Shooting interval: 3 to 5 seconds

• Tripod use recommended

• Tip: Perfect for sunrises, sunsets, and cloud movement. Use Hyperlapse if you want to shoot while moving.

■ Essential Operation Methods

Here is a summary of the POCKET 4 touchscreen operations.

■ Touchscreen

• Swipe down from the top → Control Center

• Swipe left in the Control Center → View page 2 settings

• Swipe up from the bottom → Resolution, frame rate, and timer

• Swipe left → Image and audio settings (PRO mode, Beautify, Film Tone, etc.)

• Swipe right → Playback captured photos and videos

• Single tap on screen → Focus and exposure metering

• Double tap on screen → Start ActiveTrack (track subject)

■ Button Operations

• Press shutter button once → Start/stop recording (turns power on if off)

• Long press shutter button → Power off

• Press zoom button once → 2x zoom (press once from any magnification to return to 1x) ← NEW

• Press zoom button twice → 4x zoom (supported in select shooting modes only)
  ← NEW

• Custom button → Execute assigned function (long press to change assignment) ← NEW

■ 5D Joystick

• Tilt left/right → Pan (horizontal) control

• Tilt up/down → Tilt or zoom control (switchable)

• Press once → Return to previous menu / End ActiveTrack

• Press twice → Recentering the gimbal

• Press three times → Switch camera orientation between front/back

• Long press → Gimbal lock

💡 The further you move the joystick from the center, the faster the gimbal rotation and zoom speed will be.

■ 6 Shooting Techniques to Elevate Your Footage

【Technique 1】 SpinShot ← POCKET 4 New Feature

A feature that automatically rotates the camera 90° or 180° while recording. You can easily capture unique camera work.

📌 How to use

• Select "SpinShot" from the shooting modes

• Set the rotation angle (90° or 180°) and start recording

• The camera rotates automatically, so you don't need to move

💡 Use this in front of travel scenery or buildings to capture social media-worthy footage in one go.

【Technique 2】 180-Degree Shutter Rule

A basic rule for professionals to capture cinematic footage.
Simply set the shutter speed to double the frame rate.

• Shooting at 24fps → Shutter speed 1/48 (1/50 is fine)

• Shooting at 30fps → Shutter speed 1/60

• Shoot at 60fps → Shutter speed 1/120

This creates natural motion blur, giving the footage a cinematic feel.
However, in bright outdoor conditions, slowing down the shutter speed will cause overexposure, so an ND filter is essential.
Therefore,
an ND filter is essential.

[Technique 3] Low-angle shooting

Because the POCKET 4 is ultra-compact, it can shoot right at ground level.
Simply alternating between eye-level shots and low-angle shots adds incredible variety to your footage.
Using Tilt Lock mode helps maintain a level horizon even at low angles.

[Technique 4] Pacing with zoom

Use the POCKET 4's zoom button to change the field of view while shooting.

• Wide angle → Zoom in: When you want to draw attention to the subject

• Zoom out → Wide angle: When you want to show the entire location

Slow zooming creates a cinematic effect. However, be careful, as sudden zooming can cause camera shake.

[Technique 5] Shooting in 10-bit D-Log (For advanced users)

Changing the color profile to "10-bit D-Log" in PRO mode significantly increases the amount of color information.
The footage will look slightly washed out while shooting,
but you can create cinematic colors by color grading during editing.
You can download the D-Log to Rec.709 conversion LUT for free from the official DJI website.

We recommend that beginners start by shooting in normal color,
and try 10-bit D-Log once they get used to it.

[Technique 6] Choosing the tracking function based on your shooting style

In addition to basic tracking where you select the subject on the screen,
you can now choose tracking functions based on your shooting method.

For handheld selfie vlogs,
Face Track is easy to use when the camera is pointed at you.
It makes it easier to keep your face in the frame even while walking.

If you place the camera on a tripod
and enter the frame later, "Spotlight Follow" is convenient.
After recording starts, it recognizes and tracks the first face that appears in the center of the screen.
However, you cannot use zoom in this mode.

When you want to track a subject while keeping them off-center,
use Frame Tracking, which was added in a firmware update.
Set your composition, and when the subject's frame turns yellow, press the joystick to start tracking while maintaining that composition.

• Handheld selfie: Face Track

• Tripod setup, entering the frame later: Spotlight Follow

• Tracking a subject off-center: Frame Tracking

It becomes easier to use if you choose not just based on "following," but also on who is shooting and
where you want to place the subject on the screen.

■ For those upgrading from POCKET 3: Summary of changes

I have summarized the points that people who upgraded from the POCKET 3 will feel have changed.


📌 Operation methods are almost the same→ Screen swipes, joystick, and shutter button operations are the same as the POCKET 3. You can start using it without getting lost.
The joystick's operability has been improved for more intuitive control.


📌 What has changed

• 107GB internal storage → Can shoot without an SD card

• Zoom button added → One-touch switching between 1x/2x/4x

• Custom button added → Can assign frequently used functions

• Direct Bluetooth connection to DJI Mic 3 → No receiver needed (CC is pre-paired at the factory)

• Low-light mode added → Easy shooting in dark places

• SpinShot → New feature that shoots while automatically rotating

• Spatial audio support → Immersive sound

• D-Log M has been discontinued and 10-bit D-Log is adopted → Allows for finer adjustment of color and exposure than D-Log M.

📌 What has not changed

• 1-inch sensor × 3-axis gimbal → Same

• 2-inch rotating OLED screen → Same

• Screen swipe operation system → Same

• ActiveTrack → Features are the same (accuracy has improved)

💡 The configuration of the settings menu is almost the same, so
you can replicate your POCKET 3 settings as they are.
"What to set where" has not changed.

■ Common problems and solutions

Q: SD card is not recognized even after inserting it
A: Please format it on the device.
It may not be recognized if formatted on a PC.
Also, ensure you are using a U3/V30 or higher card.
Q: How do I switch between internal storage and SD card?
A: Settings → Storage → You can switch the save destination to "Internal" or "External SD".
Q: Power turns off automatically while shooting
"Screen rotation power off" is set to ON.
Please change it to "Do not" in the settings.
Q: Footage is overexposed (blown out)
A: Please use an ND filter outdoors in bright light.
Alternatively, lower the exposure compensation to -0.3 to -0.7.
Q: Footage looks choppy
A: Set the gimbal follow speed to "Slow".
Also, consciously move the camera more slowly.
Q: Battery doesn't last long
A: Shooting at 4K/60fps consumes a lot of power.
Set it to 30fps or lower, or use the battery handle (sold separately, approx. 9,570 yen). The battery handle can extend shooting time by about 150 minutes (DJI official).
Q: DJI Mic 3 cannot connect
A: Select "Search for devices" on the Bluetooth settings screen, and
ensure the Mic 3 transmitter is powered on. If the firmware is not up to date, connection may fail.
Q: It won't focus
A: Tap the screen to manually specify the focus point.
Or, double-tap the subject with ActiveTrack to enable auto-tracking + focus lock.

■ Summary

The OSMO POCKET 4 is a camera where "the footage changes dramatically depending on the settings."

First, just change these 6 minimum settings:

1. Resolution → 4K

2. Frame Rate → 30fps

3. Beauty Mode → OFF

4. Screen Rotation Power Off → Do not

5. Gimbal Follow Speed → Slow

6. Audio Settings → Stereo

This alone will result in footage on a different level compared to shooting with the default settings.
And let's make full use of the new features unique to the POCKET 4:

• 107GB internal storage, no SD card required

• Freely change the angle of view with the zoom button

• Increase shooting efficiency with the custom button

• Improved sound quality with direct Bluetooth connection to DJI Mic 3

Once you get used to it, try:
ND filter + 180-degree shutter rule + 10-bit D-Log.
You can get closer to professional-looking footage.

▶ View POCKET 4 Standard Combo on Amazon

▶ POCKET 4 Creator Combo (includes DJI Mic 3 + wide-angle lens + auxiliary light)

▶ SanDisk Extreme 256GB (the SD card the author uses)

The next step after you start using the camera

Once you've finished the settings, the next thing you need is
"what to shoot and how to arrange it to make a single Vlog."

I have created a paid roadmap for beginners that includes 3 completed scripts, a travel Vlog shooting sheet, and CapCut editing procedures.

▶ Vlog Beginner's "First Video" Completion Roadmap [Paid]

■ Recommended for you

▶ POCKET 4 Hands-on Review | Evolution Points Discovered After Testing the Actual Device

▶ POCKET 4 Combo Comparison Guide | Which One Is Right for You?

▶ POCKET 3 vs POCKET 4 Comparison Guide

▶ SD Card Selection Guide

▶ 8 Recommended Accessories

▶ DJI OSMO POCKET 4 Video Editing Guide

▶ Capture Beautiful Night Views and Fireflies with the OSMO POCKET! Complete Guide [Save for Later]

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