DJI Osmo Mobile 2 In-Depth Series – Part 1 – Setup

Heliguy-In_Depth_Series-Osmo_Mobile_2-Pt_1-Setup-Blog_Header-optimized.png DJI Osmo Mobile 2 In-Depth Series – Part 1 – Setup At the start of the year, DJI announced their latest gimbal for smartphones; the DJI Osmo Mobile 2. This new gimbal came at a significantly reduced price point compared to the original Osmo Mobile, making it DJI’s most affordable gimbal to date. In this series, we will be taking an in-depth look at this new gimbal and giving to hints and tips on how to get the most out of it. We’ll be starting with setting up the gimbal as soon as you receive it along with the available settings in the DJI GO app. Keep reading for more on how to use this brand-new gimbal to get the best results available.

Specifications

Let’s start by taking a look at the specifications on the Osmo Mobile 2.

General

Gimbal

Battery

Wireless

What’s in the Box?

Next, check out what’s included with the Osmo Mobile 2.

As you can see, there’s not a great deal included in the Osmo Mobile 2 package. The Osmo Mobile 2 is a complete kit that’s already assembled, with the built-in battery. The carry case is a valuable addition as it offers an easy transport solution for the Osmo Mobile 2. The case has a robust and fitted design that will help keep the gimbal safe on the move and is a great improvement on the original Osmo Mobile case. It is quite bulky though, so will likely be better suited to being carried in its case within a bag with a handle or rucksack etc.

DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Layout

Below, you will see the Osmo Mobile 2 with each of its physical features labelled: osmo_mobile_2-diagram.png DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Layout The controls on the Osmo Mobile 2 have been drastically simplified when compared to the original Osmo Mobile. There are only three buttons and a slider that are used to control the gimbal. Joystick: Used to control the movement of the attached smartphone. Shutter/Record Button: In video mode, press the button once to start recording and again to stop recording. In picture mode, press once for one picture or hold for burst mode. Zoom Slider: Zoom in and out the camera by moving the slider up and down. You can also zoom in by putting two fingers on the screen and pulling them apart and zoom out by pulling them together again. Power/Mode Button: This button has several functions depending on how many times it's pressed. To turn on/off, hold the button the button for two seconds. Once turned on; tap once to change modes, twice to recentre your phone and three times to switch between to front and back facing cameras.

Basic Setup of the Osmo Mobile 2

When you receive your Osmo Mobile 2, there are a few steps you’ll have to complete to get it up and running. Don't worry, it is a quick process but getting it right will help you get the most out of your Osmo. Check out our recommendations for the steps you’ll have to complete to get started with your Osmo Mobile 2.

Charging your Osmo Mobile 2

On unboxing your Osmo Mobile 2, it’s recommended you charge the battery up to 100%. Use the power cable that is sent with your Osmo and connect it to the micro USB port and a power supply. The power supply can be a wall socket with an adapter or a computer. The micro USB is a much better method than the original Osmo Mobile’s 3.5 mm port. IMG_9951.jpg DJI Osmo Mobile 2 on Charge It will take around two hours to fully charge the Osmo. Once the battery is fully charged, you should be able to achieve up to 15 hours battery life with a correctly balanced phone.

Please Note – Under no circumstances should you turn on the Osmo Mobile 2 unless a mobile phone is mounted on it. This may cause damage to the motors.

Mounting your Smartphone

You can use the Osmo Mobile 2 in portrait and landscape modes. Mounting is similar for both modes.

Landscape Mode

To mount your smartphone in landscape, pull the device holder apart gently and put your phone in. Push the right side of your phone up to the rubber stopper so it’s tight against it. Once your phone is in the holder, face the phone down whilst holding the gimbal straight to see how it is balanced. Use the Balance Adjustment Knob to move the arm to balance your phone. Once balanced, tighten the knob to stop the arm from moving. Check out the below example of the phone being mounted:

Portrait Mode To rotate the phone into portrait mode, unlock the Holder Lock Knob and rotate the holder by 90 degrees, then lock the knob in place. Face the phone down and use the Balance Adjustment Knob to properly balance. The process will be the same for balancing as the portrait mode. Make sure you tighten the Balance Adjustment Knob when balance and face to right way.

Please Note – Balancing your phone properly will increase the battery life of your Osmo.

Connect Your Osmo Mobile 2 and Smartphone

Like the other members of the Osmo family, the Osmo Mobile 2 utilises the DJI GO app to control the gimbal. The DJI GO app is available through the Google Play Store and App Store, just search or use the below QR code: QR-Code.png DJI GO QR Code Once you have downloaded the app and mounted your phone, turn on the Osmo. Next, enter your Bluetooth settings, activate your Bluetooth and search for the device. When tested, the Osmo Mobile 2 came up as ‘Accessory’ so keep an eye out for this option. Once connected, it should give you the correct name for your Osmo. After your smartphone and the gimbal are connected via Bluetooth, launch the DJI GO app to finalise the connection. Select the Osmo Mobile 2 option in the drop-down on the app. You will have to log in to your DJI account or set up an account. This must be done when connected to the internet. Following your first login, you will have a chance to run through a brief tutorial for the app. We recommend you complete a calibration of the Osmo Mobile 2 before you start filming to ensure the most accurate results.

DJI GO App

The DJI GO app is the primary method of controlling your Osmo Mobile 2 and accessing its full suite of features.

DJI GO Interface

The DJI GO app will appear as below: Image-uploaded-from-iOS-8.png DJI GO App with the Osmo Mobile 2 1. Switch between the photo and video modes on your Osmo. 2. View the available photo and video modes. These will appear as below:

3. Record/shutter button. 4. Change between the front and rear-facing camera. 5. View your images and video captured using the Osmo. 6. Metering and ActiveTrack modes are available using this button. The yellow metering button lets you autofocus on your subject and scroll your finger up and down to increase/decrease the exposure. The ActiveTrack lets you select your subject to be tracked. The buttons will be shown as below: 7. Osmo Mobile settings - we'll go into each of the options available in the settings below. 8. Gimbal settings - this allows you to set the pitch lock and choose between the walking and run mode. Set this to suit the type of scene you're recording for the best results. Image-uploaded-from-iOS-6.png Gimbal Settings 9. Camera settings - used to change the basic settings on your camera for video and picture modes. Image-uploaded-from-iOS-7.png Camera Settings 10. Go to the first menu of the DJI GO app, exiting the gimbal view. 11. Change the flash settings on your camera. 12. Osmo battery percentage. 13. Phone battery percentage. 14. Change the Osmo from the follow mode to the free mode. 15. Gimbal connection status.

DJI GO Settings

You can enter the Osmo's settings by selecting the seventh option on the interface menu above. You will then be able to go into further menus for the camera, gimbal, general and live settings. Image-uploaded-from-iOS-5.png Osmo Settings

Camera Settings

The camera settings are in addition to those already mentioned in the above. The below menu will be available in the section: Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4.png Camera Settings You will have control over the video resolution, panorama settings and the ability to reset the camera to the default settings. The video resolution will reset to 720p each time the Osmo is turned off.

Gimbal Settings

The gimbal settings are broken down into calibration and joystick settings, as shown below: Image-uploaded-from-iOS-3.png Gimbal Settings You are able to calibrate the gimbal which is recommended at the start of any filming session. This will improve the overall performance and enhance the stabilisation with the Osmo. You can also control the joystick speed as well as the pan and tilt orientation. Try the different modes to see which you prefer.

General Settings

This section lets you check the name of your device and see which firmware it's running. Image-uploaded-from-iOS-2.png General Settings

Live Settings

This area allows you to use the Osmo for a range of livestream social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube. Image-uploaded-from-iOS-1.png Live Settings Choose your platform in order to begin your live video.

Please Note - You can use the native video and image apps as well as other third-party apps on your phone with the Osmo, however, you will not have access to the features on the DJI GO app. Additionally, if your phone has built-in stabilisation, the footage won’t be as stable as the smartphone and gimbal will work against each other, producing shakier footage compared to that recorded on the DJI GO app.

Osmo Mobile 2 Operation Modes

Once you have set up your DJI Osmo Mobile 2 and got to grips with the controls, it's time to start using it to capture some smooth and stable videos and images. There are several different ways you can hold your Osmo for different kinds of shots. How you use the gimbal will depend on your scene so choose from the below to fit your desired shots.

Upright Mode

Upright Mode is the standard method of holding the Osmo. This mode is suited to general use for video and images. It allows you to easily centre the camera by double-clicking the mode button twice. IMG_9923.jpg Osmo Mobile 2 Upright Mode

Flashlight Mode

The Flashlight Mode is our favourite mode for the Osmo Mobile 2 for filming shots on the move. It produces the most stable images for normal videos and Hyperlapse IMG_9929.jpg Osmo Mobile 2 Flashlight Mode

Underslung Mode

This mode allows you to get close to the ground for shots such as reveals. IMG_9936.jpg Osmo Mobile 2 Underslung Mode

Portrait Mode

This mode is suited to social media users for sites like Instagram and Snapchat. Portrait orientation is the primary option for these kinds of sites for videos, images and livestreams. IMG_9941-1-e1528294048784.jpg DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Portrait Mode

Mounted

The 1/4 20" screw on the bottom of the Osmo Mobile 2 allows it to be mounted on a range of accessories. Tripods are a great option for filming a stationary timelapse or when using the ActiveTrack function if presenting a video. Another great option is mounting the Osmo on a jib, allowing you to capture reveal shots etc. IMG_9877-1-e1528294298450.jpg DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Tripod Mount

Summary

The setup of the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 is relatively straightforward to quickly get you up and running. This being said, take the time to make sure you've followed all of the above steps as getting the setup right will allow you to maximise the battery on the gimbal and achieve the best footage. Change the settings based on the type of scene you're capturing and experiment with the different shooting and operation modes to see what you can produce. In our next post, we will show you the shooting modes on the Osmo Mobile 2 in action and demonstrate the various types of footage you can achieve with this impressive gimbal.

To discuss any information from the above post or any DJI or Freefly product, please give one of our team a call on 0191 296 1024 or email us at info@heliguy.com.

Keep checking back to Heliguy’s Insider Blog for more announcements, insights into drones and, of course, the latest news from the drone industry.