For almost two decade , I ’ve run more than twenty pounds of electronics in my packsack for the slight chance of needing to entrance substance for my professional life . My haversack usually contained my MacBook , a full - flesh camera with a prominent lens of the eye , a tripod , and an assortment of video recording and audio gear that I always deemed crucial .
As it turn out , over the preceding two age , many of these items were render disused , as many companies launch raw products that were speedily capable to replace engineering that I previously considered unreplaceable .
Part of this shift was led by an advancement in smartphone camera , and in particular , thePixel 9 Pro . However , that alone would n’t have been enough . With a shift in TV trends — with vertical video equally , or more , important than traditional horizontal video — came the launching of my pet DJI merchandise ever , the DJI Pocket 3 .
Here are five products that have finally persuaded me I can shed over ten pounds and ditch my full - frame tv camera at plate for work .
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
There ’s only one spot to start : the DJI Pocket 3 . I ’ve already written about how it ’s one of the product that transmute my life last twelvemonth , but its impact is significantly greater . While DJI has been get laid for reach expectant hand-held gimbal , action mechanism cameras , and drone for years , the Pocket 3 is the first product I ’ve seen that has whole transform life for creators .
I ’ve attend over 50 major trade show in my life history , and last month ’s CES 2025 was enlightening as almost everyone I saw capturing video was doing so with the Osmo Pocket 3 . Why ? It ’s simple-minded : it ’s the only ware that have it effortless to switch between vertical and horizontal video in a second , and it does so without really impacting quality . With a nimble rotation of the video display , you’re able to go from capture 4k video at the 16:9 horizontal aspect ratio to 3k video in the 9:16 erect face proportion .
There are other aspect ratios that you’re able to also specify , give it ideal for square photos for social if that ’s your fancy , but these two take reward of the full capability of the camera and apparatus . The Osmo Pocket 3 can also capture picture , but I ’ve line up that it ’s far less capable than the principal camera that ’s likely in your pocket , so I solely habituate it for telecasting . Facial trailing makes it super easy for vlogging as does the way it integrate with the DJI Mic series .
DJI Mic 2
Before the advent of the DJI Mic and interchangeable small wireless mike like those from Rode , capturing great audio for video was a thwarting affair . It demand carrying a full microphone setup with sender and receivers — whether wireless or otherwise — and several m of cable’s length to go with it . Then there ’s the extra redaction that go into that setup , with the pauperism to sync sound to video recording in post - redaction .
My favorite affair about the DJI Mic 2 is how it integrate with the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 out of the box . If you buy the Pocket 3 Creator Combo , it ’ll mechanically pair the first clock time you turn them on , but if you buy them on an individual basis , it only take a couple of seconds to do so . Then it ’ll automatically pair every meter you turn them both on , and instead of needing to synchronise audio one by one , the Pocket 3 will just use the audio recording from your pair DJI Mic 2 .
Between the DJI Pocket 3 and the Mic 2 , I figure that it saves me at least an hour for any short - human body video I create , and several hour for a recollective - form video . Crucially , it just makes it effortless to capture contentedness , meaning the only matter keep me from print are things that are completely in my control .
Google Pixel 9 Pro
The Osmo Pocket 3 has a few key challenges that intend I also require to hold other equipment to to the full replace everything I ’d use my tv camera for . One of these is its performance in taking photos , and the other is the comfort station of shooting video on the go . For the latter , I use the iPhone 16 Pro , but for the former , I ’ve observe that the Pixel 9 Pro has the best camera for product photos .
Thanks to Myriam Joire from the Mobile Tech Podcast , I ’ve realized that it ’s the 2x mode on the Pixel 9 Pro ’s tv camera . meld with the power to capture both altogether and JPG photos by nonremittal from the auto photographic camera modality — versus needing to use the Pro or Master mode on other Android phones — it ’s the setup that ’s endeavor to be the most efficient .
Two weeks ago , I left my full - underframe camera at home and used just the Pixel 9 Pro and Osmo Pocket 3 to traverse an former trailer of Samsung ’s novel Galaxy S25 series . The answer were excellent , and the welfare of using a phone for these exposure mean that I can easily redact and share them , without needing to add in a step of channelize to a computer . For the S25 photos , I did cease up blue-pencil them in Lightroom on my Mac , but the Pixel 9 Pro gives me a pick for each photo I take .
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Where the Pixel 9 Pro is less effectual than I ’d wish is television . The Osmo Pocket 3 serve well as a whole replacement for my camera here , but it also mean I have to impart yet another equipment with me . Thankfully , my trustworthy iPhone 16 Pro is always in my pocket as well , and it ’s the safe smartphone when it comes to smooth video transcription .
In particular , order it in cinematic telecasting modality means that I drop down from 4k resolution but get crisp and smooth social movement and hand-held panning . antecedently , I ’d have to set up a tripod and camera to get these smooth pans , but the Osmo Pocket 3 — when I ’m carrying it — or the iPhone 16 Pro are worthwhile alternative .
I favor the Pixel 9 Pro for Cartesian product pic as it ’s better than the iPhone overall , but for TV , Apple ’s smaller flagship still reigns sovereign for me .
Other devices in my collection
My full - bod camera setup was vast and required a bigger bag to carry and protect all my gear , peculiarly when give ear trade shows or travel . Thanks to a much small-scale setup now , I ’ve been able to switch from a 30L Peak Design bag that looks and feels like a camera grip — which also made me a target in position like Barcelona during MWC — to a regular knapsack . It also gives me a much wide compass of bags to choose from , as I no longer have to ensure there ’s consecrated security for my camera .
Inside my current bag of choice — made by Troubadour — there are also a few other devices that have proven essential . I love carrying either theOnePlus 13or theOppo Find X8 Probecause they supercede the need for a zoom lens and a camera . Even Samsung ’s newGalaxy S25 Ultracan’t compete , as I recently discovered in a photographic camera shootout seize in Dubai .
If you also have a full - frame camera , or even a DSLR , and are timeworn of suffer to keep carrying it for work , I extremely recommend make the switch . The Osmo Pocket 3 costs $ 700 for the Jehovah jazz band with one DJI Mic 2 and that can in effect exchange your camera for most things . It ’s worth noting that you may not wish it for broll and genus Pan photos , although come down the panning speed in the place setting could help receive your needs .
Beyond that , the Pixel 9 Pro is the best phone I ’ve used for product picture taking , especially as it lets you use all of Google ’s AI and photographic camera processing smarting without needing to make those edits yourself . It also mechanically back up up all your photos and makes them uncommitted in Google Photos , have in mind you ’ll never recede something you ’ve captured , even if your phone were to get damage .
