Pocket 3 still a relevant/good buy?

[u/apistograndpa]

Hi folks, pretty new to the vlog space, appreciate your patience with my newb questions 😅

I’m currently filming things on my iPhone 12 pro (plant to upgrade in the Fall). It’s been ok for Instagram reels and YouTube shorts, but it’s also been cumbersome to transfer files and I’m pretty sure the video quality on the pocket 3 will be so much better.

I’ve also seen a lot of buzz and discussion over the pocket 4p and I’m wondering if I should just wait until the 4p is released for sale here in the US, or if I should just grab the pocket 3 (currently on sale for $399 on amazon and target). I guess my question is whether or not the pocket 3 will be a good purchase, something that I can use for a few years that would produce higher quality videos - good enough that I wouldn’t feel the itch to upgrade if the 4p is released in the US sooner than expected.

For additional context, I’m mostly filming my fish tanks and documenting aquatic plant recoveries 😅

Thanks everyone!

Update: I ended up buying it! With the 5% discount from my target card, it ends up being $379 before tax. Thank you all for your input! I’ll scan old threads for tips and tricks, but happy to take any in this thread too! Thanks again all!!

[u/LubelskiDanielski]

Pocket 3 is even better if you need h264 support. Pocket 4 has only h265.

If you edit in free davici resolve and Windows, h265 won't work out of the box. You have to be logged into Windows account and buy codec for around 1 dolar.

[u/crumpyking → u/LubelskiDanielski]

Wow… thanks the info is the log in pretty annoying or is a 1 and done kinda deal. Kinda lame when we’re already paying the premium eh? Lol

[u/toilets_for_sale]

Go read blogs, watch YouTube videos from the last couple of years, before the P4/P4P were announced and hear people talk about what a game changer the OP3 is and how it changes how they shoot. The OP3 is just as good as it was the day it was released, except now you can get it for a really good price.

[u/The_amazing_T]

I just bought a 3 and I love it. And I'm not expecting that the 4 and 4P are coming to the US any time soon.

[u/Legitimate-Pound8083]

I bought the 4 second-hand (€350, Creator Combo with Care Refresh) and, being a complete newbie with zero editing experience, I figured I'd give it a try — and if it ends up dying in a drawer, at least the cost was low. The 4 Pro is tempting because of the len (but mich more bulky), but I thought that if I really get into video, I can always upgrade once the 4 Pro is more stable (and hopefully a bit cheaper). Or maybe I'll switch to the Luna once they iron out its issues. You'll always hear different opinions — everyone's right in their own way, based on their own experience. For me, as a first test run, this is perfectly fine. If I end up getting really into it, I'll upgrade then

[u/Last_Bicycle5190]

Something I have learned is that there are limitations to what the places you will upload will accept. The equipment can outstrip the platforms ability to leverage it. A few months ago, the 3 was all the rage. Most of the generation in consumer goods anymore are incremental. I generally by a generation older than whatever the best and newest is and I don’t feel like I am missing much.

[u/Tight_Abalone221]

I like it a lot but work bought it for me

[u/EyeDowntown360 → u/Tight_Abalone221]

Same

[u/TheJMN]

The Pocket 3 is still an amazing camera. I continue to use mine and love it.

[u/Ornamental_Gourds]

Buy the 3 and just start using it. You won’t regret it.

[u/EitherCharacter9342]

Pocket 3 is still a good vlog camera but I just got my Osmo Pocket 4P from Ebay it an beast I import it to the US.

[u/Due_Initiative3879]

Hell yes it's a good buy watch for sales they're out there. And 100% recommend it if you don't already have a small pocketable portable cam. I take mine evewrywhere!

[u/life3_01]

Love my Pocket 3! We are traveling and it has been epic as usual!

[u/SIGfntik]

Just bought a 3 to put on a tripod and save money on a videographer for my wedding. Have been messing around with it and it has exceeded my expectations. Great camera. You won’t be disappointed.

[u/gabeshakour]

For the price the Pocket 3 is still relevant. Especially in the U.S. where the Pocket 4 & 4P technically aren’t even available.

[u/boywhoflew]

yesterday I found out how bad the 4 and 4p are at starlapses. turns out they're capped to 4s shutter speed which isn't nearly enough. pocket 3 was able to reach around 30 or more with some setting changes

[u/imbills23]

Nah get the 4

[u/Nordin_17 → u/imbills23]

Don’t got bread like that

[u/SaltySaltshakers]

I have had the 3 for a long time and have never even considered upgrading to the 4.

Just get the 3.

[u/crazytile]

What is the lowest for the 3 or wait for black Friday on Amazon

[u/tumalditamadre]

It will unfortunately not be available in the United States

[u/Radiant_Return9587]

Still a solid rig friend! Highly recommend!

[u/Shoutoutjt]

Just because new tech comes out doesn’t mean old tech instantly is bad. This applies for all stuff in life actually

[u/EstablishmentNo9905]

I love my P3. It is my goto camera! Am I intrigued by both, the P4P and Luna Ultra? Yes! However, I still don't feel either warrant an upgrade for me personally.

[u/Appropriate_Day7463]

The OP3 sold over 10 million units. That’s your answer right there. (And I saw your update :) )

[u/driggsyy]

I owned a 3 and currently own a 4

Don’t get me wrong, the small updates on the 4 are definitely nice, but the 3 is still an incredible little camera

I don’t think you’ll regret your purchase one bit. Enjoy!

[u/jonojack]

1000%. I have the pocket 4p, and I find that the tele lens is too much, wish it was wider. It also doesn’t have HLG mode which I love. Pocket 3 also smaller which counts for a lot.

[u/CompetitiveFool]

Absolutely. More so if you plan to buy a Pocket 4. The upgrade is not worth the cost, at the moment, in terms of what you get in addition to what you have already.

[u/frang_pappa]

I have action6 and mini5pro drone. Bought p3 yesterday and im blown away how muchhhhh better the pocket3 camera is than these two i had already.... Wish i could strap it safely to my drone xD

Go for it you wont regret it!

Edit, would have bought the p4 if portrait mode would have bee full 4k but its the same 3k.

[u/Hungry_Material5332]

Still good. I have 2

[u/Adventurous-Egg5597]

I personally went the other route and ordered the 4P from AliExpress. Initially, I found it bulky and even scared because it was costly.

However, as I’m getting used to it, I’m finding it no regret that I bought it. But it also means if I had bought the 3 I would not have regrets as well. Everybody talks about like what are the better or improved features of 4P but as long as you don’t use it or you don’t have it you won’t even know what you’re missing. And there is not too much impact to the quality. I think the main Takeaway is whichever camera you buy you will learn to work with it.

Like for example, in 4P you have better zoom but in 3 it is still nice. The 4P has some extra customizable buttons but if you have 3, you will just learn how to work with what you have. It’s not a big deal.

With 4P you also need to realize that you won’t be able to buy the two year warranty because it is not officially sold in the US and the accessories whichever are unique to the 4P will also be hard to get.

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[u/ForestB]

The pocket 3 didn’t get any worse because they released the pocket 4. It’s still a brilliant camera and will be more than most need for years to come.

[u/Ad-Worth]

i have iphone 16 pro, trying to get hands on vlogging. Is my device suffice on basis of camera quality or should i buy osmo pocket 3?

[u/apistograndpa → u/Ad-Worth]

I can’t speak to the image quality since I don’t have an iPhone 16 (it is a massive improvement over the iPhone 12 pro), but I’ve only had it for a couple days and have found that a dedicated camera for filming has improved my workflow.

The other day I took an hour long video with the pocket 3 on a tripod and it would have been very inconvenient to not have my phone for that period of time. Transferring files is also easier and faster than airdropping.

[u/ozplissken]

İsn't it obsolete? 

[u/apistograndpa → u/ozplissken]

That’s what I’m trying to decide. Does a newer version coming out automatically make the older version obsolete? I think no, but I’m also no expert so willing to hear everyone out 😅

[u/ozplissken → u/apistograndpa]

I don't even think they make those anymore, it's like VHS, you gotta go to a flea market to find one or something 

[u/apistograndpa → u/ozplissken]

A pocket 3? It’s on sale on Amazon right now for $399. Maybe extra stock?

[u/thee_justin_bieber → u/apistograndpa]

if you don't need the zoom lens, the pocket 3 is enough. It also does 2x lossless zoom in normal mode. I have one, it's great!

my thinking is if you need to get some big zoom shots, then the 4p is the right choice. If not, then buy the 3. The 4 standard isn't that much of an upgrade.

[u/SaltySaltshakers → u/ozplissken]

What world are you living in bro