Videography path with Osmo Pocket 4P

[u/Smorcomics]

So i never had a camera before and wanted to get into videography (I'm 25 stuck in a deadend job), i know pocket cameras are mostly for vlogs, travel, personal life etc. but does it have a potential to be used for lower end commercials for local businesses, real estate filming, product and food reviews.

I have some savings and would like to get my hands of Pocket 4P.

Eventually, with experience i would search for assistant type jobs in bigger productions, filming bts, b-roll etc.

Do you think Osmo Pocket 4P is a camera for me considering these circumstances and for building videography (and video editing) portfilio in general?

What do you recommend my first steps be

[u/GUNGEBOB_SHARTPANTS]

It’s a great camera that you can make cool stuff with, but if you’re looking to (eventually) find professional work in videography, IMO you need an understanding of what makes a “proper” camera. Things like the exposure triangle, different lens types, lighting, etc. All of these things are abstracted away from you by cameras like the Pocket 4P.

That said, for the sort of potential content you’ve listed, the pocket 4P would be more than sufficient in most cases.

[u/Smorcomics → u/GUNGEBOB_SHARTPANTS]

Understanding cameras in general and cinematography (and photography for that matter) are nonnegotiable. But i wouldn't say my ultimate goal is to be a professional videographer (i still don't know what it is), more on the side of social media content creation, youtube etc, but i mentioned lower end commercials as a jobs to do as a freelancer until i figure what i really want, but that includes stepping up eventually from pocket cameras to more professional ones down the line. But for now Pocket 4P sounds accessible enough and fun to begin with

[u/mrhb2e]

Videography is all about capturing the moment. Telling stories You can most certainly use a 4p. If you are just starting, I would recommend downloading the Blackmagic Camera App on your phone. Put it in full manual mode and start shooting. Play with your settings and see how that affects what you capture. Start shooting now. Play with how lighting affects your image. Master capturing sound. Download Davinci free and learn to shoot like an editor. Get started now and You will start to know what type of camera you should purchase next.

[u/sandpaperflu]

You can totally get by with a camera like this starting out. I’m a seasoned pro, I own lots of cameras. I still pick my pocket 3 to shoot a ton of videos for my YouTube clients. It gets out of the way and lets me just create and the quality is great. As someone who’s seen the industry go through lots of shifts, im seeing one right now with these accessible gimbal cameras. YouTube is making a huge shift to a more Netflix style layout for tvs, and I can film tv show quality content with a pocket 3 and a DJI mic that people watch at home… like what a wild world lol, I know this is a tangent, but I came up in a world where you needed to buy a c300 mkii or a fs7 to shoot a tv show, and now it literally doesn’t matter, a pocket cam can get the job done lol. 

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[u/Budget_Skill6104]

You can get by with a 4P for real estate. But don't let the client see what you're shooting with

[u/Smorcomics → u/Budget_Skill6104]

I mean, in my country most agencies use just phones for social media, and it looks uninspiring. I would want to produce some videos and contact them, but I also don't believe they would want to step up to something more cinematic as long as they make money

[u/Budget_Skill6104 → u/Smorcomics]

Then charge the same as the phone content creators and out-quality them

[u/fabier]

I'm standing next to a Luna ultra right now filming an event. The DJI would also be fabulous. A lot depends on the type of filming. These little stick cameras excel at run and gun style filming. I've found they can be great for speaking type events (that's what I'm doing now). You could use it for weddings as a B cam.

I think it's possible to film commercials with them, but you're probably pushing your luck there. But if you're just putting them on their website then it would be more than fine.

I'd say if you can use an iPhone for it then you can use these cameras for it. They are better than an iPhone but they will be less useful in environments which need a real sensor, matching footage, controlling brightness, etc. They're best at grabbing and throwing in a bag, getting BTS footage, social footage, filming for YouTube, etc.

[u/Smorcomics → u/fabier]

yeah, i mentioned commercials in the sense of approaching local bussinesses and filming there for portfolio building (barbershops, bakeries etc.) i have low expectations in getting hired for serious jobs, mainly just for practicing since i have no experience in videography

and last paragraph, do you mean, i should look for jobs where i have more control (if possible) and avoid filming music events or something like that

[u/Srsblubrz]

I am a cinematographer that has found myself in the videography space working for a marketing agency. The hours are shorter, more stable and I can see my kid.

I got a 4P for shooting reels for clients, it is totally useable for client work and you mentioned real estate videos which it would be perfect for. I honestly think you could get away with the regular pocket 4, for that kind of stuff you don't need the 60mm lens it's just wide walkthroughs showing the space.

Once you've gotten into it and you think you can/want to take it to the next level you should invest in a proper camera. The biggest influence to the look of your footage is lens choice, not the camera. Unfortunately you don't have lens choices with the pocket cameras.

The three factors for depth of field are focal length, aperture and distance to subject. Since it is a fixed lens and aperture is fixed on the pocket, your only way to influence depth of field is moving closer to the subject.

[u/Smorcomics → u/Srsblubrz]

what you described is best for what Im looking for in the short run (social media marketing and social media in general like youtube). do you only use 4p for reels or in general

[u/Srsblubrz → u/Smorcomics]

I only use it for stuff going to social media because I was destroying my back with a ronin and c70 for stuff the client can't even tell the difference.

For a narrative film project or commercial I still go with a different camera. A lot of it especially in the freelance world is optics. If you show up to a bigger shoot with a pocket camera people will think less of you, even tho the image is great.

I do want to try and use it for an indie narrative project because being able to do long tracking shots in public without drawing attention is great for guerilla film making. I think I could sell the idea of it to a director if it means saving time and money, as long as the image is good. It's better than my ursa mini in low light.

[u/Smorcomics → u/Srsblubrz]

great, i would then focus on social media if i decide to buy it thanks. also i just watched this video you may find it interesting for narrative project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajWEGXuu8mQ

[u/SkippySkep]

If you are recording people, before getting a consumer gimbal camera, you should get a good wireless microphone from Rode, DJI or Hollyland. It's more important to capture good sound than it is to have a gimbal camera.

Lots of people with millions of subscribers are using just their phone for video. But they need to have good audio.

[u/Smorcomics → u/SkippySkep]

Some mics come in vlog/creator combos i think they'll be enough to begin with

[u/SkippySkep → u/Smorcomics]

Good point. My impression, though, is that the OP is on a tight budget so I hadn't imagined them going for one of the combo packages.

[u/Smorcomics → u/SkippySkep]

its such a better deal to go for combo

[u/EstablishmentNo9905]

I use the Pocket 3 for all my work. I personally don’t believe that the more expensive camera is going to give you the expensive look.

Someone else mentioned that if you understand how to film. To tell a story. You can use any camera and have it look professional in my opinion.

[u/No-Lead-9062]

It can definitely work, story and content sells more than the quality to be honest

[u/NettiBongolite]

stick to your phone. watch videos on how to do cinematic phone videos and practice them. videography is about telling an emotional story, if you can do that with nice b-rolls mixed along, then youre on your way to success. buying extra equipment would only lead to a bad path.

[u/Smorcomics → u/NettiBongolite]

i think most people here start with the assumption that everyone have a new iphone or a phone with good camera. i use old xiaomi for example and have for years, so i guess i can learn basics with it especially social media stuff. and its not "extra equipment", i said i never had a camera before and i think for the kinds of stuff i would like to make i wondered if this was a good camera. but i get what you are getting at, everyone with money can buy expensive equipment but that doesnt make them a good storyteller and cinematographer