I have been testing out the Pocket 3 today using tilt lock mode and so far my biggest issue is the joystick, it's better than the 'clicky' one for the Pocket 2, but I can see in the footage a jerky movement when the joystick is pressed, it doesn't ease in at all. I've tried the slowest setting, which doesn't help.

I love the controller wheel on the Pocket 2, it was pressure sensitive allowing for smooth tilts or pans, and I liked that I could select whether to have the pan or tilt.

I'm confused why the Pocket 3 joystick isn't more like what DJI put on the Osmo Mobile gimbals, they are much smoother.

I'm really hoping a software update can allow for an ease in and ease out when using the joystick, as at the moment it's really spoiling the footage.

Another issue I've noticed is that when in tilt lock mode, when I'm manually panning and use the joystick to tilt up, the camera stops panning even though my hand is still moving. This looks odd in the footage and then leaves the camera not pointing forwards and then when I next try to manually pan it will often result in a 'gimbal endpoints reached' message, and I have to pan using the joystick to point forward again. It appears any movement of the joystick prevents the gimbal naturally moving. If it's not possible to have the natural movement and input from the joystick at the same time, perhaps there could be a setting to limit the joystick to tilt or pan, so if set to tilt, the camera can still pan naturally, as was the case with the Pocket 2 using the controller wheel.

Hi there, thank you for your feedback. Since you mentioned there was an odd movement from the footage when you press the joystick, would you mind providing us a video recording for furthe checking? Thanks.

DJI Thor Posted at 10-27 02:30
Hi there, thank you for your feedback. Since you mentioned there was an odd movement from the footage when you press the joystick, would you mind providing us a videp recording for furthe checking? Thanks.

I've done some more testing and although there could be a better ease in and ease out when using the joystick, the main issue is what I mentioned in the last paragraph. If I'm manually turning with the camera so that it naturally pans and then I use the joystick to tilt up, the natural pan stops and the camera tilts up. So in the footage this doesn't look natural, and it leaves the camera not pointing forwards.

In addition, I just tested the Pocket 2 with the mini joystick and it works as expected, in tilt locked mode, the camera will naturally pan at the same time the joystick is used to tilt up or down, so there is an issue with the software of the Pocket 3, as the pan locks in position when the joystick is used.

Could someone else with the Pocket 3 please confirm this happens with theirs too, just in case it's a fault with mine so I can return it.

PG73 Posted at 10-27 02:59
I've done some more testing and although there could be a better ease in and ease out when using the joystick, the main issue is what I mentioned in the last paragraph. If I'm manually turning with the camera so that it naturally pans and then I use the joystick to tilt up, the natural pan stops and the camera tilts up. So in the footage this doesn't look natural, and it leaves the camera not pointing forwards.

In addition, I just tested the Pocket 2 with the mini joystick and it works as expected, in tilt locked mode, the camera will naturally pan at the same time the joystick is used to tilt up or down, so there is an issue with the software of the Pocket 3, as the pan locks in position when the joystick is used.

I have quickly tested what you described and can confirm that it doesn’t work the way you would expect. When either in Follow mode or Tilt Lock mode, the panning stops and the gimbal locks in place as soon as you tilt up or down using the joystick. I hope this can be solved in a software update.

I have noticed this weird behavior too.

First you have to set it to the lowest setting and so far thats the only thing you can do to make it any way useable , they need to rethink the parameters it should ease in and out. On a tripod you are better using the mimo app. But you’re right to abolish the scroll wheel is a real pity there was so much control with that. Hopefully FW updates will help make it more useable .

Hallmark007 Posted at 10-27 13:18
First you have to set it to the lowest setting and so far thats the only thing you can do to make it any way useable , they need to rethink the parameters it should ease in and out. On a tripod you are better using the mimo app. But you’re right to abolish the scroll wheel is a real pity there was so much control with that. Hopefully FW updates will help make it more useable .

Yes, I'm really hoping there is a FW update soon to address this issue, I'm surprised it's like this considering DJIs experience with gimbals.

Marc_v_L Posted at 10-27 12:59
I have quickly tested what you described and can confirm that it doesn’t work the way you would expect. When either in Follow mode or Tilt Lock mode, the panning stops and the gimbal locks in place as soon as you tilt up or down using the joystick. I hope this can be solved in a software update.

Thanks, I was beginning to think I was the only person with this issue. I find it interesting that is wasn't picked up during testing, or that the 'influencers' who were sent the Pocket 3 early, failed to spot the issue.

This is how to replicate the issue:

While standing up, have the camera pointing forward in tilt-lock (or follow) mode, then slowly keep rotating your body on the spot to the left 180º so the camera pans with you, and at the same time press and hold the joystick in the up position, the camera will end up facing you and not ahead.

I have spoken to support and they are getting back to me later over this. I think it's a software issue affecting all Pocket 3 devices.

I too had the same problem and was confused.
I hope it works the same as pocket2.

In case anyone is curious, this was the response from the relevant team about the issue: "In order to ensure that the user can accurately control the position of the gimbal, the upward or downward control of the joystick will lock the gimbal direction, this is a normal phenomenon. Since the gimbal's joystick control only recognizes 0-1, push, and stop. We also don't recommend pushing the joystick to do movement requirements like this."

Having done some work with it, I found if you use setting 1 but you need to press the joystick all the way right/left/up/down any half measure will cause jerking. Not sure if dji can make it even slower than one, an auto pan left right without using joystick might be an idea with option to have it at different speeds similar to how the circle modes on drones. Just a thought.

Hello, the problem I have had is that the joystick is capable of moving the camera in 3 diagonals, but, in the case where it would move it up to the right, it is not capable. Is it a mechanical problem?

iagoab Posted at 11-5 15:02
Hello, the problem I have had is that the joystick is capable of moving the camera in 3 diagonals, but, in the case where it would move it up to the right, it is not capable. Is it a mechanical problem?

From what I can see the joystick only moves the camera up, down, left or right and not diagonally, so yes, I think there's an issue.

PG73 Posted at 11-6 09:04
From what I can see the joystick only moves the camera up, down, left or right and not diagonally, so yes, I think there's an issue.

You can move up/down/left/right/diagonal…

Hallmark007 Posted at 11-6 10:51
You can move up/down/left/right/diagonal…

Agree - just tried it.

iagoab Posted at 11-5 15:02
Hello, the problem I have had is that the joystick is capable of moving the camera in 3 diagonals, but, in the case where it would move it up to the right, it is not capable. Is it a mechanical problem?

I just tried it and you're right, it can move diagonally but it's not the easiest thing to do with the small joystick and this is not mentioned in the manual so I'm not sure it's intended behaviour. Though for me, I can get it to move in three diagonals except for down and right.

Is it somehow going into a track mode so the camera tries to remain pointing at an object?

fans6f8670ad Posted at 11-10 12:25
Is it somehow going into a track mode so the camera tries to remain pointing at an object?

They've just designed it so that panning locks when the joystick is used, they must believe that's what users want, and not how the Pocket and Pocket 2 functioned.

Kind of off topic, but I find the joystick a bit finicky, especially when trying to use it to select a custom mode. It accidentally selects things I don’t intend to select.  

Same issue here (panning and joystick) hope it will be resolved in the next FW update

i have a big solution with osmo pocket 3 joy stick and it's movement! i will post a picture of it. i bought it last week. and dont use it . today i see joystick is not in center! and when i use joystick its going to place that i marked in picture and don't go to same direction left .just right direction! is it ok ? or i have go for guaranty?
its go right-left-up-down- diagonally just right down!

I would love for the gimbal movement to ease in and out when using the thumbstick