Canon files patent for compact gimbal camera to compete with DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4

New patent filings show Canon is working on a compact, gimbal-based camera aimed at the same space as the DJI Osmo Pocket series. The documents outline a handheld device built with a compact grip, a built-in screen, and a stabilized camera head using an integrated 3-axis gimbal system.

Canon’s design moves away from the narrow, stick-style body used by DJI and instead adopts a wider grip with a more balanced weight distribution. The camera module still sits on a three-axis gimbal, but the body underneath it is shaped more like a small handheld camera, which could make it easier to hold steady during longer recording sessions.

Canon has actually filed three gimbal-related patents since 2021, each one progressively more practical than the last, and this newest filing is the first that reads like an actual product brief rather than a thought experiment. The new patent images show a larger screen integrated directly into the body, positioned for easier framing while shooting.

DJI launched the Osmo Pocket 4 in April 2026 with a 1-inch sensor and 4K at 240fps, confirmed a dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P with 3x optical zoom, and faces the Insta360’s Luna Ultra coming in May with a Leica-tuned dual-cam system and 6x in-sensor zoom. When Canon does start teasing this new powerhouse pocket camera, everyone is still going to be excited despite the already crowded camera technology fight among giants.

There are no confirmed details on sensors, resolution, or release plans. As with most patents, the final product may differ or not launch at all. Canon is exploring a direct entry into a category that has been largely defined by DJI, with a design that prioritizes handling and built-in usability over extreme compactness.

Entering late to a market dominated by DJI’s ecosystem and Insta360’s modular innovation is a gamble. But if we’re looking at a company that can pull it off, Canon is more than capable.