DJI might be known best for its range of high-flying drones, but now the company is taking on GoPro. Called the Osmo Action, DJI’s first action camera is an impressive blend of features, cutting-edge tech and very good value. But is it worth buying over a GoPro? Keep reading our review to find out.
Finish and build quality
Have a quick glance at the Osmo Action, and you’d be hard-pressed to tell it apart from its competition; it’s roughly the same size and weight as the most recent GoPros and it’s nearly the same colour. Still, look closer and you’ll find some key differences that set the DJI apart – and mostly in a good way.
The DJI feels extremely well put together. Despite being plastic to the touch, it’s heavy, bulky and suggests it’ll stand up to a drop without issues. The camera is waterproof to depths of up to 11 metres; even in horrible conditions, our test unit didn’t let any moisture in. You will need a bespoke DJI waterproof case if you plan to go deeper than 11 metres, though.
The DJI has a heavy-duty removable lens cover, which comes with two key advantages. Clumsier or more demanding users will be glad to know it’s easily and cheaply replaced – not always the case – and the screw-on fitting is compatible with third-party ND filters, giving you more creative options. It’s a win-win, then.
Like most action cameras, the Osmo is easily attached to your action camera gear – whether it’s a helmet mount, handlebar mount or selfie stick – and it fits snuggly into a well-built cage. Thankfully, the Osmo’s harness uses a near-identical mount to a GoPro – so it works with almost everything.
Related: The best tough cameras
Specs and performance
DJI has given the Osmo Action a slew of updates since it was first released, but the top line figures remain the same – and they’re impressive. The DJI offers a competitive range of modes, which you can find below – and they’re in keeping with what you’d expect. There’s no 5k, but pretty much everything else is covered.
4K (16:9) – 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24fps
4K (4:3) – 30, 25, 24fps
2.7K (4:3) – 30, 25, 24fps
2.7K (16:9) – 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24fps
1080p – 240, 200, 120, 100, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24fps
720p – 240, 200fps
In our tests, the Osmo delivered a sharp, neutral picture that lacked the punchier, saturated colours you’d get from a GoPro. To our eyes, the DJI was actually better, though it’s very subjective.
The sound was okay on the whole, but if you’re keen to get better audio from the Osmo, get the Cynova adaptor for around £30.
More impressive is the Action’s RockSteady stabilisation. When enabled, it keeps your footage feature-film-smooth, and the results border on witchcraft. Jogging, walking, motorcycling – RockSteady sorted it. And it’s available in most shooting modes.
However, DJI’s magic mode does have one drawback; it achieves magical results by heavily cropping your footage. The software took chunks from the edges of our footage – noticeably more than a GoPro does. For some content, it made no difference, but for other applications – including motorbike riding – it chopped away some of the context and atmosphere.
After around 80-90 minutes of shooting – comparable to what DJI estimates – we were able to check our footage using DJI’s Mimo app. It’s quick to set-up, but not super easy to use. Still, the important features are there – as is live streaming capability.
Verdict
The Osmo Action is an impressive first attempt from DJI. It does everything you’d expect from an action camera, and at around £317, delivers it for around £100 less than a GoPro. Sure, the Osmo’s stabilization tech might not be for everyone – and its app lacks the finesse of some others – but it ticks every other box. It’s certainly one to consider.
What to read next:
Curtis Moldrich has worked in the technology sector for several years, reviewing and testing the best audio gear, laptops and gadgets at titles including The Telegraph, Mixmag and Expert Reviews.
Subscribe to the What’s The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the What’s The Best team.