DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Is Like a GoPro for Power Users
GoPro has such an influence on the world of action cameras that casual users might think that its brand name is synonymous with action cameras in general. But simply assuming that GoPro is the king of small, dedicated cameras does a disservice to popular competitors like DJI. When watching any tech YouTuber’s behind-the-scenes videos, it won’t take long to see DJI products pop up—one creator even got in trouble for stress testing a DJI camera for speeding—and for good reason. DJI gear is generally in the same weight category as GoPro, but costs a little less and perhaps has slightly better features. The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is no different.
What is the DJI Osmo Action Series?
If your parents saw you with a DJI Osmo Action camera, they might ask, “Is that a GoPro?” But if your nerdy techie friend saw the same thing, he’d probably say “okay.” Since 2019, Chinese company DJI has been struggling to gain a foothold in the US action camera market, leveraging its expertise in building professional-grade drones and gear (DJI gear has been used in shows like Better Call Saul and Game of Thrones). ) to attract a more informal market while maintaining an advantage among experienced users. The result is a moderately affordable line of cameras that can actually work if you know what you’re doing, but may take a little time for everyone else to get used to.
What’s new in Osmo Action 5 Pro?
Because of this, the improvements to the Osmo Action 5 Pro (which is a follow-up to the Osmo Action 4, with the word “Pro” added at the end as a new marketing term) tend to be a little more boring than the flashy modular lenses announced by GoPro. along with the new Hero 13 Black , but they’re no less significant, especially if you care most about the raw numbers.
In other words, open the box and you get the same small rectangular form factor you’re probably already used to (the camera measures roughly 1.7 x 2.8 x 1.3 inches), plus a larger rear screen. but you won’t see any major surprises. Take a look at the specs, however, and you might start to understand the appeal.
Yes, the native resolution and frame rate limits are the same as the Osmo Action 4, from 1080p at 240fps to 4K at 120fps, and the field of view still reaches a respectable 155 degrees. But inside the camera you have a new image sensor with larger pixels (meaning better lighting and motion clarity), a more efficient processor for better battery life, a 1,950mAh battery, 48GB of internal memory and a touchscreen touchscreen. OLED panels for both displays.
Some of these features immediately put DJI ahead of the competition, as GoPro cameras have slightly smaller pixels, no internal memory, no OLED, and only have a single touchscreen. GoPro cameras also have a smaller aperture, which can make it more difficult to shoot in low light conditions than with a DJI camera, although the aperture on the Osmo Action 5 Pro remains unchanged from several previous models.
Do the Osmo Action 5 Pro’s improvements make a difference?
The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is my first experience with a DJI camera, so for my own testing I will be comparing it to its competitors more than previous models. My biggest takeaway? Wow, this thing is durable.
Typically, when I take an action camera out for testing, I expect that within one to two hours of continuous recording, I’ll lose about 30 or even 40% of the battery power—these devices aren’t really designed for continuous use. long periods of time. With the Osmo Action 5 Pro, I only lost about 20% after a 90-minute excursion.
That’s slightly better than what I got on the Hero 13 Black, which dropped to 20% in just an hour, and matches testing by Lifehacker sister site PCMag . While both are admirable, the Osmo Action 5 Pro is the leader in its class. PCMag also mentioned that its review model of the GoPro Hero 13 Black suffered from overheating, and while I’m only experiencing mild temperature spikes, I had similar issues with the Hero 12 Black. However, the DJI camera always felt cool to the touch.
As for the shots themselves, I’m pleased. There’s nothing exceptionally good or bad, all results are about as expected, although perhaps a little brighter than what I’m used to with my GoPro. Image stabilization is smooth and moving objects are barely blurred, at least during the day, but I don’t want to overestimate it. With the exception of slightly brighter footage, most of the video improvements here seem too subtle for my liking.
I’ve been sitting on this footage for a while now, so you’ll see some of the Halloween decorations in my sample shots, and the camera did a good job capturing all the details of the faux webs and skeletons. He also excelled at capturing more natural environments, such as autumn leaves on the trees overhead. But while this produces footage worthy of use in professional projects, it doesn’t necessarily stand out.
However, the Osmo Action 5 Pro makes a name for itself more thanks to photography. I was impressed by the custom detail, especially in low light, although I practically refuse to take photos with the Hero 13 Black without the $129 macro lens mod attached. This addition makes things more even, but it’s clear that the DJI camera offers more bang for your buck.
Separated ecosystem of accessories
It may seem strange, but the quality of the footage may not be the deciding factor when choosing an action camera. There aren’t many ways to improve the quality of 4K images at high frame rates, so additional features can make a difference.
Besides increasing battery life or the quality of the built-in screen, a great way to make a statement in this area is through accessories. GoPro and DJI are taking two different approaches here, and neither is objectively better.
Both companies offer basic hardware, including mounts (which are large enough to work with any brand), cases, extra batteries, and, in the case of the GoPro Hero 13 Black, magnetic adapters, but their approaches are slightly different when it comes to video and video. audio.
Basically, if you want more lens options, GoPro is the way to go. If you want more microphone capabilities, you should choose DJI. There are third-party options for both, but buying directly from the manufacturer has its benefits.
For example, the GoPro Hero 13 Black introduced a series of modular lenses that I’m very impressed with, as they open up new aspect ratios, better close-up detail, different ND filters for different lighting conditions, and a wider shooting range. view. DJI, meanwhile, only makes ND filters and one lens to increase the field of view, although this lens gives you 182 degrees versus 177 degrees for GoPro’s ultra-wide-angle lens.
In contrast, GoPro does not make microphones, while DJI is arguably known for its drones and cameras as well as its microphones. And while you can use DJI microphones with GoPro devices, the benefit of using them with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is that some of the newer microphones will support a direct connection to the camera, resulting in higher audio quality than using Bluetooth without using Bluetooth . need an adapter.
Ultimately, I would say that the accessories area for any brand is strong and ultimately depends on what you need. However, given that every video needs audio but not all of them need, say, an anamorphic lens, DJI may have a slight advantage for most people.
Confusing App Ecosystem
The only place where DJI doesn’t have an advantage is with the app. At first glance, both DJI and GoPro offer similar features, including a video clip player from your camera and a basic editor, but with an additional subscription, the GoPro app also offers unlimited automatic cloud backup, cross-device syncing, an advanced editor, and automatic highlight generation.
None of these features are strictly necessary, although it’s nice to have them. But what really sets GoPro’s app apart from DJI’s, even at the free tier, is that it’s optional and easier to navigate.
Unfortunately, setting up the Osmo Action 5 Pro requires you to activate it through the app, otherwise you won’t receive the required firmware. This means you watch the entire first page of the ad and, if you’re like me, there are a lot of pairing issues. I actually had to agree to install the required firmware via the SD card, but even then I still needed to use the app to initialize the installation.
The GoPro app, meanwhile, is more of a “what you see is what you get” experience, with clear menus and no ads for other GoPro products cluttering the interface. And if you’d rather ignore it, you can.
Is DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro worth buying?
With a lower price and features matching and sometimes surpassing GoPro’s recent flagship, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro seems like the best action camera for most people on paper, but it’s not that simple. It’s still a great camera, but I’m hesitant to say it’s the best for everyone.
If all you need is a simple point-and-shoot device and you don’t rely too much on lots of different lenses or mobile editing, then yes, DJI is probably for you. If you want professional-level sound, this is also a good choice. But there’s no denying that GoPro offers a cleaner user interface, and its modular lenses are still a great addition.
With that said, I’d say the Osmo Action 5 Pro is probably better suited for advanced users who likely have other gear to help complement it, while the GoPro Hero 13 Black might be better for beginners who you need one device that can do it all. , supported by an intuitive mobile interface.
But with the Osmo Action 5 Pro starting at $350 (you can pay extra to get kits with different mounts or battery backups) and the GoPro Hero 13 Black starting at $400 without any additional lenses or mobile app subscription, it’s a fine line for purchase. walk. You’ll certainly be happy with both, as long as you’re willing to sit with DJI’s subpar mobile app long enough to set up the Osmo Action 5 Pro.
It’s also worth noting that these are both flagships. If you want a rugged, dedicated camera but don’t need modularity or ultra-high frame rates, cheaper options like the $180 GoPro Hero also fit the bill.