GoPro Hero 7 Rival? - DJI Osmo Action Review

There are multiple camera options for filming a project, from cinema cameras to DSLRs, and every variation in between. But one option that is often overlooked is the multifaceted, user-friendly action camera. In this video, Nick unboxes the DJI Osmo Action, reviewing the tools included, as well as taking it into the field to test out its many features.

At the time of purchase, the DJI Osmo was $349, which was cheaper than the GoPro alternative. One of the factors tested out in the video above, is how it stacks up against its competitors.

DJI Osmo Action

Included with the DJI Osmo Action camera is a standard action camera mount, a front screen, big back screen, which is a touchscreen, a battery compartment in the bottom, a charging cable slot for a micro SD card, and a USB Type C port.

As an aside - one of the main reasons our company wanted the camera was to use it for capturing behind the scenes on video productions for clients, as well as some of the time-lapse functions.

When compared with a typical DSLR or mirrorless camera setup, the DJI Osmo is much faster and easier to use, which spurs creativity and makes going out and capturing footage on the fly simpler. 

Also, the time-lapse mode gives the option to do video plus JPEG, which offers much more latitude in color correction when bringing in the JPEG sequence to edit the time-lapse. Having a quick, easy, good-looking time-lapse camera is a major plus and DJI definitely delivered.

Front screen feature of DJI Osmo Action

The other game-changing feature on this camera is a relatively simple feature, but something that is extremely useful- the front screen. As shown in the video, when holding down the Q button, it automatically flips the screen around, giving the ability to utilize selfie mode or to know what framing looks like without having to do test shots. It's a very simple feature that makes this camera that much more useful.

Another test of the camera was evaluating its waterproof casing. Nick placed the DJI Osmo on a simple tripod stick, turned it upside down, dipped it in Lake Erie, and held it underwater for a period of time. 

As shown in the video, the camera captured some minnows that were swimming by. As a test for durability, he placed the DJI Osmo directly in the waves, and while it got pummeled by the water, it was able to get some really cool shots without sustaining any damage.

Waterproof case underwater test shot

With a lot of action cameras, the field of view is so wide, there is a kind of curvature at the edges of the screen. There's a setting in the camera to turn on dewarp that gives a flat horizon, which is another nice feature that's included in almost every mode.

Warped screen edge example

Unwarped screen edge example

These cameras can now do very fast frame rates, and the DJI Osmo does full HD at 240 frames per second, which is another awesome feature that works really well.

Even though there are a lot of positives with this camera, there are a few features that could be better, however some of these could be fixed with firmware upgrades.

One of the downsides of the camera is within the time-lapse function. While other cameras produce raw image files, the DJI Osmo is limited to JPEGs, which still offer tons of information, but having a raw option for the time-lapses would offer more flexibility with post production..

The time-lapse mode has another odd quirk. When in JPEG Plus video mode, the user is limited to a two-second interval as the minimum rate of capture. If the user goes back and does just regular video time-lapse, he or she can go down to half second intervals, which is an odd limitation.

Lastly, while the camera offers an HDR mode that results in beautiful colors, there is no stabilization within this mode, which is a bit disappointing. Utilizing a tripod or simply keeping the shot steady will solve this issue. However, if walking around with the DJI Osmo, some sort of stabilization device is necessary.

Overall, it's just an incredible deal. It’s the most inexpensive, 4k, 60p, Full HD, 240 frames per second, beautifully stabilized camera. It's tough to get a better value. 

While DSLRs have their many upsides, the pure ease of use of the DJI Osmo is a major plus, as it's so simple to set up, get recording, and get great video. This type of camera is wonderful for run-and-gun operations, as well as capturing dynamic movement without risking any damage.

The DJI Osmo is a budget-friendly, user-friendly, movement-friendly option that any filmmaker would benefit from adding to their film tool kit!