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Although DJI is most known for the drones it has produced, the firm has a lot more to offer than just that. Without a doubt, the company was able to develop the technology for other lines, such as the DJI Pocket, camera gimbals, and the DJI Action series, as a result of the investment it made in the production of a stable image from a quickly vibrating and leaning gravity-defying box.
The latter device is referred to as an action camera, which is exactly what it is. DJI has made a number of significant attempts to innovate in this field throughout its very brief existence (especially when compared to market leader GoPro). One of these initiatives was the quirky Osmo Action 2, which separated into a camera unit and a battery unit. This resulted in the Action 2 being significantly more compact than a GoPro when it was used without the extra battery.
However, the Osmo Action 3, which is this model’s predecessor, reverted to a single housing with a detachable battery and featured a more conventional design. It was somewhat unfortunate, but it did resolve a significant number of problems with the waterproofing. The camera was favorably regarded overall, with the caveat that the low-light imaging may have been improved upon. Other than that, the camera was praised for its excellent electronic image stabilization and horizon balancing capabilities.
DJI Osmo Action 4 Specifications
The DJI Osmo Action 4 is a new action camera that is better than its model in a number of ways. The sensor is bigger, the picture stabilization is better, and the field of view is bigger. A new magnetic mounting system makes it easy to connect accessories to the Osmo Action 4.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Video resolution | Up to 5.7K (30fps) |
| Video quality | Excellent, with sharp details and vibrant colors |
| Night vision | Good, with little noise |
| Field of view | 170 degrees |
| Stabilization | RockSteady 2.0 |
| Slow motion | Up to 240fps at 1080p |
| Timelapse | Yes |
| Burst mode | Yes |
| Photo resolution | Up to 48MP |
| Battery life | Up to 160 minutes (1080p) |
| Waterproof | Up to 10 meters |
| Dustproof | Yes |
| Shockproof | Yes |
| Dimensions | 69 x 46 x 28 mm |
| Weight | 135 g |
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DJI Osmo Action 4: Design
In terms of design, there’s not much more to say than what we said in our DJI Osmo Action 3 review. Here we have the same tough 145-gram body, a microSD card slot, and two touchscreens. DJI says the 1,770mAh battery can last for 160 minutes, but I think that’s a bit of a stretch. The lens is the same 12.7mm f/2.8 optic with a 155-degree field of view. It’s a good choice for vlogging and action movies, especially since you’ll want to use the excellent Rocksteady 3.0+ image stabilization, which means a small crop of the image area.
You should always keep the lens cover screwed on to keep dust and dirt from getting on the lens and to get the best 18m waterproofing in its class. If you want to shoot video in bright light, you can switch out that lens protector for ND filters. DJI has an optional ND filter pack that we used for this study. The port doors on the left and right are also watertight and hold the battery and microSD card slot, as well as the USB-C port for charging and live connections.
The camera’s base has a magnetic mount connector for mounting in landscape mode, and the box comes with a Protective Frame that goes around the camera and has an extra magnetic base for mounting in portrait mode with a 4:3 aspect sensor. As with the Action 3, the front of the Action 4 has a tiny 1.4-inch touchscreen that lets you frame shots and control and explore the menus when you’re in selfie mode.
DJI Osmo Action 4: Performance
Since robustness ought to be a given, and the Osmo Action 4 appeared to have no trouble going in and out of water during my testing (albeit not at a depth of 18 meters), the most important concerns here, as with any action camera, are image quality and image stabilization. The picture has a satisfactory overall quality to it. The still photographs that I shot displayed an impressive level of clarity, and I found that I could in most cases rely on the camera’s automatic mode to handle the settings (although manual exposure options are available, and DJI refers to this mode as “Pro” mode).
I did notice that when I tried Hyperlapse – which is fun because you can switch in and out of timelapse as you record – the auto exposure seemed to shift ISO a little more rapidly than I might have, but to be honest, the results seemed to be okay, and I was pointing the camera from the window of a train traveling at 125 miles per hour, so there was a lot of rapid change in the lighting!
With a maximum resolution of up to 5.3K, the GoPro has already established itself as the leader in this category. However, for the majority of people, the image quality at 4K is significantly more important, and the Osmo Action 4’s image sensor does demonstrate its quality, particularly in low light.
DJI Osmo Action 4: Image Sensor
The Osmo Action 4 distinguishes out from other action cameras on the market because it features the largest picture sensor of any action camera currently available. The camera’s aperture of F/2.8 allows more light to enter, which not only increases picture quality but also makes it particularly effective in low light situations. In a comparison of low-light performance, we tested the Osmo Action 4 and the GoPro Action 11 inside of Manchester Cathedral.
The video captured by the Osmo Action 4 was noticeably sharper and more accurate to the real world; it was noticeably more similar to what we saw with our own eyes. When we saw the footage captured by the GoPro, it had a very reddish hue to it and was a little bit fuzzy. It simply did not appear to be of the same quality as the Osmo video.
DJI Osmo Action 4: GPS Remote Control
The DJI Osmo Action 4 GPS Remote Control is a small, light remote that lets you control your Osmo Action 4 camera from afar. It has a GPS receiver built in, so you can track your location and add it to your movies using the DJI Mimo app. The remote also has a few buttons that let you change your camera’s settings, like starting and stopping recording, zooming in and out, and switching between picture and video modes.
The Osmo Action 4 GPS Remote Control is a great way to control your camera without having to hold it. It also has a GPS receiver built in, which is a nice plus. The GPS Remote Control is a good purchase if you want to take your Osmo Action 4 to the next level.
DJI Osmo Action 4: Image Quality
Although the Action 4’s 1/1.3 CMOS camera is slightly larger than the one found on the previous generation, it maintains the same f/2.8 aperture and offers a maximum shooting angle of 155 degrees without the need for image stabilization. I noticed that the quality of the footage was much higher if I shot it during the day.
My go-to test for action cameras is whether or not I can see a lot of detail in the leaves on the trees, and I was able to do so in most of the video. When seen closely, fine details on leaves might give an impression that the image is crunchy. In addition, despite the fact that there was some clarity, I liked the way that Action 4 appeared.
DJI Osmo Action 4: Battery Life
The battery is the same detachable device that was on the Action 3, and its capacity was the same as well. What’s particularly noteworthy about it is that it doesn’t last nearly as long, probably as a result of the more labor-intensive sensor at its core. The Action 3 can only record for up to 160 minutes at 1080p at 30 frames per second, however the DJI Mavic Pro can record for up to 160 minutes at 1080p at 24 frames per second. In actual use, I did not find the new model’s battery life to be restrictive; however, it would have been wonderful to have a few extra milliamp hours added to the pack in order to make up for this shortcoming.
The Osmo Action 4 has a variety of functions that are, for the most part, identical to those found on the Action 3. In addition to the customary timelapse and hyperlapse modes, voice control and audio prompts, livestreaming capabilities, and a mode for using the camera as a USB webcam, these features are also included. It is compatible with the DJI Mimo app, and it appears that the app’s features are virtually comparable to those of the original.
DJI Osmo Action 4: Competition
The DJI Osmo Action 4 is a great action camera, but it’s not the only one out there. The GoPro Hero 11 Black, the Insta360 One X2, and the Insta360 GO 2 are some of its major rivals. The GoPro Hero 11 Black has the same kinds of tools and works the same way as the Osmo Action 4. It can take videos in 5.7K, 240fps slow motion, and has a built-in feature to level the horizon.
The Insta360 One X2 is a 360-degree action camera that lets you see your travels from a new angle. It can also take 5.7K video and slow motion at 240 frames per second. The Insta360 GO 2 is a small action camera that is great for taking pictures of everyday things. It can take 1080p video at 240 frames per second and is waterproof and shockproof.
Final Words
The DJI Osmo motion 4 is a great motion camera that does a lot of things well and is easy to use. Its bigger CMOS camera fixes a problem with the DJI Osmo Action 3: it can go deeper underwater than ever before. But it might not do much more than its predecessor, so you might not want to pay more for the DJI Osmo Action 4 unless you plan to use it deep underground and/or at night.
The DJI Osmo Action 4 is a great rugged action camera. It has great image stabilization, is easy to use, and has a great magnetic mounting system for accessories. The only thing it doesn’t have that the GoPro Hero 11 Black does is 5.7K video quality. If you don’t care about that, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is great.
DJI Osmo Action 4 review: The good and The bad
Under certain conditions, the Osmo Action 4 has the potential to legitimately displace the renowned GoPro brand’s top-of-the-line Hero 11 Black.
The Good
- Noise cancelling three-mic system
- Excellent phone control app
The Bad
- Not a cheap option