Important points of ZDNET
- The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro camera is currently available on Amazon for $349.
- This action camera has the best stabilization features of any action camera on the market.
- The Action 5 Pro’s default settings aren’t ideal for action shots, so you’ll need to customize them before you head out.
More purchasing options
I’ve been using GoPro cameras for a very long time. From filming mountain bike rides to indoor videos, they have served me well. These cameras were far from perfect, with a bit of a fisheye effect and terrible built-in microphones. When I got serious about photography (and abandoned the concept of filming trail shenanigans), I left my GoPro (and action cameras in general) behind.
When DJI contacted me about the review, Osmo Action 5 ProI suddenly got excited about the idea of getting back on my mountain bike and filming trail rides.
Also, is GoPro still the best action camera? Well, it depends
My experience with the Action 5 Pro wasn’t all that great at first (more on this later). But once it was initialized and ready to go, I was really impressed with the little camera.
Before getting into my thoughts on this camera, let’s talk about the specs.
specification
- 47GB internal storage
- Dual OLED high brightness touchscreen display
- Next-generation 1/1.3-inch sensor with up to 13.5 stops of dynamic range and f/2.8 aperture
- 4nm high performance chip
- Professional air and water pressure gauges
- Wi-Fi 6.0 and USB 3.0 high-speed transfer
- 4 hours battery life
- Reduce noise with AI-powered Super Night Mode
- 10-bit D-Log M footage with color recovery
- Price – $349 at major retailers
my experience
When I first received the camera, I had to register and initialize it using the DJI Mimo app. This is where the first problem began. This means that the app is not available on Google Play Store. Instead, you must download it from DJI’s website. The download was very slow and it took several tries to get it to my Pixel 9 Pro. Once I finally installed it, I opened it, logged into my DJI account, and went through the steps to initialize the camera.
The app recognized the camera, but no matter what I tried or how many times I tried, it refused to connect. I contacted DJI support, but for some reason they couldn’t help me (which is strange since DJI support usually works well).
Eventually my Pixel 9 Pro received the update and it worked. The DJI app has been connected to the camera and has been initialized.
I did some quick tests with the camera. I wanted to put together a short film to see how well it works for that process. I’m still working on it, but I quickly decided that this is an action camera and people wouldn’t buy it for narrative filmmaking. So instead, I attached the camera to my fully rigid single speed mountain bike and got ready to hit the trails. You can see the test video here.
Also, is GoPro’s cheaper $200 4K action camera worth it? Only if these features are important to you
The first thing that struck me when I saw this camera was the internal storage. At first, I inserted a microSD card and took a quick photo of myself riding a road bike, but the writing speed of the card couldn’t keep up with the camera, so it didn’t work out. If you have internal storage, no problem.
The second feature is the dual OLED touchscreen, which now makes it easy to track what you’re shooting from the front or the back. To save battery, the touchscreen will automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. Just touch to return the screen to its original state.
The touchscreen on the back is one of the best I’ve seen on an action camera.
Jack Warren/ZDNET
When setting out on my mountain bike, I used the default settings, which was a mistake considering it was set to 30fps at 1080p. I had to change it to 4K and 60fps to get the best quality possible. I also left it in normal mode (assuming the default is set to sport). This surprised me considering how action cameras are commonly used. One would think that the camera would automatically configure itself to give the best possible results for the action right out of the box.
Lesson learned.
The resulting footage wasn’t the best quality possible, but what was evident was the quality of the camera’s internal stabilization. I ride a fully rigid carbon fiber single speed, which equates to a very bumpy ride. When riding a bike, your knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders should be kept very relaxed. Otherwise, you will be bounced off quickly. In addition to that, the trail system near my house is not always smooth.
Also: This thumb-sized camera is my new travel “must-have”
Despite this, the footage came out surprisingly smooth. No one would have noticed that I wasn’t riding a fully cushioned full suspension bike. Admittedly, I wish I had taken the time to customize the video parameters before spending nearly an hour flying the trails, but the end result was still impressive.
Back when I was using a GoPro camera, I paid about the same price as a DJI Osmo 5 Pro camera and got very little results.
There are also some really cool add-ons for your camera, like ND filters, and different ways to mount your camera on different vehicles and surfaces. I had a bit of an issue with the mount I used because the handlebar I attached it to was made of carbon fiber and I wasn’t trying to crank it down hard enough to lock it in place. Eventually I found the right amount of tension to keep it going and all was well.
ZDNET purchase advice
If action cameras are your thing, skip the competition and go straight to them. DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better consumer camera for all types of action (underwater, surface, and air). The internal storage and dual OLED touchscreens alone make it worth the price of entry. That, coupled with the quality of the videos it produces, is excellent in every way.
As the holiday season approaches, consider one of these cameras for families who live in hazardous conditions and want to capture their every move.
