DJI has long been the king of drones, but when it comes to action cameras, GoPro has held the crown. That statement may just change with DJI’s latest release, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro.
This little gadget is packed with impressive features that could make even the most dedicated GoPro fans take a second look.
From image quality to durability, this camera brings a lot to the table, and I had a blast putting it through its paces.
But, let’s get one thing straight out of the box first – the “Pro” label seems a bit premature, as there’s no “non-Pro” version to compare it to.
it’s extremely easy to operate.
What really sets the Action 5 Pro apart is its magnetic quick-release system, which makes it easy to snap the camera on and off a range of mounts in seconds.
Whether you’re attaching it to a helmet, a bike, or an extendable selfie stick, you won’t be fumbling with screws or clips. It even doubles as a webcam if you need a high-quality, versatile setup for your home office or virtual meetings.
The Action 5 is waterproof up to 20 metres (65 feet) without a dive case, outperforming both the GoPro Hero 13 Black and the Insta360 Ace Pro, which can only go half as deep without protection.
If you add a dive case, you can push that depth to 60 metres. It even works in temperatures as low as -20°C, so arctic expeditions won’t be a problem.
and it’s intuitive.
The camera’s design is wonderfully straightforward. There are just two buttons; one for power and mode selection on the side, and a large shutter button on top.
Need to tweak settings? You can do that via the dual OLED touchscreens or through the DJI Mimo app on your phone. I found both methods equally smooth and easy to use, though those with bigger hands might appreciate the app’s larger interface.
Speaking of screens, these OLED displays are bright, colourful, and make framing your shots a breeze.
DJI also made sure that content creators weren’t left out of the equation. The DJI Mic 2 syncs seamlessly with the Action 5 Pro via Bluetooth, delivering crisp, clean audio even in windy conditions.
It’s the only action camera on the market right now that offers 48kHz audio recording with this level of clarity.
Need to shoot vertical videos for TikTok or Instagram? The camera can track subjects in 9:16 mode and keep them centred in the frame while you move around.
This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for social media content, it’s a game-changer.
bigger battery, more life.
DJI claims the Action 5 Pro’s battery can last up to 4 hours of continuous recording, and I was eager to see if that held true.
Testing with 4K footage shot at 60fps with stabilisation turned on, the camera lasted just under 2 hours. Not bad at all for such a demanding setup.
When I switched to 1080p at 30fps, I hit that magic 4-hour mark. For a camera in this class, that’s pretty impressive, and it’s likely thanks to DJI’s new, more energy-efficient processor and the larger 1950mAh battery.
When the battery does run low, a quick recharge via the USB-C 3.0 port gets you back in action.
can’t forget stabilisation.
The RockSteady image stabilisation system does exactly what its name promises, keeping footage smooth and steady even when the camera’s bouncing along rough terrain.
There are a few levels of stabilisation to choose from, including HorizonSteady, which ensures your footage stays perfectly level, no matter how much the camera tilts.
It’s great in practice, with the only catch being the more stabilization you use, the more your frame gets cropped. This is the case with most action cameras, but even with those crops, the field of view stays impressively wide.
If you’d rather handle stabilisation in post-production, the camera’s gyroscope data is embedded in your footage, allowing for precision tweaks after the fact.
This is a great option if you want to save battery life and customise any stabilisation characteristics.
of course, there are always a few trade-offs.
No product is perfect, and the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro does have a few areas where it doesn’t quite outshine the competition.
Low-light shooting, for example, is serviceable but not spectacular. While the 4K SuperNight mode does improve clarity in dim conditions, the footage isn’t as sharp as what you’d get in daylight.
And for those who love the idea of shooting in 5.3K or 8K, you won’t find that here. The Action 5 Pro maxes out at 4K, which is more than enough for most people.
However, if you’re someone who likes to crop or zoom in on footage during post-production, that higher resolution might be missed.
worth it?
At SGD$469, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is a real contender.
It’s slightly cheaper than both the GoPro Hero 13 Black and Insta360 Ace Pro, and while it might not have every single bell and whistle, it delivers where it counts – stunning image quality, solid stabilisation, and a rugged build that’s ready for adventure.
With the Action 5, DJI isn’t the budget-friendly alternative to GoPro anymore.
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