It is clear that the DJI Osmo Action 3 is facing an uphill fight to win. Its main competitor, GoPro, dominates the market so thoroughly that in order to be competitive, it must offer something more, and most importantly at a lower cost.
In a few ways the camera is able to offer both. It is stunningly beautiful and has stunning specs – with a massive 1/1.7in sensor. It also has an innovative Magnetic Mounting System that allows you to change the camera’s mount quickly to another and also shoot horizontally and has an LCD with a touch sensor.
It is significantly less expensive than its primary rival. The main question is, can it compete in the area that matters the most: image quality?
DJI Osmo Action 3 review What can you expect with the price?
Before I tackle the subject in depth however, let’s discuss the most important aspects of this camera’s action cost, features, and design. In all aspects it is a great camera. DJI Osmo Action 3 is an excellent competitor to the very best that GoPro can offer.
The price for the standard bundle is PS309 which is lower than any other package GoPro is currently offering and each of The GoPro Hero10 Black along with the the new Hero11 Black significantly more expensive. The former is still priced at PS350 (when it is purchased with 12 months of GoPro subscription) while the latter comes at PS400. If you’re looking to buy an action camera of good quality on low cost then this DJI Osmo Action 3 is the best choice.
It certainly does look the part. It’s well-constructed, waterproof up to 16 meters without a case (that’s superior to anything GoPro can offer) and has an innovative quick-release mount system that provides a little more flexibility than the other camera I’ve seen. The prongs aren’t built in the bottom of the camera as GoPro’s cameras use and the top part of the Osmo Action 3 is magnetised and the prongs are in a separate plate that can be used for quick release.
This makes it easier to remove and reconnect the camera, and switch between mounts. This eliminates the awkward procedure of having to screw your camera into a secure fix it to the wall – then unscrew it whenever you need for it to be moved. Include the frame with a protective cover included in the standard bundle, and you can also place the camera on its side, and shoot vertically-oriented footage for social media.
The camera comes with two colour screens, but it beats its predecessor GoPro Hero11 Black again by having a touchscreen on the front. It also has a colour-temperature sensor that controls setting the white point of video automatically. The DJI even has a direct competition with GoPro with regard to size of the sensor: astonishingly in comparison to the price it comes with a bigger sensors (1/1.7in) over it does the GoPro Hero11 Black (1/1.9in) in addition, also records videos at rates of up to 130 Mbits/sec.
DJI Osmo Action 3 review How is the audio and image quality?
One crucial aspect, however that this DJI Osmo Action 3 can’t beat the GoPro Hero11 Black is the variety of shooting modes it has to offer. It can certainly shoot 4K videos at up to 120fps, and it has all-round horizon levelling in 360 degrees However, the rival takes one step further and offers video recording at 5.3K and 60fps, while shooting in 10 bit colour, as well as the same 360-degree horizontal levelling.
The DJI is also behind when it comes to still photography. It’s limited to 12MP while the GoPro can go all the way up to 27MP. this isn’t just the case.
Like most action cameras, it’s not possible to utilize all of the new major features all at once. For example, the new 360-degree horizon-levelling stabilisation mode that ensures that your footage remains even regardless of the direction the camera is facing It is available only with resolutions of up to 2.7K at 60 frames per second. There’s also a middle-of-the-road “HorizonBalanced” option that can correct moves of that are 45 degrees to the left to right and allows you to shoot 4K at 60 frames per second. But, this mode is limited to the 16:9 aspect ratio and not the unbridled 4:3 aspect ratio.
Despite these limitations I found the overall that the performance was quite amazing. Image stabilisation was a feature that ensured footage was smooth, even though the camera was moving very violently. The horizontal levelling function was efficient to ensure that video was even.
In good lighting, the camera could be seen in great detail, too. The video is below., I’ve juxtaposed it to GoPro Hero10 Black. GoPro Hero10 Black as I haven’t had the opportunity to try the Hero11 Black and, although the GoPro is certainly superior however, the DJI is quite close. (You’ll have to disregard the color balance on the GoPro as I put it in flat mode, and then was required to color grade it later in the post.)
The only area where it is that the DJI Osmo Action 3 suffers is when shooting in low light. Despite having a (marginally) bigger sensor size, images taken in dim lighting was much louder and less crisp as compared to the same footage shot in the same manner using GoPro Hero10 Black. GoPro Hero10 Black. In light of the GoPro Hero11 Black now available and possibly more powerful than this DJI Osmo Action 3 finds it in a disadvantage.
DJI Osmo Action 3 review What else do we love about it?
But, image quality isn’t all that important. Audio quality, particularly for video editors, is essential as well, and it’s in this area that DJI can draw level with GoPro. The audio recorded isn’t as rich like other cameras like the GoPro Hero10 Black but the Osmo Action 3’s three microphones record clear audio both from the front and the rear of the camera.
It’s also worth noting the battery’s lifespan is quite good as well. DJI says that its Extreme battery will keep the camera running for about 160 hours total but that’s only at 1080p at 30fps, with the two screens off. In comparison to the Hero11 Black, that the Hero11 Black can deliver up to 137 minutes of video at this size and resolution however, it’s Hero10 Black only gives you the option of 120 minutes and you’ll have to purchase an Enduro battery to even the same amount of time.
Of course, that long battery life is drastically reduced when you increase the frame rate and resolution. allow stabilisation and horizon levels. With 4K 60 and HorizonBalanced mode on the video recorded 19 mins and 32 secs before displaying an overheating alert. It’s not difficult to make it better, but. The reduction of the frame rate to 30fps cured the issues with overheating completely. the camera could continue recording for a long time until its battery went out. It took more than two hours longer than previously the GoPro Hero10 Black managed (around 49 minutes) using identical settings. It supports fast charging as well, and can be able to go from 0% to percent in only 18 minutes, and from zero until 100% within approximately 50 minutes.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the lens offers the largest field of view than the average GoPro with a maximum of 150 degrees, but it’s not as beneficial as it seems for Vloggers as it will result in a loss in resolution as the camera zooms into.
DJI Osmo Action 3 review: Verdict
The DJI Osmo Action 3 has many advantages, and. It’s much less expensive in comparison to it’s predecessor, the GoPro Hero11 Black, it’s more resistant to water while the system for mounting is a huge advantage. Good image quality, powerful stabilisation and horizon levelling excellent battery life, and quick charging times, and a front-facing touchscreen in colour contribute to an overall solid device.
The quality of images or resolution doesn’t quite match the highest quality GoPro offers and especially since it’s the Hero11 Black has arrived with its 5.3K 360-degree horizontal levelling. If you’re unable to really justify spending more than PS400 on the latest GoPro Hero11 Black or the Mini (the Hero10 Black remains higher priced even after being cut to a lesser price) you should consider the DJI Osmo Action 3 is an affordable, reliable alternative.
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