When it comes to consumer gear for filming sports and action, two products immediately come to mind: GoPro’s action cameras and DJI’s drones. GoPro tried to cross over into drones without much success , and now it’s DJI’s turn to try its hand at a small action camera with the new Osmo Action .
The Osmo Action is being billed as a direct competitor to GoPro’s Hero 7 Black , going head-to-head on features and price ( $349 ). It’s already up for sale . But DJI has some new tricks up its sleeve too.
Of particular note is the second front-facing screen, making it much easier to frame shots of yourself. There are also lens covers, which allow you to replace cracked glass or easily add a neutral density filter or polarizer to better account for different lighting situations. ND filters darken a scene, allowing for easier long exposures or more nuanced control of shutter speed, while polarizers help eliminate reflections. DJI is also building an ecosystem of accessories, including a charging hub that can top up three batteries at once and a floating handle to make sure the camera doesn’t sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Here are some of the other key specs:
1/2.3-inch sensor
12MP, F2.8 aperture
145-degree field-of-view
Screwable lens covers
4K/60fps
HDR
1080p/240fps (8x slow-mo)
100 Mbps bitrate
RAW photo mode
2.24-inch rear panel
750-nit brightness on both displays
63 minutes battery life at 4K/60, up to 135 minutes at 1080p/30 with stabilization off
‘Rocksteady’ Electronic image stabilization
Waterproof to 11m, or 60m with a special case
124g
It’s an attractive package that might make for the first serious challenger to GoPro’s market dominance. The Osmo Action is available to buy online now.
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