DJI Osmo Action 3 review (2023) action camera for all occasions

The DJI Osmo Action 3 is facing a challenging fight. Since its main competitor, GoPro, controls such a large portion of the market, it must provide something extra, ideally for less money, in order to gain any traction. This brand-new camera provides both in some ways. It has impressive-looking specs, such as a sizable 1/1.7in sensor, as well as a clever magnetic mounting system that allows you to quickly switch the camera between mounts and shoot vertical footage. It also has a touch-sensitive front-facing display.

DJI Osmo Action 3: Description

The DJI Osmo Action 3 is a strong competitor to the best GoPro Camera has to offer on all fronts. The GoPro Hero10 Black and the newest Hero11 Black are both significantly more expensive than the standard bundle, which costs £309, which is less than anything else the company is currently offering. The price of the former is still £350 (when purchased with a 12-month GoPro subscription), and the price of the latter is £400. The DJI Osmo Action 3 is the real deal if you’re looking for a high-quality action camera on a budget.

The camera has two color screens as well, but it outdoes the GoPro Hero11 Black mini once more by adding a touchscreen on the front. Additionally, a dedicated color-temperature sensor controls the automatic setting of the white point in your videos. Even in terms of sensor size, the DJI competes with GoPro. Surprisingly, for the same price, it has a sensor that is larger (1/1.7in) than the GoPro Hero11 Black (1/1.9in) and can record video at bit rates of up to 130Mbits/sec.

DJI Osmo Action 3: Pros and Cons

Specification Table

DJI Osmo Action 3: Design

Although the Osmo Action 3 appears nearly identical to the original Osmo Action at first glance, closer inspection reveals a number of changes. One of the first things we noticed was that the base of the camera features the awesome magnetic quick-release mounting system from the Action 2. Additionally, it has been updated for this release and now offers a locking mechanism that is more secure than before.

To use the Osmo Action with any kind of mounting system, you had to first place the camera in a frame. With this upgrade, the camera is more compatible with GoPro’s built-in mounting tabs. Having said that, a frame is still provided in the box and is used to mount the camera in a vertical position. Although it’s disappointing that the vertical mount couldn’t be built into the body, the decision is understandable given that it would obstruct the battery door.

With the Action 3, you can adjust settings without going to the back of the camera thanks to its touchscreen display. When the camera is mounted in a difficult-to-reach place, we can see how this might be useful. It might also be helpful for vloggers who need to change settings quickly.

The battery and microSD card slot are concealed by a sizable side door that opens similarly to the GoPro Hero 10 Black. A door for the USB-C is located on the other side. The power/menu button and the record button were previously on the top of the device, but they have now been moved to match GoPro’s configuration.

Display and Durability

The Action 3’s front and rear displays are both bright and have nice color. You don’t need to purchase a separate module in order to have a front-facing display thanks to the larger rear touchscreen, which is undoubtedly much easier to use than the Action 2’s smaller screen.

In how far it can be dropped and submerged, the Osmo Action 3 is remarkable. It can withstand drops of up to five feet and is waterproof to a depth of 52 feet. Additionally, it is certified for use between -4 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Those are some seriously impressive numbers, and the camera feels especially tough as a result. The rubber ring that surrounds the lens adds protection to the Action 3’s most vulnerable area, which we really like. However, we would prefer it to lock firmly into place because it can accidentally be pushed off the rim of the lens.

DJI Osmo Action 3: Camera Quality

The Action 3 has a 155-degree field of view, a 12-megapixel still camera, and the ability to record video at up to 4K and 120 frames per second. However, those numbers pale in comparison to the 5.3K at 60FPS and 27-megapixel stills of the GoPro Hero 11 Black. The Hero 11 Black’s new image sensor allows for recording video at an 8:7 aspect ratio, allowing users to edit any captured content after the fact, in contrast to the Action 3 which forces you to select recording in 16:9 or 4:3 before you press the record button. This is one of the more noticeable differences between the competing cameras.

You don’t have to choose between shooting content that would be better suited for Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube thanks to the Hero 11 Black’s more adaptable sensor. The Action 3 is an easy-to-use camera that fulfills its promise of capturing high-quality video for someone who isn’t concerned with optimizing their video for social networks. The Action 3 can record in sub-zero temperatures, according to DJI, and it doesn’t overheat. The official operating temperature range, according to DJI, is between -4 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Performance and Battery Life

The Osmo Action 3 has a straightforward and stylish user interface that works by tapping onscreen icons and swiping from screen edges to open different menus. The front screen, as we previously mentioned, is a little too small for my tastes in terms of control, but we quickly found it intuitive and responsive on the rear screen.

Of course, you can use your smartphone and the DJI Mimo app as a form of remote control. It functions fantastically because of the straightforward controls, large viewfinder, and reliable wireless connection. Livestreaming is also possible when using the app. The battery life has increased from 160 minutes for the Osmo Action 3 to 180 minutes for the Action 2, when recording in 1080p at 30 frames per second with image stabilization off.

The battery capacity has increased from 1300mAh to 1770mAh. However, we discovered that the Action 3’s battery life was adequate for everyday use, and the fact that you can purchase the camera with three batteries and a charging case gives power users a good choice at the register. According to DJI, batteries are more resistant to cold than those found on previous DJI cameras, with battery life barely impacted by temperatures as low as -20oC.

The Action 3 has been created to better disperse heat after the Action 2 received widespread criticism for its propensity to overheat while recording videos. we discovered that although it still abruptly stops 4K recordings, it now takes longer to warm up. As a result, you can now record 4K/60p content for about 30 minutes before it stops, or about 12 minutes of 4K/120p content.

Price and Availability

A Standard Combo that includes the DJI Osmo Action 3, an Extreme Battery, a Horizontal-Vertical Protective Frame, and various mounting accessories costs $329. Two Extreme Batteries, a battery case for simultaneously charging all of your batteries, a 1.5-meter Extension Rod, and mounting hardware are all included in the $439 Osmo Action 3 Adventure Combo.

Additionally, DJI sells combination kits for biking, skiing, and diving for $408, $378, and $408, respectively. Each specialty combo kit includes the best-suited accessory for the activity. A handlebar mount and chest strap are included with the biking kit, a 1.5-meter extension rod is included with the skiing combo, and a waterproof case, a floating handle, and anti-fog inserts are included with the diving combo.

Final Words

A serious GoPro rival with a reasonable price and a ton of features is the Osmo Action 3. Although the image quality may not have improved significantly, the action camera is incredibly capable and can deliver stunning results. Since the addition of 10-bit color, this has only gotten better.

With its simple menu, responsive dual touch screens, quick charging, and quick mounting option, the Action 3 is a delight to use. GoPro is still the best option if you want the best image, but this camera shows that DJI isn’t far behind – and at this price, it might even be the better purchase.

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