DJI is going to announce today its new action-sport camera: The OSMO ACTION which is the equivalent to the all-mighty GoPro HERO 7 with a couple of cool add-ons like a front-facing LCD to help frame the action, EIS and more. Would it be enough to overcome GoPro?

DJI shifts from drones to action cameras

It seems that DJI desires to shift from the drone business to the action camera business. The last announcement was the micro gimbal camera OSMO Pocket, and today, the company is going to announce its new 4K action camera which is very similar, in term of capabilities to the GoPro HERO 7 Black. We filtered the most unique features of the OSMO ACTION so you can compare it to the GoPro HERO7 Black.

One of the main differences, or should I say advantages over the GoPro lineup, is the front screen

OSMO ACTION: Dual LCD

One of the main differences, or should I say advantages over the GoPro lineup, is the front screen. The OSMO ACTION owns two high-quality screens. The front-panel screen is dedicated to selfies and captivating vlogs, while the screen on the back allows fast and simple operation. This design can be utilized in the field when you want to film yourself in action.

Structure, durability and general shooting specs

According to the specs, The OSMO ACTION, which is a bit smaller than GoPro HERO7 Black, is waterproof sealed with a water-repellent coating on the touch screen. The camera is waterproof to a depth of 11 meters. The batteries are fully operational even in extreme temperatures of -10 ℃. Furthermore, an effective system for heat dissipation allows recordings over more extended periods and up to 16% more efficiency. The lens features three aspherical lenses that effectively prevent distortion and are supposed to provide crystal clear images. The lens cap removes dirt and liquids, protects against fingerprints and thus remains ready for use even under the harshest conditions. Also, multiple filters can be installed.

Regarding video specifications, nothing is new under the sun. The OSMO ACTION can shoot 4K60p, 1080p video 120k and more formats in-between, including HDR 4K and a flat picture profile called D-Cinelike. The photos resolution is 12 megapixels.

RockSteady electronic stabilization

According to DJI, the RockSteady combines electronic image stabilization with complex algorithms to make steady shots no matter how brutal the action is. The RockSteady seems like the DJI’s answer to GoPro’s HyperSmooth EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization). We wrote a high-detailed article about the technology behind HyperSmooth, which is an EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) based. The technology allows real-time digital image stabilization, shifting the electronic image from frame-based to video, enough to counteract the motion, contrary to OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) that it’s done mechanically inside the camera. The side effect is 10% image crop. We can’t ensure that the same EIS technology is implemented in the OSMO ACTION camera. However, DJI is known for its intensive experience and expertise regarding mechanical stabilization technologies, so we believe the execution of EIS will be trustworthy as well.

The RockSteady seems like the DJI’s answer to GoPro’s HyperSmooth EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization)

Price

The price is cheaper than the GoPro HERO7 Black: $349. Preorder can be made on B&H. 

GoPro HERO7 Black Killer?

It all depends on the image quality. There is no doubt that the front screen on the OSMO ACTION constitutes a major advantage over GoPro action cameras. It’s indeed a needed feature. However, let’s wait for some sample footage taken from the field.