Last Updated on August 21, 2023 by Rahul
DJI Osmo Action 4 Review.
Could the Osmo Action 4 actually be DJI’s best action camera yet?
Okay, so the issues with the Action 3 were definitely on my mind, and I was really anxious to see how the Osmo Action 4 was going to perform.
But with its 1.3-inch sensor, 155-degree ultra-wide-angle field of view, shooting up to 4K at 120 frames per second with 10-bit color and D-log M, I was so impressed with the specs and hoped to be equally impressed with the footage.
the image quality didn’t disappoint. As soon as I saw the footage and used the camera, there was no doubt that the Osmo Action 4 was going to become one of the top picks for many people. The quality of the footage is really clean and clear, and DJI included a much-welcomed sharpness setting.
Finally, you can set the level of sharpness you want in the camera, and you can also adjust the desired level of noise reduction. In my pre-release version, I had three levels (high to low), but upon release, there will be a firmware update which will upgrade this to five levels of sharpness and four levels of noise reduction.
DJI Osmo Action 4 Camera Specifications.
It really feels like DJI is aiming for a more private experience with the Action 4, especially when you factor in D-log M. This gives you much more flexibility when it comes to color correction and grading, ensuring the highest quality footage from the camera. So yes, it’s great to see D-log M in action, but even if you’re shooting in the normal color profile, you’ll still get awesome results.
The color reproduction in the Action 4 is excellent; DJI does colors nicely. It doesn’t look like typical action camera footage; you get really nice-looking skin tones and colors. However, if you’re looking for an HDR feature, you won’t find one. DJI has made sure you get the best dynamic range from the Action 4, so there’s no need for a specific HDR mode.
DJI Osmo Action 4 Technical specifications and Audio Quality.
What did you think about the audio?
It came straight from the Action 4 with no external microphone attached, just the built-in camera mics. I didn’t think it sounded too bad at all. Alright, how’s my battery life looking? Alright, I have 29% left, so it’s actually doing well.
With the Adventure Combo, you’ll have more than enough battery for filming all day. Shooting exclusively in 4K, I found myself getting over an hour of usage from just one battery, even with occasional 120 FPS footage, which looks really good, by the way.
Slow-motion footage definitely has its place, and if you use it with the Osmo Action 4, you’ll get smooth and impressive results. Imagine if you’re shooting in 1080; you’ll have plenty of battery life for various types of footage and long time-lapse sequences.
Osmo Action 4 Time lapses.
Speaking of time lapses, they also look good. The Action 4 has preset options for time lapses, but you can also customize them. I’d highly recommend using ND filters; they allow you to have a slower shutter speed for more cinematic motion blur.
Here’s something new, when it comes to low-light filming, DJI added a new setting called low light image enhancement. This aims to give you the best quality footage in low-light conditions when shooting in the normal color profile.
As I’m walking to my car in the rain, I’m testing how the image stabilization holds up and how the image quality looks with this enhanced low-light setting. Sorry if I sound like I’m shoutin. I have my earbuds in. I was definitely shouting. I’m annoyed at myself because I forgot to buy a car parking ticket. I hope I don’t have a ticket.
Osmo action 4 Stabilization Technology.
Alright, let’s see how the stabilization looks in normal filming conditions with normal lighting and a bit of speed. Looking back at the footage, it looks really good. I had the stabilization set to RockSteady Plus, the highest level, and it did a great job; the footage is smooth.
I’ll switch to RockSteady, one level below RockSteady Plus, to see how smooth that is. It also offers a slightly wider field of view since RockSteady Plus crops in quite a bit. One feature I love is the Quick Switch button.
It lets you easily switch between photo, video, and time-lapse modes, and you can customize it with your preferences. Additionally, the Quick Switch button has a voice prompt to let you know the mode you’re switching to, which is handy.
In terms of audio, I used the built-in microphones for previous clips, but now I have the DJI wireless microphone attached. This is the audio you’re hearing, and it sounds good.
You can attach an external microphone via USB-C; the DJI mics work well and provide good audio quality. So, this is how the audio sounds with an external mic attached. Just like the Osmo Action 3 wasn’t meant to replace the Action 2, the Osmo Action 4 isn’t a replacement for the Action 3 either.
DJI designed the Action 4 for those who are active outdoors and want high-quality footage with advanced features. It’s meant to complement the Action 3, which is for those who prefer an easier setup and great footage without complex settings.
Conclusion.
If you’re looking for a professional-level action camera, the Action 4 is definitely worth considering. I’ll compare it to the Hero 11 in my next video, as I know many of you are curious about that. I’m relieved that I don’t have a parking ticket.
This might not be the best audio test since I’m losing my voice and not feeling great, but I wanted to paddleboard today because the weather for the rest of the week looks good. So, this is what the audio sounds like for now. I’ll do a better test when my voice is back to normal. Just thought I’d come out on the water and bring the Action 4 with me.