The classics always have their charm. And so DJI decided to take a step back from Action 2. No modular design for the new one action cam of the Chinese company but a compact and traditional body, designed not only to be comfortable and resistant, but also to remedy the overheating problems of the previous model.
But this is the starting point: DJI Osmo Action 3 has much more to offer, starting with the magnetic base that allows you to attach the various supports quickly and quickly.
We tell you everything in this review.
The DJI Osmo Action 3 review
We know: if you are here it is probably to understand if DJI Osmo Action 3 is the action cam for you. Or, if we want to look at it from another perspective, to understand if she is better or her biggest rival, namely GoPro Hero 11 Black.
And, since we don’t want to hide behind a finger, we will tell you right away that if the latest GoPro costs more, there is a reason. The competition offers more features and higher resolution but here you have the opportunity to save by taking home a product that still guarantees excellent results.
The question here is not “which one to choose?” but “Is DJI Osmo Action 3 the right action cam for me?“.
Design
As anticipated, DJI has decided to embrace tradition: we haveo a rectangular body, a circular sensor and two touch displays, one on the front and one on the back. The screens, as well as the lens, are protected by Gorilla Glass high resistance that protects them from scratches and falls up to 1.5 meters. We then have a hydrophobic coatingwhich therefore repels water, and a general water resistance that allows diving up to 16 meters deep. And yes, that means it gives us 6 meters more than GoPro.
Finally, we report resistance up to – 20 ° C so you are free to take it to the high mountains, on the slopes or even in the middle of some glacier.
The real novelty, however, is represented by the new magnetic base. Or rather, from a combination of magnetic force and a mechanical clip that we found extremely practical. However, we suggest that you devote your attention to the operation to be sure that the two fins are correctly fitted but, once done, you are sure that it will not come off by mistake.
However, the convenience and speed of the system is not the only plus: DJI Osmo Action 3 can also be mounted vertically, so you’ll have clips ready for TikTok and Instagram.
We also have on board three microphones, two in front and one above, and especially the 1 / 1.7-inch CMOS sensor with a 155 ° field of view. However, there is a second sensor, difficult to identify without knowing its existence: embedded in the O of the ACTION 3 writing is a component that detects the color temperature to intelligently adjust the white balance and the colors themselves. What does all this mean? That the transitions from shaded to sunny areas (or vice versa) will be smoother, without sudden changes in color.
We conclude the design overview with weight and dimensions: 145 grams in a rather compact body, in line with the rest of the market (70.5 × 44.2 × 32.8 mm).
Daily use
If you are a beginner, DJI Osmo Action 3 is perfect. The action cam of the Asian company is extremely intuitivea, also because you do everything with a few taps. The rear display, 2.25-inch with 640 × 360 pixel resolution, results very responsivewith a maximum brightness that goes up to 750 nits to allow you to see quite well even in sunlight. The front screen is also good which, contrary to what happens on the competition, is touch, so you can use it to set the mode, resolution and frame rate on the fly.
Do you prefer larger screens? You can use your smartphone. All you have to do is download the application DJI Mimo, available on both Android and iOS. The pairing is extremely fast and from here you can manage the capture of photos and videos, the different parameters and the firmware update.
Then there is a third possibility of interaction: the voice. If you have your hands full you can use the voice controls.
DJI Osmo Action 3 review: photos and videos
Yes, but what are the photos and videos like?
With DJI Osmo Action 3 you take home great shots from 12 megapixels, provided, however, that they are captured in conditions of good light. When the sun goes down or you are in poorly lit areas the results are a little less convincing, with more noise and less detail.
On the video front we have the ability to record clips in the following configurations:
• 4K (4:3): 4096×3072 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps
• 4K (16:9): 3840×2160 a 100/120 fps
• 4K (16:9): 3840×2160 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps
• 2.7K (4:3): 2688×2016 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps
• 2.7K (16:9): 2688×1512 a 100/120 fps
• 2.7K (16:9): 2688×1512 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps
• 1080p (16:9): 1920×1080 a 100/120/200/240 fps
• 1080p (16:9): 1920×1080 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps
We then have available three types of electronic stabilization:
• RockSteady 3.0: eliminates vibrations in any direction, thus becoming very comfortable for sportsmen;
• HorizonSteady: keeps the horizon line fixed even when the camera rotates 360 °;
• HorizonBalacing: maintains the horizon line with a maximum inclination of 45 ° and is the middle way between the two previous modes.
The result of all this? Excellent quality video with an equally excellent stabilizationalthough even in this case we lose something when the light goes down.
The dynamic range is also good, although perhaps a little more limited than the competition. But you can count on two color modes: normal and D-Cinelike. The latter flattens the colors to allow you to work on the clips in post production, thus giving you some freedom in terms of color correction.
All this allows you to use it in practically any situation and with any goal in mind, including footage of your underwater adventures. Of course, we’re talking about snorkeling and not real diving. Or rather, in reality you can go down, without houses, up to 16 meters and 64 meters with the appropriate case but without light sources you risk not taking home the incredible video you had in your head.
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the audio. DJI Osmo Action 3, with its 3 microphones, is also suitable for those who want to vlogg with the action cam. The quality is not equal to that of an external microphone but the performance is still satisfactory. And if you want to get something more you can pair it with the DJI Mic.
Battery and autonomy
We conclude with autonomy which is one of the strong points of this product. Not just because a single battery gives you almost 2 hours of 4K footage at 60 fps but also because it seems to undergo much less temperature variations, both upwards and downwards. You will therefore not notice sudden drops in the battery.
Osmo Action 3 can also count on faster charging than the competition; moreover, by opting for the Combo version, you take 3 more batteries home with you with the special case. Running out of energy becomes virtually impossible.
The DJI Osmo Action 3 review: conclusions
DJI Osmo Action 3 is available in 5 different versionswith the basic version, the Combo Standard, which starts and 359 €. It is therefore cheaper than the competition, without requiring particular sacrifices.
It is true, as we said at the beginning, that GoPro offers something more in terms of quality and functionality, which makes it suitable for professionals, but if you are new to the action camera market, if you want something with which to resume your skiing exploits , underwater, by motorbike, by bike or by canoe (just to name a few), DJI Osmo Action 3 is a good alternative at a really attractive price.