Well, this has to be DJI’s worst kept secret! The DJI Osmo Action camera. After the DJI Osmo Pocket, DJI now introduces a rugged action camera to record all your adventures. This little guy is waterproof, dustproof and shockproof. The DJI Osmo Action features two displays, one of which is a touch screen. The camera takes 12-megapixel stills though its F2.8 lens (145 degrees FOV). Photos and video are recorded on a 1/2.3” sensor. And, video can be recorded in 4K, up to 60fps at 100Mbps with DJI’s Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), called RockSteady. The Osmo Action retails for $349 and is available as of right now from DJI directly, authorized DJI dealers, such as DroneNerds and other resellers. Let’s take a closer look at the specs and see what makes the DJI Osmo Action special in the crowded action camera market place. Why did DJI launch the Osmo Action? Let’s start with the why. Why does DJI need to make an action camera when the market place is already so crowded with some large established competitors? Why? Well, because they can. DJI has been in the ‘flying camera’ business for some time now and they have shown to be very ambitious, capable and persistent. I think many will agree that the launch of a product like the Osmo Action was a move that DJI would make at some point in time. The drone maker seems to want to get as many quality cameras in the hands of the masses. And, DJI’s President, Roger Luo seems to confirm that with the following quote: “Whether you are capturing aerial content with Mavic 2, incredibly smooth content with Osmo Pocket, or heart-racing footage with Osmo Action, DJI offers a full suite of products for your creative needs.” “Unleash your other side” In the announcement that DJI had sent out last week, the company used the slogan: “Unleash Your Other Side.” Obviously, what DJI was referring to, are the two color displays that the Osmo Action camera features. It has a 2.25” touch screen on the back and a 1.4” display on the front to help with vlogging and composition. Both screens are very bright (750 nits) and make it easy to see what you’re recording in bright daylight. Two microphones positioned at the top and right side of the camera make sure that the sound is properly recorded. DJI said that they will also release an adapter in the near future to allow for an external microphone. I tried the adapter from the Osmo Pocket and a microphone on the Osmo Action but could not hear a big difference in sound quality. I recorded indoors so the difference may not have been big enough to notice. Or the Osmo Pocket adapter may not work on the Osmo Action. I will test this some more in the near future. The DJI Osmo Action camera is dustproof, waterproof (up to 36 feet) and shockproof (5 feet) and can even be used in below-freezing temperatures (14° Fahrenheit). The photo and video specs of the DJI Osmo Action The DJI Osmo Action features a 1/2.3” sensor that is capable of recording 12-megapixel stills and up to 4K video footage up to 60 fps at 100Mbps. It has an F2.8 lens and a field-of-view (FOV) of 145 degrees. The three-glass aspherical lens is designed for low distortion and is treated with an anti-fingerprint coating, and an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and give shooters more flexibility in tough lighting conditions. The DJI Osmo Action is DJI’s first camera to feature DJI’s Electronic Image Stabilization, called RockSteady. I tested RockSteady while hiking/rock climbing and mountain biking. It seems to do a really good job compared to some other action cameras on the market. RockSteady can be used in 4K video at 60fps. The DJI Osmo Action also offers other modes such as High Dynamic range video, which add three stops, but when you use this you lose the RockSteady feature. The camera also allows you to very easily take time-lapse videos as well as slow motion (8x, 240fps at 1080p or 4x, 120fps at 1080p). The battery of the DJI Osmo Action can be swapped and charges to 100% in 88 minutes. Once fully charged, you can record 93 minutes of 4K at 30fps (not 60fps) footage with RockSteady enabled or 135 minutes of 1080p at 30fps. The camera features voice control that allows you to start and stop recording among other things and it has a speaker for sound during playback of your footage. The DJI Osmo Action can be controlled and managed wirelessly (WiFi) through the DJI Mimo app in a way very similar to what we have seen with the DJI Osmo Pocket. The camera has three dedicated buttons that allow for quick and easy operation. The on/off and record buttons on top of the device and a QS button on the left side to quickly switch between the front and rear display when pressed longer or to quickly select between video, HDR video, slow-motion, timelapse and photo. All other functions are either controlled by using the rear touch screen or via the DJI Mimo app on your phone. Accessories for the DJI Osmo Action DJI promises to launch a line of different accessories for the DJI Osmo Action, although hopefully, they will not make us wait as long as they are still doing with the Osmo Pocket! DJI will offer the following accessories: Camera Frame Kit: Included with Osmo Action, the Camera Frame Kit offers a universal mount for additional accessories and a window for the LED indicator to show camera status in real time while protecting the device. Included with Osmo Action, the Camera Frame Kit offers a universal mount for additional accessories and a window for the LED indicator to show camera status in real time while protecting the device. Adhesive Mounts: Attach Osmo Action to flat or curved surfaces including skateboards, bikes, helmets, and more to capture fast-paced moments. Both the curved and flat adhesive mounts are included with Osmo Action. Attach Osmo Action to flat or curved surfaces including skateboards, bikes, helmets, and more to capture fast-paced moments. Both the curved and flat adhesive mounts are included with Osmo Action. Waterproof Case: The waterproof case protects the device at depths down to 60 meters while providing a clear image using high-strength glass. The waterproof case protects the device at depths down to 60 meters while providing a clear image using high-strength glass. 3.5mm Adapter: The 3.5mm adapter offers users the ability to connect an external mic for professional sound recording. The 3.5mm adapter offers users the ability to connect an external mic for professional sound recording. Extension Rod: Capture unique angles using the Extension Rod, which features a rotatable phone holder and a ¼-inch screw adapter. Capture unique angles using the Extension Rod, which features a rotatable phone holder and a ¼-inch screw adapter. Floating Handle: The Floating Handle offers a comfortable grip for Osmo Action and keeps it floating when shooting in water. The Floating Handle offers a comfortable grip for Osmo Action and keeps it floating when shooting in water. Filters: Osmo Action comes with Neutral Density (ND), Polarizer, and underwater filters. ND filters (ND4, ND8, ND16, and ND32) reduce light exposure in various environments, while Polarizer filters reduce reflections and increase color saturation for a more appealing image. Orange Seawater and Purple Freshwater filters restore the natural color of underwater scenes. Osmo Action comes with Neutral Density (ND), Polarizer, and underwater filters. ND filters (ND4, ND8, ND16, and ND32) reduce light exposure in various environments, while Polarizer filters reduce reflections and increase color saturation for a more appealing image. Orange Seawater and Purple Freshwater filters restore the natural color of underwater scenes. Charging Hub: Charge up to three batteries simultaneously in less than 130 minutes. Price and Availability The DJI Osmo Action will sell for $349 USD and ships immediately after this announcement as we have come to expect from the Chinese drone maker. The camera will be sold at authorized DJI dealers as of May 22nd. Please go to the official DJI Osmo Action website for more details. Stay in touch!<doc-sep>Today DJI officially introduces the all-new Osmo Action. The compact camera is highlighted by front and rear color screens and state-of-the-art electronic image stabilization to help you capture your adventures in stunning 4K. Osmo Action is designed to handle pretty much anything you throw its way. The camera is waterproof, dust-proof, and shockproof, and can even operate in temperatures below freezing. The 2.25-inch touchscreen on the rear is covered with a water and fingerprint-repelling coating, while the 1.4-inch front screen makes taking selfies easier than ever before. The device features three dedicated buttons, allowing you to power on, begin recording, and rotate through the video and photo capture modes with ease. The SnapShot feature then initiates power and begins recording in less than two seconds simply by pressing the shutter button. The camera's 1/2.3-inch sensor ensures you don't miss any details while capturing 12-megapixel photos and 4K video up to 60fps at 100Mbps, while the three-glass aspherical lens records low-distortion content and helps reduce warping effects. Furthermore, Osmo Action is DJI's first handheld camera to come with RockSteady, the company's Electronic Image Stabilization technology, to record every movement, even 4K/60fps. The device shoots High Dynamic Range video in 4K/30fps as well, adding three stops of dynamic range to the scene, natural transitions between light and dark areas, and rich details. Osmo Action's removable battery has a run time of 93 minutes recording at 4K/30fps with RockSteady enabled, and 135 minutes recording at 1080p/30fps without RockSteady. The camera includes dual microphones for voice control and a speaker for convenient playback. While recording with Osmo Action you can take advantage of 8x slow motion in 1080p 240fps or 4x slow motion in 1080p 120fps, timelapse, and custom exposure settings that allow up to 120 seconds of exposure. Also, you can connect to the recently released DJI Mimo app for additional functions including a live feed of the camera, multiple story templates, in-app quick editing, and more. Priced at $349, DJI's all-new Osmo Action camera begins shipping today, May 15. Follow here for more on the device.<doc-sep>"And the front screen is pretty good. It doesn't show the full width of the shot, but it's good to know when you are in frame. For vloggers, myself included, it's a very useful feature to have."<doc-sep>
(Pocket-lint) - DJI, a company that has become synonymous with consumer drones, is now moving into the action camera market, with the new Osmo Action. This pits DJI against GoPro, the most popular maker of action cams. There's been plenty of rumours about it releasing a device to to compete with the likes of GoPro, but now, we finally have a confirmation from the Chinese company. The move isn't too surprising, considering many people who use drones pair their unmanned aerial vehicles with action cameras for stunning aerial photography. So, DJI has some insight into what consumers might want from a rugged camera. With that said, it loaded the Osmo Action with top-end features, such as a 1/2.3-inch sensor that records 12-megapixel photos and 4K video at up to 60fps at 100Mbps. It also features what DJI described as a "three-glass aspherical lens design", which will allow the Osmo Action to record low-distortion content. The lens cap further has two layers of anti-fingerprint and anti-reflective coatings to reduce lens glare, allowing you to shoot in the brightest conditions. The Osmo Action also features colour screens on both the front and the rear, ensuring it'll stand out from other action cameras. The 1.4-inch front-facing screen is meant to let vloggers capture perfect selfies the first time around. As for the 2.25-inch rear-facing touchscreen, it has a water- and fingerprint-resistant coating, with a brightness of 750 nits no less, making it easy to use even in direct sunlight and other conditions. Not just the screen is waterproof; the entire action camera body is capable of operating at a depth of 36 feet, and it can withstand drops from up to five feet and can withstand temps of 14-degrees F. Other features include a removable battery offering up to 93 minutes during 4K video recording, as well as three-axis mechanical gimbals along with Electronic Image Stabilization to ensure smooth, stable video recording during stunt work. DJI said there’s a wide selection of creative features built in to the camera, including a selection of slo-mo, time lapse, and custom exposures. These features are easily accessible with a few clicks on the device. The Osmo Action can also be connected to your mobile device through the new DJI Mimo app to see a live feed of the camera, perform quick editing, and to access to story templates. DJI is also introducing an accessory range to expand what you can do. It includes a protective camera frame kit with a universal mount for other accessories; adhesive mounts for flat and curved surfaces; a waterproof case that extends protection up to 60 meters; a 3.5mm adapter for mics, an extension rod selfie stick; a floating handle that'll bob in water; and a charging hub for three batteries. The Osmo Action itself is available now for $349 at DJI's store. It should also be available from other retailers starting 22 May. Writing by Maggie Tillman.