DJI Made a GoPro Clone With One Killer Feature

GoPro , I have some unfit news program . radio-controlled aircraft giant DJI just released a rugged new camera called the Osmo Action . It ’s a lot like a GoPro — so much so that I think it was a GoPro when my workfellow hand it to me . The Osmo Action and the late GoPro are n’t quite identical , but they ’re so similar in size and design that it ’s clear how hard DJI is biting GoPro ’s style .

The extent to which DJI is taunting GoPro goes beyond the Osmo Action ’s looks and into its feature . Whereas theHero7 Black has HyperSmooth double stabilization , the Osmo Action has RockSteady stabilisation . Both camera can spud in 4 honey oil at 60fps with their image stabilisation features on or off . Both allow for 8x slow - motion seizure . Both are waterproof . ( DJI claims a small victory here , tout 11 - metre max depth , while the Hero7 Black claims it ’s rainproof up to 10 meters . ) They both allow for you to bust still images while take telecasting . Both have timelapse shot modality . Both have annoying interfaces made for their little touchscreens that make you need to flip - kick the camera into a wall .

The one big difference between the $ 350 Osmo Action and , say , a $ 400 Hero7 Black ( or any other GoPro simulation , for that thing ) is the front - confront full - color showing that shows a preview of the picture the television camera is tape . And it ’s going to be a huge selling point for this camera . A significant downside of GoPro ’s intention has always been the unfitness to see what you ’re recording when trying to shoot yourself . DJI sagely made the front - facing display a key lineament that ’s both easy to utilize and extremely ready to hand while shooting selfie videos . To activate the front - facing display , you just tap the back presentation with two fingers twice ( or hold down the “ Quick Switch ” button on the side ) . You do that again to turn it off . Like I say , easy .

Photo: Adam Clark Estes (Gizmodo)

If the Osmo Action has a orca feature that the GoPro lack : That front - front showing is it . It ’s also deserving noting that , while the Osmo Action is DJI ’s first action cam , the company has been in the tomography business for year . DJI has been put camera on its consumer lagger , since the release of thePhantom FC40 in 2013 and most recently partner with Hasselblad for the cameraon the Mavic 2 Pro . DJI also make a reach of gimbal , including the original Osmo whichis basically an radical - stiff 4 K camerathat anyone can operate . So the Osmo Action is part of a proven camera - tech legacy . I ’m traumatize DJI did n’t seek to crush GoPro years ago .

The Osmo Action also offers a few bonuses beyond the front colour show . you could shoot 4 K HDR video , a helpful feature when shooting in high contrast light . GoPro onlyoffersHDR in the photo and timelapse modes on the Hero7 Black and Hero6 Black . DJI also offer several lens filter — including ND , polarizer , and underwater filters — that cheat onto the tv camera eubstance . GoPro has snap - on filters . In my initial testing , the ND and polarizer filters both worked well and give you some added mastery over the look of my videos in various inflammation conditions and mise en scene . DJI claims that the underwater filter will “ restore the natural color of underwater picture , ” although I have n’t yet had the chance to essay out them .

Even in my limited fiddling with the Osmo Action , a few annoying chemical element became quickly apparent . For one , the image on the camera ’s screen lags slightly behind the existent movement of the camera , which is mostly just obnoxious . I do wonder if this queerness could make you miss something while trying to record fast - paced legal action and only look through the screen . It ’s possible , however , that this meanwhile issue could be something DJI location in succeeding firmware updates .

Photo: Adam Clark Estes

Photo: Adam Clark Estes (Gizmodo)

It ’s insufferable to habituate the Osmo Action without comparing it to a GoPro , which have specify the action camera infinite . But that ’s not a bad thing ! In fact , in DJI ’s case , I ’d call it calculative . If you expect back a few years , DJI built its business on drones that could make a GoPro airborne . One could argue that it was only a matter of time before DJI itself entered the action cam marketplace .

What ’s especially clever is that DJI design the Osmo Action to work with existing GoPro mounts . That have in mind existing GoPro users do n’t have to buy into a whole new accessory ecosystem to savour the Osmo Action . The Osmo Action is so familiar that the get a line curve ball for GoPro enthusiasts is practically 2-dimensional .

finally , picking between the Osmo Action and the Hero7 Black may come down to price . The Osmo Action costs $ 350 , while the Hero7 Black retails for $ 400 ( or about $ 350 if you get it on sale . ) GoPro does proffer aTradeUp computer programme , which knocks it down to just $ 300 if you send GoPro any other action camera . But , surprisal ! DJI just foretell its owntrade - up program , offering customer the ability to trade in phones , tablets , drones , or cameras to receive DJI course credit . It ’s more tortuous than GoPro ’s unproblematic “ give us a television camera , we give you a tv camera for $ 100 off ” scheme , but it tip the scales even more in DJI ’s favor .

Photo: Adam Clark Estes