Freeing itself from the GoPro-clone mold DJI Action 2 offers a modern and fresh perspective on the possibilities of what an action camera might be. Following the success of the first Osmo Action, the Action 2 is lighter, smaller magnetic, and completely modular.
This compact camera can be used as a alone or with two additional modules. It can be used with a variety of magnetic mounts that are brand new. It’s not a slouch in terms of specs and can record in 4K at 120fps or up to 240fps in full HD and RockSteady 2.0 along with HorizonSteady stabilisation of images.
With top-quality features and prices to beat The DJI Action 2 is clearly placed to compete with GoPro’s flagship Hero 10 Black but with integrated batteries and the tendency to overheat, it does not quite meet the standards.
DJI Action 2 review: What you should be aware of
Over two years after the debut of the first Osmo Action, the Action 2 is a fresh start with a completely new and distinctive design. DJI has opted out of the soap bar shape and the plastic shell of the predecessor, opting instead for an all-aluminium design with an easy-to-assemble modular design.
Its heart is the 1/1.7in CMOS sensor which has been coupled to an ultra wide 155-degree f/2.8 lens. The unit is able to be used completely as a stand-alone unit or combine this with an optional module. Two modules are also available at the time of launch: the touchscreen front module we’ll be looking at here, and an extended-battery option. They are attached to the camera using magnets, and are secured to the camera using the quick-release clips.
Its DJI Action 2 packs in top-of-the-line video specifications, with four-channel and 2.7K recording with 120fps or more with a maximum of 240 FPS in 1080p. It also supports 4x slow motion in 4K, and up to 8x slow motion when in full HD. There are also dedicated modes for hyperlapses and timelapses and a social-media-friendly video mode called Quick Clip mode that captures short videos of 15 seconds.
The camera also gets DJI’s latest technology for electronic stabilisation. The RockSteady 2.0 is available in any resolution, and videos taken at 2.7K or less can benefit from HorizonSteady’s horizon-leveling capabilities. HorizonSteady.
Like all DJI’s new camera models Action 2 is no exception. Action 2 can be paired with the DJI Mimo smartphone app to allow remote control of the camera and playback of videos in addition to uploading and editing on the go.
DJI Action 2 review: Pricing and competition
The DJI Action 2 is currently available in two bundles that cost $349: the Power Combo, which includes an extended battery module, or the Dual-Screen Combothat I’m examining here. The camera is included with a touchscreen on the front. The bundles include an lanyard with magnetic clasp and a magnetic action camera mount adapter and adhesive ball-joint adapter , and the USB-C powered cable.
In terms of rivals in the market in terms of rivals, there is no doubt that the GoPro Hero10 Black is an obvious rival. As of now, it appears that the Hero10 has the distinction of being the one action camera with the Action 2’s capabilities of recording in 4K120 and takes things one step further by supporting 5.3K video 60 frames per second. The Hero10’s price is a bit larger at $480, should purchase it through GoPro directly, you can get it with one year of GoPro subscription that gives you cloud storage as well as a discounted price on GoPro accessories and replacement of the entire camera in the event of damage. $380.
Insta360 One R Insta360 One R uses a similar modular design and allows you to swap between camera units. The basic 4K camera can be purchased at $285. The Twin Edition, which comes with both 360 and 4K camera units, is on sale for $440.
The Go 2 camera from Insta360 for $295 is also worth a look. Although it’s not equipped with flagship frame rates, this compact camera is light enough to go where larger models aren’t and, due to its magnetic mounting system It offers a portion of Action 2’s capabilities but at a price that is much less.
DJI Action 2 review: Design and features
The main camera of the Action 2 model weighs 56g, and is 39x39mm across the face , with the deep of 22.3mm. Despite its slim appearance and its aluminum frame, it is still solid when held in your hand.
A glass enclosure takes up much of the front part of the camera. It’s behind it is the ultra-wide lens that is 155 degrees wide, as well as an incorporated color temperature sensor. It is surrounded by tiny slots for microphones as well as an lighting for the status LED. The rear part of the camera led by an 1.7in OLED touchscreen display, with a single physical button that sits on top of the camera and an expansion port at the bottom. The camera’s bottom is a magnetized area that allows quick mounting to metal objects, and it has clip-on points to secure attachment of mounts and modules.
The camera has its own battery as well as 32GB (22GB of usable) of internal storage. This allows it to function as a stand-alone device. But, as the main camera does not have a charging port microSD card reader, charging port or speakers the front-facing touchscreen is required to be kept in close proximity.
The front touchscreen module is attached with the camera’s main unit using a an easy click, by line up the clips, and letting the magnets take care of the rest. At 39x 41.6mm in the front and 24.6mm deep, it’s just a bit larger than the camera and adds an additional 128g in weight. In addition to adding another display that is front-facing This module also is home to an Action 2’s MicroSD reader USB Type-C charger port and three other microphones (one on each side , and another on the rear) and a larger battery. As with the camera unit it’s touchscreen that’s magnetic on its base, which allows for rapid mounting. It also comes with clip-on points that allow for pairing with mounts that are more secure.
Although the front-facing touch screen module (and its Power Combo power unit) increase the capabilities of the Action 2 however, it comes at the cost of weather-proofing. The camera is waterproof to 10 meters right out of the box . However, the ports exposed on the expansion modules suggest you’ll need a waterproof case in order to have the same protection.
DJI Action 2 review: Performance
In operation with when used, the Action 2 does a great job of judging exposuresand keeping highlights and retaining sufficient dynamic range to preserve ample detail in shadows. The transitions between dark and bright scenes are smooth and easy and the automatic white balance – likely due to the Action 2’s own colour temperature sensor – has proven extremely robust.
When the lighting is good, the footage is clear, detailed as well as free from distracting artifacts. Utilizing conventional colour profiles,, videos appear natural with some extra punch as a D-Cinelike-like profile is also available should you wish to edit the footage on your own. While it’s true that the Action 2 includes a large 1/1.7in sensor and a large f/2.8 aperture, as with most action cameras, it has issues when it’s dark and grainy. could quickly become muddy the image when you’re not cautious.
Although I’m not yet able to test the latest GoPro flagship model, I can tell you the RockSteady 2.0 is up there with the most stable stabilisation technology I’ve seen. Unsteady and chaotic movements are perfectly stabilized, and footage taken during running and walking is gimbal smooth.
To take things to the highest level In addition, DJI’s HorizonSteady ensures that footage remains level. This feature is extremely efficient and lets you turn the camera in a total 360 degrees , while still ensuring an image that is perfectly level. HorizonSteady is only available to 2.7K resolutions and lower because the stabilisation is done digitally, there’s a slight reduction however, considering the Action 2’s wide 155-degree area of vision, it’s not any significant loss.
In terms of ultra-wide view, the 155-degree field of view is great for getting all of the things on the screen into the frame. Like you’d think, there’s a lot of distortion, which means that users are likely to stick to wide or wide dewarps often, however it’s a great inventive tool to use.
Magnetic mounting is extremely practical, as it allows quick mounting to almost anything metal and the magnetic lanyard lets you eliminate heavy chest mounts. Magnetics do have limitations. Shake the lanyard enough to shake it vigorously and you’ll be able to remove it however, for shooting casually it’s an excellent alternative to have. And, obviously the clip-on adapter is always on hand for more severe circumstances.
While OLED screens are excellent for framing quickly but their small dimensions and their square proportions may limit playback. Fortunately DJI’s Mimo smartphone application (available on each Android as well as iOS) offers complete control of the camera as well as playback, and even mobile editing. The app, as well as the camera in general are extremely easy to use, and I found it easy to become familiar using the apps.
The point at which it is that the Action 2 starts to come out of its bind is the battery. DJI states that the is capable of providing up to 70 minutes of recorded time however this is only when it is in power reserve mode at 1080p, with stabilisation off. In recording at 4K60, I managed to get 18 minutes and 40 seconds before the is drained. Adding the touchscreen on the front of the camera increased this to time of 62 minutes. Because the batteries are built inside the modules, they are not able to replace them in a flash similar to the GoPro however, you can recharge them by using the USB battery.
Overheating is another issue. In the indoor environment, I noticed that my camera would overheat to the point of shutting down seven minutes at 4K60 and about 15 minutes when making recordings at 2.7K60. The performance, however, is heavily dependent on airflow since outside, while running, I could record at 4K up to the point that I ran the camera’s battery completely flat.
There is a possibility to increase the threshold for overheating located inside the setting menu however because of regulations the option is not available for UK and EU models. Overheating concerns are definitely not unique for the DJI Action 2 but, depending on how you intend to use the camera it can result in severe restrictions.
The audio recorded on the board is not particularly impressive and it can get a bit blurry and compressed when in busy situations. The front-facing touchscreen module improves the experience however the audio quality is still mediocre.
DJI Action 2 review: Verdict
The DJI Action 2 is an exciting, flexible and enjoyable small action camera. It’s simple to use, and the stabilisation is superb and when used by itself or with DJI’s Mimo application it can produce outstanding results.
If it were targeted at the casual user and priced accordingly, I’d say it’s an excellent argument for itself to be one of the top options available currently. With a price of 455 dollars per Dual-Screen Combo, however, it’s definitely an enthusiast-oriented product and, with its shaky battery performance, non-weather sealed modules , and serious issues with overheating it’s not performing at the same level.
The battery’s life and overheating issues could likely be fixed with future firmware updates, and the price could decrease over time, but in the moment the case, it seems that it’s falling a bit below the mark.
