That's great! More recently I got hold of the case and did a series of tests (in a video) and found that the case completely solves the problem, for me at least. It hugely increased recording times. It also makes it so much more comfortable to hold and less likely to be dropped. Grab the free one if you can. Mine had a 5 week shipping wait time so I had to buy one from Amazon.
You can place a magnet at the magic spot and get longer running (according to another youtuber). So it seems that the case acts like an oven glove, while the magnet triggers a mode which allows the device to run hotter, knowing that you won't burn your fingers as you've got the case on. But until someone actually measures the temperature of the camera with the case on and with it off, we won't be sure.
Hi Peter, yes I can confirm it can be tricked with a magnet. And I agree that the case is probably just a finger protector while the firmware increases the maximum allowed temperature before shutdown.
@@Roos-Reviews "firmware increases the maximum allowed temperature", not in Europe, i installed the case today and did nothing. I tried the magnet trick but the magnet slides around the cam so it can't be fixed only with screws or something :)).
I could be wrong, but I think what's really going on is they have made the case, not to cool the camera, but to protect people's fingers from the hot aluminium, and the real changes that increase the run times have been done via the firmware that accompanies the case. What do you think?
I agree with you. In my understanding a plastic case would rather isolate the heat in the camera body than cool it down. But same as you, I’m not a physicist. Maybe there is a special characteristic of this special polymer? 😜😉 I have the Action 2 for three days now and I am just impressed! For me, this design beats any classical GoPro design by adding a significant amount of functionality and value. I will definitely order the protective case but maybe I will be one of those guys not really using it, driven by the wish not to increase the size of the camera. Thanks again for your (always) comprehensive videos, combined with your clear and objective comments! Keep up the good work man.
I agree also i dont know how this case is going to make the camera cooler i think they have just released the case because too many people are dropping the camera and sending it back for repairs. The software update will definaly be a underclock of internals thats the only way to cool this camera and i had to return mine because it got so hot after just recording on 1080p i could barely touch it. Nice videos man.
Another thought I have is a bit wild, but what if once the case is detected, the camera actually just allows itself to get hotter before it stops recording - meaning it increases the maximum temperature it will continue recording at by several degrees if the case is on, but the user does not feel it because of the insulating silicone cover? They never said the camera will be cooler with the case on. They just said the case activates a heat control solution. Maybe that solution is that it gets even hotter.
You've nailed it here, the only person I've personally come across on UA-cam who has. DJI screwed up with this camera. I'm pretty sure Action 3's design will benefit from the company's discomfort and embarrassment. I have the 2 and really like it. I got the screen combo plus the power module for £370, and that's a fair price. I shoot 4K @ 24fps and I've got to 22 minutes before turning it off. Image quality is more than good enough. All in all, perfect for me. But if you want to push your action camera further, hotter and more extreme, the GoPro would be the better choice.
I found the trick: When a strong magnet is placed on the left side (seen from front) of On/Off button of cameramodule max. recording time is significantly longer before overheating. Action 2 than shows when switched on that magnetic cover is installed. But be carefully - aluminium of camera gets very hot. To be done on own risk only.
Yeah so the case doesn't do anything to transfer heat. It's actually a barrier between the heat and your hands so you don't get burned and therefor it allows itself to get a bit hotter. Total BS and it shows in the way they have written it. Hiding what is actually going on by using vague copy.
Well played , says it all. Excellent work as usual. Design flaw is not fixable in ( / using) this case (literally) , imo. I do wonder how long the (non replaceable) battery in this device will hold up over time though , i very much doubt a couple of years.
Yes, I do worry about that too. Lithium cells degrade faster when used at high temperatures. And the battery in this is apparently sealed inside with no way to replace it without damaging the camera. Though it crossed my mind that while the aluminium shell gets extremely hot, the internals may actually be keeping within normal-ish operating temperatures if the aluminium is doing its job effectively. I think most lithium cells can handle up to about 60 degrees Celsius under load and I imagine the Action 2 would be keeping it below that, hopefully.
Late to this party, bought two of these, and like with the Rocket nano Sabrent Drives that also has this issue, I'm going to see if my fix for those will work here. If the case is aluminum, means a heatsink should help this problem a little if not a lot. Slapped two of those on my two Rocket Nano Drives and we were good to go. Never had over-heating issues, meaning they never throttled either after that easy fix. Now, just like with the Rockets, this doesn't excuse what DJI did, it's annoying that we have to come up with "HACKS" to better their products. BUT being aluminum means this hack will work better than on a GO-Pro that uses a plastic shell.
This camera has main flaws: 1. The main unit battery has small capacity and drain very fast. 2. It heated and has ridicules operation time no more than 10 minutes. 3. If you add the extra battery or the extra screen module it does not prolong the operation time. And the size it is almost the same as the gopro 10. 4. The extra module when connected is not water proof. I have many dji drone but i decided for action camera to go with gopro 10 and not the action 2.
I was actually going to buy Action 2 when it was released, but after hearing about all the heating problems + that is generally just a insta360 go 2 + the price + that it won't work great as a helmet cam with only 20+ minutes recording time, made me also buy Gopro 10. From before I still love my DJI Osmo Action, Pocket 2 and Mini 2, but now I'm just waiting and hoping for a new Action 3.
Correct me if Im wrong but DJI said the case prolongs recording time as it prevents overheating, so it's not just for protection from touching a heated device but it does reduce heat of the device itself..?
got that magnetic whatever case today, not working. (the cam knows that is installed but does nothing). Another 25 EUR gone. Now i'm thinking to buy a radiator and cool it :).
@@Roos-Reviews I found it, thanks! Great information too! Except kind of got confusing on what combinations of tests were done, perhaps at the end, make a matrix in Excel to show--camera only with/without magnetic cover, camera + dual screen with/without magnet cover, camera vs recording setting vs magnet cover etc.
I've already put about 50 hours of work into the heat test videos and I'm maxed out on that topic now. Sorry. Maybe if you buy that camera you can do additional tests and make that excel sheet. My conclusions were that the case solved the problem for my uses.
@@Roos-Reviews oh for sure, no worries, I don't want you to go through the extra work. It was just some feedback sir. I did buy the camera, it arrived a couple of days ago, and did some searching on UA-cam and found your video. Don't mean to ruffle some feathers. I'll think about doing that test 😅
Maybe the firmware update underclocks the processor a bit to slow the heating process but as you say, wrapping the existing heat dissipator in a plastic box is only going to make it warmer isn’t it?! I’d suggest the firmware update allows it to get warmer before shutting itself down while the case stops you burning your fingers… But I’m no physicist… I’ll just wait… Because I won’t be buying one if it’s likely to burn my house down…
Yes your second suggestion is what I have been leaning towards too. The case protects the fingers while the firmware extends the runtime by increasing the maximum allowed temperature. It's just a theory so far. I know the camera can be tricked into thinking it's wearing the case and it does run for longer.
They said the case would be free if the camera was purchased directly from them or from Amazon and a couple of other retailers I think. Where did you buy your camera?
Did you check your account to see if there was a coupon for the value of the case? You have to log into the account you used to activate the camera. There is no coupon in my account, despite DJI's promise. Maybe it will take another day or two for them to roll out the coupons.
They are probably just allowing it to run hotter as soon as the case is detected and using the plastic case as a way to prevent the fingers from getting burned - quite creative if you ask me :D But it's really weird that they are not really stating that but instead saying they would have increased the cooling somehow - I mean I love myself a creative way to fix a problem but why not tell it but rather play hide and seek like that?
I suspect you might be right. Because I can't see how it could possibly be kept cooler by the case. They were careful not to say that the camera will run cooler with the case on. I'm leaning towards it actually makes it run hotter, extending run times while protecting the fingers.
I am one of those who did not have issues with the Action 2, enjoying it a lot! I may not need the case but would be glad to claim if it's free!
That's great! More recently I got hold of the case and did a series of tests (in a video) and found that the case completely solves the problem, for me at least. It hugely increased recording times. It also makes it so much more comfortable to hold and less likely to be dropped. Grab the free one if you can. Mine had a 5 week shipping wait time so I had to buy one from Amazon.
You can place a magnet at the magic spot and get longer running (according to another youtuber). So it seems that the case acts like an oven glove, while the magnet triggers a mode which allows the device to run hotter, knowing that you won't burn your fingers as you've got the case on. But until someone actually measures the temperature of the camera with the case on and with it off, we won't be sure.
Hi Peter, yes I can confirm it can be tricked with a magnet. And I agree that the case is probably just a finger protector while the firmware increases the maximum allowed temperature before shutdown.
@@Roos-Reviews "firmware increases the maximum allowed temperature", not in Europe, i installed the case today and did nothing. I tried the magnet trick but the magnet slides around the cam so it can't be fixed only with screws or something :)).
I could be wrong, but I think what's really going on is they have made the case, not to cool the camera, but to protect people's fingers from the hot aluminium, and the real changes that increase the run times have been done via the firmware that accompanies the case. What do you think?
I agree with you. In my understanding a plastic case would rather isolate the heat in the camera body than cool it down. But same as you, I’m not a physicist. Maybe there is a special characteristic of this special polymer? 😜😉 I have the Action 2 for three days now and I am just impressed! For me, this design beats any classical GoPro design by adding a significant amount of functionality and value. I will definitely order the protective case but maybe I will be one of those guys not really using it, driven by the wish not to increase the size of the camera.
Thanks again for your (always) comprehensive videos, combined with your clear and objective comments! Keep up the good work man.
I agree also i dont know how this case is going to make the camera cooler i think they have just released the case because too many people are dropping the camera and sending it back for repairs. The software update will definaly be a underclock of internals thats the only way to cool this camera and i had to return mine because it got so hot after just recording on 1080p i could barely touch it. Nice videos man.
Thanks! And I share those thoughts. It will be interesting to see how it works.
Another thought I have is a bit wild, but what if once the case is detected, the camera actually just allows itself to get hotter before it stops recording - meaning it increases the maximum temperature it will continue recording at by several degrees if the case is on, but the user does not feel it because of the insulating silicone cover?
They never said the camera will be cooler with the case on. They just said the case activates a heat control solution. Maybe that solution is that it gets even hotter.
@@Roos-Reviews thinking about it, that might be the most reasonable theory. Definitely makes sense!
You've nailed it here, the only person I've personally come across on UA-cam who has. DJI screwed up with this camera. I'm pretty sure Action 3's design will benefit from the company's discomfort and embarrassment. I have the 2 and really like it. I got the screen combo plus the power module for £370, and that's a fair price. I shoot 4K @ 24fps and I've got to 22 minutes before turning it off. Image quality is more than good enough. All in all, perfect for me. But if you want to push your action camera further, hotter and more extreme, the GoPro would be the better choice.
I found the trick:
When a strong magnet is placed on the left side (seen from front) of On/Off button of cameramodule max. recording time is significantly longer before overheating.
Action 2 than shows when switched on that magnetic cover is installed. But be carefully - aluminium of camera gets very hot.
To be done on own risk only.
Yeah so the case doesn't do anything to transfer heat. It's actually a barrier between the heat and your hands so you don't get burned and therefor it allows itself to get a bit hotter.
Total BS and it shows in the way they have written it. Hiding what is actually going on by using vague copy.
Well played , says it all. Excellent work as usual. Design flaw is not fixable in ( / using) this case (literally) , imo. I do wonder how long the (non replaceable) battery in this device will hold up over time though , i very much doubt a couple of years.
Yes, I do worry about that too. Lithium cells degrade faster when used at high temperatures. And the battery in this is apparently sealed inside with no way to replace it without damaging the camera.
Though it crossed my mind that while the aluminium shell gets extremely hot, the internals may actually be keeping within normal-ish operating temperatures if the aluminium is doing its job effectively. I think most lithium cells can handle up to about 60 degrees Celsius under load and I imagine the Action 2 would be keeping it below that, hopefully.
Good one. No other channel is even the slightest interesting as this one. You have my attention.
Thank you very much, I appreciate that.
Late to this party, bought two of these, and like with the Rocket nano Sabrent Drives that also has this issue, I'm going to see if my fix for those will work here. If the case is aluminum, means a heatsink should help this problem a little if not a lot. Slapped two of those on my two Rocket Nano Drives and we were good to go. Never had over-heating issues, meaning they never throttled either after that easy fix. Now, just like with the Rockets, this doesn't excuse what DJI did, it's annoying that we have to come up with "HACKS" to better their products. BUT being aluminum means this hack will work better than on a GO-Pro that uses a plastic shell.
This camera has main flaws:
1. The main unit battery has small capacity and drain very fast.
2. It heated and has ridicules operation time no more than 10 minutes.
3. If you add the extra battery or the extra screen module it does not prolong the operation time. And the size it is almost the same as the gopro 10.
4. The extra module when connected is not water proof.
I have many dji drone but i decided for action camera to go with gopro 10 and not the action 2.
I was actually going to buy Action 2 when it was released, but after hearing about all the heating problems + that is generally just a insta360 go 2 + the price + that it won't work great as a helmet cam with only 20+ minutes recording time, made me also buy Gopro 10.
From before I still love my DJI Osmo Action, Pocket 2 and Mini 2, but now I'm just waiting and hoping for a new Action 3.
Interested now how nd filters will fit if the can as in the pics it looks like not
Same here.
Not. That was already a problem with the original white Smallrig case. They will attach magnetically, but not secure. I tested it.
Correct me if Im wrong but DJI said the case prolongs recording time as it prevents overheating, so it's not just for protection from touching a heated device but it does reduce heat of the device itself..?
No, not by much. It's main function is to protect the fingers while the camera actually runs even hotter. I made some detailed test videos.
got that magnetic whatever case today, not working. (the cam knows that is installed but does nothing). Another 25 EUR gone. Now i'm thinking to buy a radiator and cool it :).
Yes the Euro version is limited to a certain temperature no matter what, unfortunately. So for those models the case doesn't help much.
So the case actually makes the camera run hotter.. Wouldn't that be bad for battery health?
I believe so. But no one has long term data to show whether or not it will shorten the useful life of this battery significantly.
Maybe you can just do the heat test again now with the case to see the results?
I did. It's on my channel.
@@Roos-Reviews I found it, thanks! Great information too! Except kind of got confusing on what combinations of tests were done, perhaps at the end, make a matrix in Excel to show--camera only with/without magnetic cover, camera + dual screen with/without magnet cover, camera vs recording setting vs magnet cover etc.
I've already put about 50 hours of work into the heat test videos and I'm maxed out on that topic now. Sorry. Maybe if you buy that camera you can do additional tests and make that excel sheet. My conclusions were that the case solved the problem for my uses.
@@Roos-Reviews oh for sure, no worries, I don't want you to go through the extra work. It was just some feedback sir. I did buy the camera, it arrived a couple of days ago, and did some searching on UA-cam and found your video. Don't mean to ruffle some feathers. I'll think about doing that test 😅
No problem at all. If you do try those tests please send me the link. I would be interested in seeing how your results turn out. All the best.
Any updates on this now?
Yes I made more videos about it.
Maybe the firmware update underclocks the processor a bit to slow the heating process but as you say, wrapping the existing heat dissipator in a plastic box is only going to make it warmer isn’t it?! I’d suggest the firmware update allows it to get warmer before shutting itself down while the case stops you burning your fingers… But I’m no physicist… I’ll just wait… Because I won’t be buying one if it’s likely to burn my house down…
Yes your second suggestion is what I have been leaning towards too. The case protects the fingers while the firmware extends the runtime by increasing the maximum allowed temperature. It's just a theory so far. I know the camera can be tricked into thinking it's wearing the case and it does run for longer.
Wasn't there a ruling in Europe that it must not run a certain function above a certain temperature? Was it for this camera?
just ordered case from dji they charge me for case and shipping not free
They said the case would be free if the camera was purchased directly from them or from Amazon and a couple of other retailers I think. Where did you buy your camera?
@@Roos-Reviews i purchased directly from dji
Did you check your account to see if there was a coupon for the value of the case? You have to log into the account you used to activate the camera. There is no coupon in my account, despite DJI's promise. Maybe it will take another day or two for them to roll out the coupons.
@@Roos-Reviews ya check coupons none dedicated to case just 20% off accessories but case not in there
They are probably just allowing it to run hotter as soon as the case is detected and using the plastic case as a way to prevent the fingers from getting burned - quite creative if you ask me :D
But it's really weird that they are not really stating that but instead saying they would have increased the cooling somehow - I mean I love myself a creative way to fix a problem but why not tell it but rather play hide and seek like that?
I suspect you might be right. Because I can't see how it could possibly be kept cooler by the case.
They were careful not to say that the camera will run cooler with the case on. I'm leaning towards it actually makes it run hotter, extending run times while protecting the fingers.
In the notes it says "do not remove the case when recording". I'm thinking that's to prevent burning fingers. This is wild.
@@Roos-Reviews I’d then worry about the long term impact on the battery and the unit in general. Could it be a fire risk I wonder?
Same here, 3 weeks later.
The case is ust a skin protector with a software delivery system I guess...
Yes, I think so too, Steve.
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