@@Romeo-4 You're entitled to your opinion mate and I don't see any reason why I should change your mind. For me and my workflow D-LogM is great. If that's not the case for you, just don't use it. Simple as that.
Hello Mattias, thank you for the video review. Is it possible for you to make a video about the best settings for underwater video shooting? It would be great if you could share a few different shooting settings with us.
I've watched 30+ videos comparing the GoPro Hero 12, Insta360 Ace Pro and DJI Osmo Action 4. I started off wanting to buy the GoPro, then was convinced to buy the Ace Pro, then went back to the GoPro because of the 10-bit color and have now landed on the DJI. It's crazy to me how the DJI is the cheapest of the bunch.
Well DJI is a huge company. I’m sure they can benefit from buying components in larger quantities than the other two players. And it seems like the are passing on those savings to their clients. 😁
I’ve just come back from Thailand & was very impressed with the footage straight out of camera in normal mode. A much better experience than I’ve had with my various GoPros. Most noticeable was the limited white balance colour shift compared to the GoPro.
Totally agree with your findings. Also I think that the colors look much nicer on the Osmo Action 4 compared to the GoPro Hero 12. All in all the Osmo Action is the better action cam for underwater for me.
It is my camera of choice for underwater photos/videos. Small enough to stow on a d-ring. Great battery life and works well in the cold canadian waters. And it can handle low light and low viz easily. Overall a great camera. I have it on a retractor as well which works great.
Hi Mathias, One problem could be that the camera has the white sensor positioned in the O of the lower writing (ACTION) and this is completely covered if you use an additional optical lens such as INON 140 or AOI, which have a much larger diameter.
Very true, that is definitely going to inflict with the sensor, most likely having an impact on its performance. I would suggest not to use any wet lenses that cover the sensor or if you do, not rely on Auto WB.
Also OA5 is literally around the corner, so I would highly recommend everyone thinking of buying the current version to hold of for a couple of months. You will be able to see what GoPro and DJI have to offer around September. DJI sends review units now to promote sale of the old stock, before releasing a new one.
hi Matthias - of all the action cams, I prefer the Action 4, primarily due to its colour correction and image quality. I hear the Insta360 Ace Pro has slightly better low light, but I've not managed a comparison yet, only vs the GoPro Hero 12 against which I think the Action 4 wins out overall. I tend to use action cams on top of my main cameras GH5S & II, to capture wide angle footage and B-roll.
I feel the same way. I like the image coming out of the Osmo Action 4 the best out of these three cameras. I have a comparison video coming up next week with side to side comparison footage of these three cameras. 😉
I lwant this camera. It's smaller, good quality video and the reliability have my vote. You didn't mention your previous videos (first impressions and GoPro 12 comparison). With this latest software version, do your previous video findings still apply (color shifting etc.)?
Thanks for your comment mate. Yes, my previous findings from my earlier videos about the DJI OSMO Action 4 are still valid. Color shifting still happens when you use Auto WB, but to a much lesser extend as with the Osmo Action 3. All in all this is the best action camera for underwater in my opinion.
Thank you for the upload. My GoPro overheated in its W/P case when at 4K@60 and shut off just before the Manta Rays were coming in at Garden Eel Cove Hawaii. I was madder than I've been in years! Now, in retrospect, I should have set it at 1080 @60 so as to not overheat. I hope the DJI can do better.
@@pamelafajarito1249 I’ve never had that. Try to put your Osmo Action inside the housing while you’re in an air-conditioned room, not outside where the humidity is higher. And don’t open the housing in between dives while on the dive boat unless absolutely necessary.
Thanks buddy. 🙏🏻 They absolutely have. I love the small details they put into their products like making the battery charging station reverse charging compatible. Ahead of the competition... 😉
Have the Osmo Action 2 and Divevolk with iPhone 15 Pro. I prefer Divevolk with iPhone… but that video on Action 4 looked amazing and for the size… maybe I’d be better off going back to action cam?
Hey Kent, yeah, the Osmo Action has come a long way and has become a really valid option for your underwater filming needs. It's very different to the Divevolk system though, in the way that it isn't quite as versatile as the Divevolk system. You'll get way better macro shots on a smartphone than the Osmo Action 4, but image stabilization and easy of use are better on the Osmo Action 4. As always there is no perfect solution, and different tools work for different jobs. If you can, take them both with you on your dives, if not, just make the best of what you're using and most importantly have fun while doing it. 😉
As a freediver and the minimalistic approach to diving, I've gone back and forth on whether to get a hybrid camera/housing which is much larger and heavier to freedive with, or go with the OSMO Action 4 (I already have the version 3). Biggest and most compelling reason to upgrade is being able to now shoot 4K60p in 10 bit color on the OSMO Action 4, whereas my Osmo Action 3 will only shoot 10 bit at 4K24p/30p. Did you shoot any footage with the housing and if so, did you see any image quality fall off/distortion at the edges of the frame due to the flat port on the housing??? Given I have all the accessories/batteries, external housing, the cost for the upgrade is more than doable for me but I'm curious about your experience. GoPro has left a bad taste in my mouth with their constant hardware issues of overheating, random lockups, etc... Since I already own 2 Mini Pro 3 drones and the OSMO Action 3, I'd like to keep my gear within the DJI ecosystem. Any comments???
Thanks for your comment and question buddy. Most of the shots were actually taken using the dive housing (don't like using the camera without a housing, especially in salt water). I didn't notice any unpleasant distortion in the corners/edges. I use the "wide" FOV setting which is apparently optimized for the use underwater to reduce distortion. It worked just fine for me. And I totally see where you're coming from regarding GoPro. It pretty much matches my experience with the GoPro Hero 11 and 12.
To summarize: DJI OA4 is king in shallow water with enough lighting and it requires little to no editing in those conditions, however the image falls apart in low contrast areas at depth (red noise introduced to the image). Also OA4 have horrible exposure bias towards bright areas of the image and everything turns dark very quickly if you tilt your camera upwards even a little. IPhone 15 Pro (Max) is great all around for people who likes versatility and capable of doing some color correction. Shooting Apple ProRes does wonders and helps you preserve color data and details in your image, but requires some know how. Do not shoot H265 HEVC unless you're very shallow and have a lot of light. Blackmagic Camera app is highly recommended.
@@Romeo-4 Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience mate. Not sure why you're mentioning the iPhone 15 Pro Max in your comment as it has nothing to do with the topic of this specific video and is quite a different camera than the reviewed DJI OSMO Action 4. 🤷🏻♂
Yeah, difficult question. Generally I would say yes, but DJI doesn’t offer any red filters for the Osmo Action 4 and the third party ones are kind of crap. So no, I wouldn’t recommend one. Also, the auto WB of the Osmo Action does a pretty good job and the game 10-bit color depth gives you a lot of leeway in post.
@@MatthiasLebo Hi. i am considering to move from the Gopro 9 to action 5pro. i do a lot of videos underwater in different deepest. currently i am using red filter with the gopro but the action 5 do not have that. do i need it ? Thanks
Mine starts to fog up within 1 minute. Overheats also, good thing DJI replaced it. But this is the 3rd time they replaced it. 😢 It really sucks when you're underwater going for that corals and fish shots but when you checked it on the surface the quality of the video is compromised because of the fog build up on the lens during use.
@@pamelafajarito1249 totally understand your frustration mate. But it seems like you had a faulty unit. Normally the Osmo Action doesn’t overheat, even at the highest setting. And fogging should also not happen. Is the new unit you received working better?
Most UA-camrs misleading info on Batteries 160m? none explain the Vid modes My Action 4 on 4k is about 40 to 45 min shooting over all haven't reach 160 m even on 1024.
So, by the time of recording and publishing this video, it still is their latest action camera, right? 😉 But I know what you mean. I usually just try to get a really good impression of the capabilities of a camera and plenty of first hand experience using it before I make a review. And since I don't have access to the cameras before they are officially released, it sometimes takes me a little longer to publish a review. I hope it's useful nevertheless...?! 😊
You will achieve far better results without DLog-M. DJI has never released any DCTL, whitepaper or conversions for it, other than pointless Rec709 LUT.
Thanks for your comment mate, but I have to disagree with it. DLog-M is quite beneficial in high contrast situations (as we often encounter underwater) and will make it easier to get a decent looking image in post. You don't need a conversion LUT if you know what you're doing in post. 😉
@@MatthiasLebothat’s the thing, it struggles in low contrast areas of the image (blue background). I hope OA5 fixed it with new pixel binning and 48mp sensor
Leider bin ich von dem Video enttäuscht. Es ist einfach ein Werbevideo mit dem Herunterbeten der Daten aus dem Prospekt. Ich bin dennoch mit der Action 4 ganz zufrieden, weil sie gerade für‘s Tauchen deutlich besser als die Action 3 geworden ist. Die 3er hatte furchtbare Farben unterwasser, die sich auch nicht schön graden liesen. Die 4er neigt jedoch auch zu schnell zum Rauschen, wenn man die ISO nicht beschränkt. Digitale Schärfe und Rauschverbesserung sollten auch heruntergedreht werden um den all zu digitalen Bildlook entgegen zu wirken. Das gilt aber für eigentlich alle Action Cams.
Lieber Norman, Das Erwähnen der Features eines Produktes gehört für mich zu einem vollständigen Review dazu. Die meisten Nutzer haben keinen Bock sich ein Prospekt oder die Webseite durchzulesen. Die schauen sich dann lieber einfach ein Review Video an. Meine persönliche Meinung teile ich dann in den darauffolgenden Kapiteln bezüglich Pros & Cons, Testaufnahmen sowie Conclusion. Ist die gleiche Struktur, die ich auch bei all meinen anderen Review Videos zu verschiedenen Produkten anwende. Rauschen ist und war schon immer ein Problem bei Action Cams. Am Ende sind es halt kleine Kameras mit vergleichsweise kleinen Sensoren, zu sehr günstigen Preisen. Man kann halt (noch) nicht alles haben. Mit der Osmo Action 4 lassen sich aber sehr gute Resultate erreichen, da stimme ich dir vollkommen zu.
Danke Matthias, für deine Antwort. Ich hatte mir vielleicht einfach mehr erhofft gehabt. Schließlich hast du auch Videos, in denen du auch die Schattenseiten der getesteten Kameras deutlicher herausstellst und wollte das hier mir meinen eigenen Erfahrungen vergleichen. Mein Kommentar geriet dabei vielleicht auch etwas zu forsch.
This is interesting. I also have the action 3 and the colors and whitebalance underwater is terrible. I was wondering if this is better in the Action 4. So you think the upgrade to 4 will be worth it @Norman?
@@timosalpharomeo yes it is really an upgrade to the Action 3. The price dropped since i bought it so it is getting even more attractive now. But i forgot to limit the ISO range in the settings on my last liveaboard so it got noisy in dark scenes.
@@NormenSchmidt I'm booked on another Liveaboard next year October. I will wait to see what DJI / GoPro bring out then decide. Maybe the Action 4 will be even cheaper :)
You can find third party red filters for the Osmo Action line i.e. on Amazon (amzn.to/3yWAaaR). But I agree, DJI should be making their own red filters for their underwater housing.
What would you film underwater with the DJI Osmo Action 4?
D-LogM is a gimmick. Change my mind.
@@Romeo-4 You're entitled to your opinion mate and I don't see any reason why I should change your mind. For me and my workflow D-LogM is great. If that's not the case for you, just don't use it. Simple as that.
spearfishing
Hello Mattias, thank you for the video review. Is it possible for you to make a video about the best settings for underwater video shooting? It would be great if you could share a few different shooting settings with us.
Thanks for the feedback buddy. Sure thing, I'll get onto it right away and will share it here on the channel within the next few weeks. 👍🏻
@@MatthiasLebo
Good evening
I wanted to ask, is the video already available and if so, could someone write the link in the comments? Thanks.
I've watched 30+ videos comparing the GoPro Hero 12, Insta360 Ace Pro and DJI Osmo Action 4. I started off wanting to buy the GoPro, then was convinced to buy the Ace Pro, then went back to the GoPro because of the 10-bit color and have now landed on the DJI. It's crazy to me how the DJI is the cheapest of the bunch.
Well DJI is a huge company. I’m sure they can benefit from buying components in larger quantities than the other two players. And it seems like the are passing on those savings to their clients. 😁
I’ve just come back from Thailand & was very impressed with the footage straight out of camera in normal mode. A much better experience than I’ve had with my various GoPros. Most noticeable was the limited white balance colour shift compared to the GoPro.
Totally agree with your findings. Also I think that the colors look much nicer on the Osmo Action 4 compared to the GoPro Hero 12. All in all the Osmo Action is the better action cam for underwater for me.
Great review - I bought one when you recommended it to me and loved the footage from it. A video on the settings would be very beneficial too. Thanks
Thanks for your feedback guys. I'm working on the settings video and it should be out soon I hope. 😉 Thanks for your patience.
It is my camera of choice for underwater photos/videos. Small enough to stow on a d-ring. Great battery life and works well in the cold canadian waters. And it can handle low light and low viz easily. Overall a great camera. I have it on a retractor as well which works great.
Love it! You mentioned all the good reasons why this is a great underwater action cam. 👍🏻
Hi Mathias, One problem could be that the camera has the white sensor positioned in the O of the lower writing (ACTION) and this is completely covered if you use an additional optical lens such as INON 140 or AOI, which have a much larger diameter.
Very true, that is definitely going to inflict with the sensor, most likely having an impact on its performance. I would suggest not to use any wet lenses that cover the sensor or if you do, not rely on Auto WB.
You have a greate video. Have you used any lenses (filters) in filming these underwater videos or just the camera and the cover?
Thank you mate for the feedback. No filters used. Just the camera and underwater housing. 😊
Also OA5 is literally around the corner, so I would highly recommend everyone thinking of buying the current version to hold of for a couple of months.
You will be able to see what GoPro and DJI have to offer around September.
DJI sends review units now to promote sale of the old stock, before releasing a new one.
hi Matthias - of all the action cams, I prefer the Action 4, primarily due to its colour correction and image quality. I hear the Insta360 Ace Pro has slightly better low light, but I've not managed a comparison yet, only vs the GoPro Hero 12 against which I think the Action 4 wins out overall. I tend to use action cams on top of my main cameras GH5S & II, to capture wide angle footage and B-roll.
I feel the same way. I like the image coming out of the Osmo Action 4 the best out of these three cameras. I have a comparison video coming up next week with side to side comparison footage of these three cameras. 😉
@@MatthiasLebo indeed. I find it can lose a bit of saturation as one gets deeper, but that is a relatively easy fix in post.
I lwant this camera. It's smaller, good quality video and the reliability have my vote. You didn't mention your previous videos (first impressions and GoPro 12 comparison). With this latest software version, do your previous video findings still apply (color shifting etc.)?
Thanks for your comment mate. Yes, my previous findings from my earlier videos about the DJI OSMO Action 4 are still valid. Color shifting still happens when you use Auto WB, but to a much lesser extend as with the Osmo Action 3. All in all this is the best action camera for underwater in my opinion.
Thank you for the upload. My GoPro overheated in its W/P case when at 4K@60 and shut off just before the Manta Rays were coming in at Garden Eel Cove Hawaii. I was madder than I've been in years! Now, in retrospect, I should have set it at 1080 @60 so as to not overheat. I hope the DJI can do better.
I'm very sorry to hear that mate. Yep, the Osmo Action 4 doesn't overheat at all, even when used at 4K 120fps for longer periods of time.
Mine has foggy lens when used in highest settings
@@pamelafajarito1249 I’ve never had that. Try to put your Osmo Action inside the housing while you’re in an air-conditioned room, not outside where the humidity is higher. And don’t open the housing in between dives while on the dive boat unless absolutely necessary.
Nice video. DJI has become a big photo/video brand
Thanks buddy. 🙏🏻 They absolutely have. I love the small details they put into their products like making the battery charging station reverse charging compatible. Ahead of the competition... 😉
Have the Osmo Action 2 and Divevolk with iPhone 15 Pro. I prefer Divevolk with iPhone… but that video on Action 4 looked amazing and for the size… maybe I’d be better off going back to action cam?
Hey Kent, yeah, the Osmo Action has come a long way and has become a really valid option for your underwater filming needs. It's very different to the Divevolk system though, in the way that it isn't quite as versatile as the Divevolk system. You'll get way better macro shots on a smartphone than the Osmo Action 4, but image stabilization and easy of use are better on the Osmo Action 4.
As always there is no perfect solution, and different tools work for different jobs. If you can, take them both with you on your dives, if not, just make the best of what you're using and most importantly have fun while doing it. 😉
Please make a comparison between Insta ace 360 Pro and GoPro with DJI Osmo action four
Absolutely planning on doing this. Stay tuned... 😉
Nice review and videos
Which FOV do you use? Dewarp or Wide?
Thanks mate, appreciate it. I used the "wide" FOV as suggested by DJI, as this will reduce distortion underwater.
As a freediver and the minimalistic approach to diving, I've gone back and forth on whether to get a hybrid camera/housing which is much larger and heavier to freedive with, or go with the OSMO Action 4 (I already have the version 3). Biggest and most compelling reason to upgrade is being able to now shoot 4K60p in 10 bit color on the OSMO Action 4, whereas my Osmo Action 3 will only shoot 10 bit at 4K24p/30p. Did you shoot any footage with the housing and if so, did you see any image quality fall off/distortion at the edges of the frame due to the flat port on the housing??? Given I have all the accessories/batteries, external housing, the cost for the upgrade is more than doable for me but I'm curious about your experience. GoPro has left a bad taste in my mouth with their constant hardware issues of overheating, random lockups, etc... Since I already own 2 Mini Pro 3 drones and the OSMO Action 3, I'd like to keep my gear within the DJI ecosystem. Any comments???
Thanks for your comment and question buddy. Most of the shots were actually taken using the dive housing (don't like using the camera without a housing, especially in salt water). I didn't notice any unpleasant distortion in the corners/edges. I use the "wide" FOV setting which is apparently optimized for the use underwater to reduce distortion. It worked just fine for me.
And I totally see where you're coming from regarding GoPro. It pretty much matches my experience with the GoPro Hero 11 and 12.
@@MatthiasLebo Thank you for making the time to respond 👍
Dji vs Insta360 ace pro vs Divevolk iPhone 15 pro would be spectacular!
Thanks for the input mate. I'll see how and when I can create such a comparison. 👍🏻
To summarize:
DJI OA4 is king in shallow water with enough lighting and it requires little to no editing in those conditions, however the image falls apart in low contrast areas at depth (red noise introduced to the image). Also OA4 have horrible exposure bias towards bright areas of the image and everything turns dark very quickly if you tilt your camera upwards even a little.
IPhone 15 Pro (Max) is great all around for people who likes versatility and capable of doing some color correction. Shooting Apple ProRes does wonders and helps you preserve color data and details in your image, but requires some know how. Do not shoot H265 HEVC unless you're very shallow and have a lot of light. Blackmagic Camera app is highly recommended.
Matthias didn't mention any actual cons of the camera in his video, which is a shame.
@@Romeo-4 Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience mate. Not sure why you're mentioning the iPhone 15 Pro Max in your comment as it has nothing to do with the topic of this specific video and is quite a different camera than the reviewed DJI OSMO Action 4. 🤷🏻♂
@@MatthiasLebo I simply given my insight to the person above. And you still didn't acknowledge the fact that DJI OA4 have problems.
Would you recommend using a red filter or does it not really matter if you're going to colorgrade the footage anyway?
Yeah, difficult question. Generally I would say yes, but DJI doesn’t offer any red filters for the Osmo Action 4 and the third party ones are kind of crap. So no, I wouldn’t recommend one. Also, the auto WB of the Osmo Action does a pretty good job and the game 10-bit color depth gives you a lot of leeway in post.
@@MatthiasLebo Hi. i am considering to move from the Gopro 9 to action 5pro. i do a lot of videos underwater in different deepest. currently i am using red filter with the gopro but the action 5 do not have that. do i need it ? Thanks
Can this camera be used without an additional case underwater, e.g. up to 2-3 meters?
Yes it can, up to 20 meters actually.
Can you do a compare video with GoPro and insta
Absolutely, it's on my list and I just need to collect some more footage with the Insta360 to be able to do that. 👍🏻
Mine starts to fog up within 1 minute. Overheats also, good thing DJI replaced it. But this is the 3rd time they replaced it. 😢
It really sucks when you're underwater going for that corals and fish shots but when you checked it on the surface the quality of the video is compromised because of the fog build up on the lens during use.
@@pamelafajarito1249 totally understand your frustration mate. But it seems like you had a faulty unit. Normally the Osmo Action doesn’t overheat, even at the highest setting. And fogging should also not happen.
Is the new unit you received working better?
@@MatthiasLebo 3 faulty unit. So frustrating
Most UA-camrs misleading info on Batteries 160m? none explain the Vid modes My Action 4 on 4k is about 40 to 45 min shooting over all haven't reach 160 m even on 1024.
Lastest ? After all, in about 3 weeks (maybe later) the premiere of Action 5 will take place 😅
So, by the time of recording and publishing this video, it still is their latest action camera, right? 😉
But I know what you mean. I usually just try to get a really good impression of the capabilities of a camera and plenty of first hand experience using it before I make a review. And since I don't have access to the cameras before they are officially released, it sometimes takes me a little longer to publish a review. I hope it's useful nevertheless...?! 😊
You will achieve far better results without DLog-M. DJI has never released any DCTL, whitepaper or conversions for it, other than pointless Rec709 LUT.
Thanks for your comment mate, but I have to disagree with it. DLog-M is quite beneficial in high contrast situations (as we often encounter underwater) and will make it easier to get a decent looking image in post. You don't need a conversion LUT if you know what you're doing in post. 😉
@@MatthiasLebothat’s the thing, it struggles in low contrast areas of the image (blue background). I hope OA5 fixed it with new pixel binning and 48mp sensor
Leider bin ich von dem Video enttäuscht. Es ist einfach ein Werbevideo mit dem Herunterbeten der Daten aus dem Prospekt. Ich bin dennoch mit der Action 4 ganz zufrieden, weil sie gerade für‘s Tauchen deutlich besser als die Action 3 geworden ist. Die 3er hatte furchtbare Farben unterwasser, die sich auch nicht schön graden liesen. Die 4er neigt jedoch auch zu schnell zum Rauschen, wenn man die ISO nicht beschränkt. Digitale Schärfe und Rauschverbesserung sollten auch heruntergedreht werden um den all zu digitalen Bildlook entgegen zu wirken. Das gilt aber für eigentlich alle Action Cams.
Lieber Norman,
Das Erwähnen der Features eines Produktes gehört für mich zu einem vollständigen Review dazu. Die meisten Nutzer haben keinen Bock sich ein Prospekt oder die Webseite durchzulesen. Die schauen sich dann lieber einfach ein Review Video an. Meine persönliche Meinung teile ich dann in den darauffolgenden Kapiteln bezüglich Pros & Cons, Testaufnahmen sowie Conclusion. Ist die gleiche Struktur, die ich auch bei all meinen anderen Review Videos zu verschiedenen Produkten anwende.
Rauschen ist und war schon immer ein Problem bei Action Cams. Am Ende sind es halt kleine Kameras mit vergleichsweise kleinen Sensoren, zu sehr günstigen Preisen. Man kann halt (noch) nicht alles haben. Mit der Osmo Action 4 lassen sich aber sehr gute Resultate erreichen, da stimme ich dir vollkommen zu.
Danke Matthias, für deine Antwort. Ich hatte mir vielleicht einfach mehr erhofft gehabt. Schließlich hast du auch Videos, in denen du auch die Schattenseiten der getesteten Kameras deutlicher herausstellst und wollte das hier mir meinen eigenen Erfahrungen vergleichen. Mein Kommentar geriet dabei vielleicht auch etwas zu forsch.
This is interesting. I also have the action 3 and the colors and whitebalance underwater is terrible. I was wondering if this is better in the Action 4. So you think the upgrade to 4 will be worth it @Norman?
@@timosalpharomeo yes it is really an upgrade to the Action 3. The price dropped since i bought it so it is getting even more attractive now. But i forgot to limit the ISO range in the settings on my last liveaboard so it got noisy in dark scenes.
@@NormenSchmidt I'm booked on another Liveaboard next year October. I will wait to see what DJI / GoPro bring out then decide. Maybe the Action 4 will be even cheaper :)
so many ads to skip
RED FILTERS ? @DJI WAKE UP PLEASE
You can find third party red filters for the Osmo Action line i.e. on Amazon (amzn.to/3yWAaaR). But I agree, DJI should be making their own red filters for their underwater housing.
@@MatthiasLebo ah third party is cak . ok mate thanks for the reply