DJI Action 4 Review: What's Actually Better?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Hi folks! Some have asked how I have access to the camera early. Thus, I'll explain in-depth press embargoes in-depth here, sponsorships/etc... Press embargos allow companies (e.g. GoPro/DJI/Apple/Samsung/etc...) to send out units early to reviewers, as long as they don't disclose the product until a certain date/time. However, within that there are two camps: Normal press/media entities that have strict rules on ensuring content is unsponsored (which is what I do), and the second camp is paid coverage. This second camp is what you think of as sponsored content (they get paid usually, ranging from $1,000 for a small channel, to many tens of thousands for a larger channel). These videos have specific things that must be in the coverage, specific approval processes, and usually won't say anything meaningfully bad about the product. You'll see lots of that type of content for certain brands, less so for other brands. There's also another camp of people that just get free products as 'partners' or 'ambassadors', that functionally act the same way. Virtually every single piece of tech news today is sent under embargo to media outlets. Even the most useless announcements are sent that way. In fact, it's well beyond tech. Policy announcements, goverment announcements, etc are generally sent under embargo. It started in the 1920's with medical/scientific journals. The idea is to allow news outlets to put together thoughtful pieces on 'news', rather than copy/paste marketing junk. Embargo does not mean sponsored, it simply means agreeing to a specific date/time to release the content. In any case, for the press side (me), one could argue that access to a product early means you get a 'benefit'. And thus would be tempted to pay favor to that by giving better coverage. And some entities certainly do. But ultimately I think I've gotten to nearly half a million subscribers by demonstrating that's not how I work. Every company that sends me products early for review (Apple, DJI, GoPro, Garmin, Google, Samsung, and on and on), understands this. They know if I like a product, I'll say that. And if I don't, I'll say that too. Are they sometimes upset at what I say? Sure. Could they withhold next time? Sure. But history has shown them that doesn't really work for me. I just go out and buy it, and do a review then. Thus, it's in their interest to at least engage with me ahead of time and maybe fix issues before it gets to production (and, they do...very often). Note that in my case, *I do not keep these products*. They get picked up by DHL/UPS/etc after the review, and then I go out and re-purchase most of them at normal retail outlets. I spend many tens of thousands of dollars a year re-purchasing products to keep on-hand for future updates/etc. Obviously, there's much more detail I could get in to. But, if you appreciate content like this that's not sponsored, consider subscribing - or becoming a Member (hit the 'Join' button up above, sorta like Patreon). Or simply share the review (arguably the most useful thing). I appreciate it!

[@davidgarza2267]

Whenever I hear hype about the next "gopro/zwift/garmin/etc. killer", I immediately go check your channel because of the no nonsense, honest content you produce.

[@thsaintful]

"real" reviews are hard to find. love that you put all this work into this. What is especially nice to read here is that companies apparently often take your feedback and then fix something by release time. Thats very valuable for the rest of us consumers. thanks Ray!!!

[@kean4582]

Good review. But do you get to keep the product? Because in my opinion, if you get to keep it, then they sponsored you the product, just not the video you'll make about it. Sponsorship still works even if there's no pay, and only products and services are exchanged. If you want to be really honest, then you can disclose if a product is sent to you and if you get to keep it. Regardless, I didn't think it skewed your review.

[@canyonblue737-8]

@@kean4582 if you read Ray's hard copy reviews on his website he makes clear in the opening paragraph that with each and every review unit he receives he RETURNS the unit and then rebuys it with his own money to continue to have a unit for comparison etc. He has stated this on every review for over a decade, right up front and center. Ray does NOT keep his media given units.

[@kean4582]

@@canyonblue737-8 Oh, that's good to hear then. Note also that this is just my general opinion for all product reviewers.

[@TheRCNetwork]

After owning 8 or 9 GoPros up to the 11, the game changer that DJI brought (when I bought the Action 3) was the elimination of overheating and glitching. You can have the BEST specd action camera on the planet, but if it just shuts down OR glitches and you lose the shot, it doesn’t matter. GoPro has become complacent and really isn’t bringing anything new but it’s typical issues. There’s an honest review for you.

[@TheRCNetwork]

@@mtbohana my GoPro 9 and 10’s were complete jokes. My 10 at one point caught the GP bug and cycled on and off repeatedly. Happened during a MTB ride, had to pull the battery completely and I lost all of the shots. My 10 and 11 both overheat sitting in an AC’d office as B Roll cameras. Too many bad experiences for me with GP……My Action 3 hasn’t missed a beat in 4 months of decent usage.

[@huntstyle]

​@mtbohana only issue I've had on my 9 is the battery low shut off when there was plenty of battery left. Got the enduro battery and haven't had that issue, so I think that was really just a battery issue. Ride on! 🤘

[@haystack1]

@@mtbohana I have had my action 3 for 9 months, no glitches/shut down and only overheated once, had a gopro 10, shut down after 5 minutes snowboarding, nuff said

[@D3RPZILLA]

Yeah... my GoPro 10 and 11 both overheat super easily, glitch, randomly stop recording, and often hard freeze which requires pulling the battery and reinserting it which is a PITA when in a media mod and mounted to something, lol. I actually got a replacement GoPro 11 when mine suffered from a number of issues immediately when I received it. When the GoPro 11 works it's an AWESOME camera. I ordered the Action 4 just to run it in some other situations or when I want to film some car mod install videos in my HOT garage where the GoPro likes to DIE on me and where my Sony cameras are a little to unwieldy :D

[@TheRCNetwork]

@@D3RPZILLA can you imagine if you phone had those issues? The company would be crucified….but GP gets away with it. I also do car install videos now on my @tacomanetwork channel….so my action 3 is my b roll and close up install cam

[@tonyabdalla]

Enjoyed your review, but I think you overlooked a couple of meaningful features with the Action 4. Battery life is significantly better than the GoPro and charge times can be twice as fast as well. Touchscreen capability on both the front and rear displays of the Action 4 allow for setting changes on both screens. The ability to setup custom shooting modes and easily toggle through them with the Quick Switch button ROCKS! The Action 4 magnetic mounting system enables quick changes among a multitude of mounting options. With many other features being similar between both cameras, the features mentioned above factored significantly in my purchasing decision of the Action 4.

[@adegreen2731]

In tests the Action 4 runs for 1h 18min at 4k 30fps, while the GoPro 11 manages 1h 9mins at 4k 30fps using the enduro battery that comes as standard so not a huge difference. (You can also by the DJI mount to replace the GoPro one to Italian that system instead)

[@adriankelly_edinburgh]

I just bought an Action 4. I have no 'previous' with any other action cam brand so I did do a good bit of research beforehand. The main things that sold it to me were the recording length on a single battery charge, which appears to be around 100 minutes 'in real life' and the magnetic quick release mechanism. I've been out a few times recently with a friend who uses a Go Pro Hero 11 to blog his mountain walks and I'd seriously considered buying one myself. The footage he gets is pretty good and I'm not aware of him having lost any video due to glitches but while we're out it seems like he was always having to stop to switch batteries (at least once per hour). He did also complain a few times about not being able to use the Hero 11's touchscreen with wet hands, which happens a lot in Scotland... I got the Action 4 in preference to the Action 3, just because it was the newer model (and should receive firmware updates for longer, if this is a thing). YMMV...

[@Rumpole1000]

Are you still happy with it mate? Any issues?

[@adegreen2731]

I’ve had zero issues with my GoPro 11. I think a lot of what you hear is old issues re peddled by DJI influencers and then regurgitated by people that haven’t even the camera!

[@adriankelly_edinburgh]

@@Rumpole1000 Sorry - I wasn't notified about this comment... I've had no issues with the Osmo whatsoever although I'm only an occasional user, really. It's as much camera as I'll ever need - primarily to record mountaineering trips in the Alps in 4k to scare my wife! My son has also used it a few times while mountain biking in Morzine and in the Sierra Nevada in Southern Spain and he was pleased with the results, too. Having said that, my friend's Hero 11 that I mentioned above is still going too, though. He uses it heavily to blog mountain walks (one or two days almost every weekend). The only issues I'm aware of him having are all battery related although I think he mentioned recently that he'd bought a few 3rd party batteries in addition to the GoPro originals to save some money, so those may well be to blame for the poor running times I noted. I've no regrets about buying the Action 4, though.

[@Rumpole1000]

@@adriankelly_edinburgh Thanks mate. Good info and interesting timing on your reply as this week I've been revisiting my need for an action camera. Bought a motorbike and would love to helmet mount the Action 4 but will probably wait a little longer for the Action 5's release.

[@wmcknight13]

I am a novice and bought the GoPro 10 about a month back. The very first time I took the camera out on an 80 degree day to run around and capture soccer footage with my kids, it overheated in 15 minutes. I googled what overheating was because I didn’t know that was even an issue. After I learned more I boxed it up and sent it back. I took the plunge and bought the action 4 today because I don’t want to deal with overheating issues while capturing memories. Hopefully I made the right move. Regardless, your video was informative and I appreciate the work put in to deliver the video. Thanks!

[@KentRoads]

Its an action camera lol

[@dominofive5075]

Yea it "must be" the SD card 😆

[@ChrisRogers]

Great review Ray! Love to see this type of honesty on KZbin at the moment

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks Chris - appreciate it!

[@easyriderjoe]

Sold my gopro 11 because of the constant overheating issues. I mainly use it attached to my helmet while riding a motorcycle so the air flow is not in question yet gopro still manages to freeze from time to time. Plus the battery doesn’t last that long. I actually appreciate the honest review, it is clear gopro is ahead in terms of stabilization but I’m ready to make the switch.

[@TheDeterminedRunner]

I've ordered the Action 4 as I like the look of the easy magnetic fastening & the fact I'll be able to connect my DJI Mic's without having to buy a media mod & I'm also fed up with my GoPro shutting down & having to take the battery in & out. Time will tell if I've made the right move? Thanks for the video Ray 👍

[@JTube571]

I also ordered an Action 4 due to GoPro's frequent issues.

[@STANGPERFORMANCE]

I believe you have made a good decision

[@kidmd64]

Me too. GoPros are just too unreliable.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Yup, the DJI Mic direct connect is definitely handy (mainly for tripod usage, a bit trickier for sports usage). Cheers!

[@PeteYagmin]

This isn't really an apples to apples comparison here; the GoPro footage @2:07 distorts your face whereas the DJI doesn't have that fisheye effect despite being wide. Also, the GoPro is auto-everyrhing on those settings and the DJI is in pro mode which I suspect is where you would adjust your exposure and white balance.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Both cameras were on the same setting (UltraWide/SuperView), which in both cameras has the fisheye look. I could have switched to DeWarp/Linear, but that wouldn't have changed color/exposure (I did a bunch of testing on that tonight, zero difference). The DJI on in Pro mode is merely allowing access to the settings, but not currently changing them in that video. No adjustment of exposure or white balance (once you tap a setting, then it asks if you want to go from Auto to Manual).

[@macvos]

@@Dcrainmaker There is a difference in regular wide mode, which I personally use the most, where the GoPro does have a more noticeable fish-eye effect. This can easily be corrected in post, but with the DJI, most people won't have to. That's a small advantage.

[@JTube571]

I just ordered an Action 4 and if it doesn't come with any of GoPro's bugs, freezes or immediate overheating, it's worth the purchase to me. Also, the DJI huge win with their mounting system.

[@JTube571]

@@mtbohana I use them for off roading and the speeds are typically slow enough to not have airflow. I also had issues with the quik record feature not working, which lost me a lot of potentially good shots.

[@johnnywong1018]

@@mtbohana should wait for the Action 4Pro

[@ZayyanAjaz]

How many time u mount and unmount camera per day? 1000 times? 100 times? Hero 11 does not have any bug or such a issue which DJI 3 had LOL

[@JTube571]

@@ZayyanAjaz with one camera and using it to take multiple shots per day on road trips, probably 20-30 times. DJI has a huge advantage in that regard. Also being able to see what the camera is recording on the phone app so I know the camera is still recording when I can't keep an eye on it outside the car is another win. So is the super fast quick record button and the countdown timer before it shuts off. I could go on. GoPro is not the leader anymore.

[@Baldcafe]

For sure the best review videos of these types on YT. Just exactly what is required. No hype. Just comparison. Can’t praise it enough

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks - very much appreciate it!

[@air2liquid]

Thanks for the video, great comparison.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks - very much appreciated!

[@RobinChee]

I tested my OA4 in 33C heat (about 92F), stationary on my balcony, outdoors with no wind with 4k25p. It ran for 210min before my extended battery died. Never over heated. So I never saw any over heating. I also tested anothe OA4 in same conditions but time lapse 4k 1s, it ran for 11 hours before I stopped as it was dark. Never over heated.

[@macvos]

DC Rainmaker is based in Europe, where they have a different firmware with a different temperature at which the camera shuts off (unfortunately for us Europeans).

[@Marty72]

I think your over selling the GoPro at the end; to my eye it’s only better at stabilisation, and that’s only if there’s lot’s of vibration. The image from the DJI look a little better, wider and accurate colours, plus hiding the selfie stick is very cool. Those shots look great.

[@WFO.]

Excellent no BS review that insightful and educational. I just ordered the DJI the other day. I’ll give it a try for a week. Keep you updated.

[@Wa61105]

Thanks so much for this balanced review. I got swept away with another KZbin review that swooned over the Action 4 (Dutch based), and had placed an order for one. I then saw your review and quickly realized that I should wait for the GoPro 12 first. But more importantly I will not buy anything until I have seen your review first! Keep up the great work!

[@M.A.K-1]

As soon as I saw the new DJI Osmo Action 4 promotional video. I took out my Osmo action 3 to put it for sale. After watching your honest review , I've decided to keep it. Thank You . (Subscribed)

[@waldtradition1166]

Thanks for your review. Actually I personally think that the action 4 seems to have more detail and is overall a bit sharper. Whereas the Gopro 11 seems to be more mushy. What you might want to do is to compare footage with lots of details and then zoom in 200% and 400%, for then one hopefully clearly sees the difference in resolution.

[@MrWiseinheart]

It's a little bit over sharpen though (action 4) I've looked into it and it's digital sharpness, not like the natural sharpness.

[@waldtradition1166]

@@MrWiseinheart Nope: Download the footage of mountain view and zoom in 800 percent. There are no artefacts whatsoever. It's natural sharpness

[@MrWiseinheart]

@@waldtradition1166 I downloaded the two files, gopro is more pleasing to my eye at least. But go pro overheats a lot quicker so if you need reliability obviously auction 4 is the way to go .

[@Andyhutchinson]

Seriously? Poorly over-sharpened footage looks awful. That Osmo 4 video looks like it was shot on a five year old mid-tier Android smartphone - just awful in every way.

[@macvos]

When shooting without in-camera sharpening, the DJI seems to be a tiny bit sharper in the center, where the GoPro is a bit sharper around the edges. I'd call it a draw.

[@RickdeBunt]

It might me a niche use case, but in skydiving I’ve noticed quite some problems with GoPro. Action cameras are used in tandem jumps to deliver footage of freefall to customers. The amount of errors a GoPro has compared to DJI is why I choose to use the Action 3 at the moment. It’s reliable which means that the customer gets the footage of a once in a lifetime experience everytime.

[@Kiroshi_YT]

This is a review and not a marketing Video well done! Hard to find honest reviewers nowadays thanks for sticking up for the little guys! Keep it up!

[@kernzilla]

Agree! DC did some of the original whistle-blowing few years ago on the Mavic 3 release, and I’ve had nothing but utmost respect for him and this channel. Such a relief getting accurate & relevant content, YT has turned into a minefield of click-baity garbage unfortunately

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks, much appreciated!

[@GianpaoloLaPaglia]

Seriously one of the best Tech reviewer on KZbin!!! Always clear and straight to the point with real world examples!!! Keep it up and Thanks!!!

[@PremiereEntertainment]

Hmm hinting at the Hero 12 which coincidentally leaked this morning to have a 1-inch sensor... “The action 4 is not a bad camera, its just probably not a very competitive camera with the hero 11 and probably not with the hero 12 this fall either” thats funny...

[@Dcrainmaker]

I have no idea what's coming on the GoPro front (seriously, don't), aside from the fact that GoPro by their CEO has stated in earnings calls, new cameras are coming. That said, the 1" rumor occurs every...single...year.

[@akrita81]

Excellent review as always. Before I buy anything has to do with action and drone, that channel is my first stop.

[@kernzilla]

Seriously look fwd to your reviews on new products. Ya dig into the nitty gritty, you don’t tip-toe around the problems, and always help me make purchasing decisions. SUCH a relief in todays click-baity/relevancy-lacking world of YT. Keep up the stellar work m8!

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks - very much appreciated!

[@AlloffroadAu]

Thanks. How does Action 4 do with remote audio and mic support any improvement there? Is Hero 11 still as buggy with freezes, can it now hold a remote connection to a phone reliably?

[@ScottsReviews]

I love your description. As a smaller channel I wondered how it worked. I am in the free product stage of the game. My experience is when the larger channel says "let me know what your think in the comments below" can sometimes mean I cant say how I really feel but you can. Nice Review! I am impressed that GoPro 11 won some events and it is a year old.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks! Yeah, it's tough to find your way, I'd just say to stay true to yourself and your values. Cheers!

[@ScottsReviews]

@@Dcrainmaker I linked your video and channel in my latest video due the fact I mentioned this review. Cheers

[@MrUled]

I literally just said this about your other review video, but man this is such a breath of fresh air. A real review where as every other KZbin video on this camera is singing all the glory without any of the real world comparisons or limitations.thanks man!

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks - I appreciate it! I just want to provide real-world data so people can make choices that aren't stuffed full of influencer garbage and trying to sell everything. If the product is awesome, I'm gonna sing its praises all day long. If it's horrible, I'm gonna do the inverse. And if it's 'meh', I'm gonna say it's 'meh'.

[@danewetton]

Seriously? GoPro may as well have paid this guy for this video. Some points I agree with but looking at a scene where the DJI is delivering better dynamic range in low light and he’s picking the GoPro. The main difference is I think for me is GoPro is riddled with bugs, too many times I’ve reached the bottom of a trail and the thing hasn’t turned on. Wish Washy video with a heavy bias leaning

[@Dcrainmaker]

@@danewetton Not sure what scene you're referring to, but I discussed how some DJI was better, and some GoPro was better for image quality, but stabilization is also a factor, and none of those had DJI better. Sounds like you're not actually looking at the footage and listening to my words.

[@1FilmEveryday]

I watched all the reviews so far. it’s just sad that it’s so hard to find honest non sponsored videos about new camera. Thank you for your honest review.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks - much appreciated!

[@ChocolateManInThailand]

This

[@DeanBKK]

@@Dcrainmaker if it's not sponsored by DJI, how did you get the Action 4 to make this video and publish your review immediately after DJI's official announcement? My guess is DJI sent you a pre-release unit of the Action 4.

[@nathanvrvrt]

​@@DeanBKKhe probably got it send to him. Like a lot of big KZbinrs have. But that does not make it sponsored if they have nothing to say in what he tells the audience

[@DeanBKK]

@@nathanvrvrt getting a free camera to test is the literal definition of a "sponsored review." Lots of other big KZbinrs get the units sent to them, and they will mention that the product is sponsored by DJI but are free to give their own opinions.

[@mertongreen804]

Thanks for the great review. Really well put and balanced. I am currently still using the original Osmo action, which I still love, but think I’ll now upgrade. I’m not a GoPro hater by any means and either will be a big step up for me, but having had a bad experience with them I just can’t trust spending any more of my money with them. Keep up the great work.

[@MarquetteMTB]

So happy to see this video after checking out some DJI footage recently. Appreciate your hard work, bud!

[@T4nkcommander]

Thanks for the stellar reviews as always. I'm a big GoPro fan - and this video reinforces why - but I'm loving the wide Dewarp mode on the Action 4. GoPro needs to get on that stat.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Yup, the wider DeWarp mode is definitely cool!

[@nicksangetta8874]

GoPro really crapped the bed with the Hero 12 and the fact that the linear mode is now severely warped. No longer does GoPro offer the cropped linear option that was available on the 9, 10 and 11.. now it looks like a fishbowl on linear and the sides are stretched. I returned my GoPro 12 because of this. The picture can look 10x better and all that, but if the images are distorted then no thanks. I have now purchased an Action 4 instead. It still looks a little stretched in dewarp, but much better than the GP12, plus the A4 has the option to zoom up and crop the warped sides, GoPro does not.

[@KurohanaDTatsumaki]

the only man i trust on the internet when it comes to honest reviews ;) been waiting for this :)

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks!!!

[@nelsonbustamante8756]

Man I watch your review every time just because of your honesty. Thanks!!

[@Dcrainmaker]

I appreciate that!

[@mahabuburrahmanratan9791]

Thanks for the files you have provided It has gave me a better view to look the real quality

[@sotirisrezitis]

You are the KING of real world reviews! Thanks man, keep it up! Greetings from Greece!

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks - appreciate it!

[@kernzilla]

💯 agree! Always a pleasure watching accurate & relevant content in a world of click-baity garbage onYT these days

[@JamPlace]

To pouwer up the camera remotely, in the current firmware, you need first the link the remote control and when the camera is powering off at the selected timeout setting, you can wakeup the cam with the link (binding) button.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Indeed, came in a firmware update the day after launch. Woot!

[@MichaelShaw206]

Thank you for this video. Two factors that I think will tip the scales in DJI's favor is reliability and battery life. Completely agree with your analysis of picture quality and image stabilization - clear wins for GoPro, yet my GoPro 10 didn't last a year and the battery life was poor. My Insta360 camera has been bulletproof so far. I'm intrigued by by the DJI product but may wait until the next iteration, hoping for the improvements you have mentioned. Your site is still my go-to review channel. I truly appreciate your candid and thorough reviews.

[@KayakFishingAddict]

You didn't discuss it but it seems like there are some major USB-C audio improvements in the OA4 based on other reviews. That's one thing that could affect the buying decision....do you want the simplicity of USB-C audio mics or the requirement to purchase a media mod and all of the hassle that goes along with that extension. Let's see what GoPro Hero 12 brings in terms of that. I believe GoPro's USB-C implementation is proprietary and thus the need for things like the media mod/mic adapter. Also, timecode jam-sync functionality requires a media mod for each GoPro device you want to sync, vs native USB-C plug acceptance of timecode generators. And finally, what is the deal with the GoPro Labs firmware? Will that functionality finally make it into the regular firmware? The ability to set the clock and other settings via QR Code is useful and should be in the native firmware. It just doesn't seem like any of those features ever make it into the core code.

[@mikehopemar]

You are getting more and more professional. I like it!

[@BUILDYBUNCH]

Fantastic honest review. Really appreciate your closing remarks.

[@lavieenhdcom]

The best honest review on the OA4

[@pbberlin]

I follow your drone analyses for a long time. And I am sad to learn, that there are no lakes and no pools in the Netherlands :-)

[@Dcrainmaker]

Haha, thanks for the tips! There's plenty of lakes, but they all just look...err...brown. There's actually one directly in front of my studio. Also brown. The pools I have acess to near me, all have no-photo policies that are strictly enforced (trust me, tried). Unfortunately, this particular feature requires pretty blue water, not Dutch brown water. :)

[@ethyhayes]

Ultimately im not overly concerned about exposure, they both do a serviceable job and I tend to add more show in post anyway. That key factor for picking the dji over a GoPro as s budget action camera (given the action 5 is now out) - the magnetic quick release mounting system. This lets me switch between a mouth mount and chest mount on the bike without - stopping out of the box. It seems small, but it means I'm more likely to actually use the camera - and the best camera is the one you actually use.

[@timeintheoutdoors]

I own the Action, Action 2 and 3 so naturally I was ready to get the action 4. Now after your honest review, I’m going to wait and put my money into a newer drone (I have a Mavic 2 Pro). Your conclusions seemed spot on. Thank you for the honest review. Cheers!

[@Jtc00]

Great review as always. Thank you for your hard work!

[@jimjimplus]

Just absorbed it all in seconds eh?

[@Jtc00]

​@@jimjimplusi read the written review before watching this.

[@MurtadaRabah]

Your final thoughts are fire,, and that's why i follow your channel, Thank you for the review,,

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks!!!

[@mucklark6943]

I have an Action 3 since 6 months. What really mattered to me was just the simple reliability. With GoPro I was never confident that it would work. I got tired of having to constantly check if it was running. It would hang, requiring the battery to be removed etc. etc. No sound, no video but sound. All on 7,8 & 9s. The Action 3 killed GoPro for me. Great Video thx!

[@mosquitobitemikes]

wow ... i'm pretty sure that you are the problem .... .7, 8, 9 .... you are 2 almost 3 releases behind.... really? The Action 3 was a POS ... i gave mine to a middle school kid ..( who gave it back because his parents got him GoPro ) the 4 has come out and it's with very few exceptions makes it close to the Hero 11. DJI knows they are in trouble, that's why the off schedule early release ... The new 4 almost almost competes with the hero 11 ... depending on what features you need or want most .... in 30 - 40 days the new Hero 12? comes out and it looks like it will again blow DJI out of the water ..... they (DJI) are hoping to scoop up some sales before that happens .... BE A SMART CONSUMER ..

[@cristo2241]

Exactly my thoughts. With osmo action, you know you will definately have footage. With the go pro it feels like gambling..

[@awilderireland]

The action works. The GoPro doesn't. But hey let's focus on the important stuff... Rushed to market? So unlike GoPro with their annual release of a new model. The one thing it is guaranteed to do is freeze up just like the previous years model. Ah shucks!! Guess I will just pull out the battery and start again. At least I have the best action camera on the market! Of course Go Pro fan boys would buy them over anything else even if they were randomly exploding and killing all around them.

[@panosfpv]

And there goes my dream of buying the action 4 😂😂😂😂Lucky I saw your video now waiting for the GoPro Hero 12 ❤❤

[@maxmouse3]

The colors on the GoPro are amazing. It's incredible how they get so much out of that much out of that tiny sensor (and tiny camera) :) Great video!

[@escaperoute1312]

The Action 4 has a bigger sensor so it shouldn’t not loose in a low light battle

[@Mike0193Azul]

💚 Appreciate your review! None of the other reviews sold me, since everything they review seems to be must buy gadgets that they never actually use. The Action 4 is really just what the Action 3 should have been. At a price increase it makes no sense. If it had a 1 inch sensor, larger aperture, and 422 10 bit instead of 420 I’d be more intrigued. Along with the 8:7 aspect ration Go Pro 11 has

[@AJVMFISHING]

My first action cam was a GoPro Hero 6 and subsequently jump to 7 then 9. These are some issues I notice with my GoPro's with almost Weekly Usage. 1) Rubber Body degrading 2) Power button breaking and opening (Rubber Degrade) 3) Overheating (I reside in Singapore with Hot Sunny Weather) *why not create a white body one again? 4) Bloating Batteries (Worst I had was with the Hero 9 battery) *Now I'm trying enduro batteries. What is my favorite with my current Hero 9? (2 years and 8 Months old) 1) Hindsight mode (To let me capture the exact moment I want without wasting storage space) *Cause I'm an Angler. 2) GoPro Support: They are very responsive on helping you with your GoPro issues.

[@wargor]

Your evaluations are always spot on. Thank you for all your hard work. Just saved me some money.

[@adegreen2731]

Wish I’d watched this before purchasing my DJI OA4. Watched loads of comparison videos between OA4 and GP11 before making my decision. What I’d failed to realise is just how many DJI sponsor in some way, so instead of using my own eyes and looking at the comparison videos I listen to the same script they ran through, each peddling the same old GP9/10 issues of some over heating and freezing. The problem is people then end up just regurgitating the same information whether they have or haven’t experienced the issues first hand. Was really disappoint with the general footage quality and stabilisation of the OA4 so returned it for a GoPro11. Nearly every point you raise I feel is accurate, for once a video that’s not been sponsored! I’ve had the GP11 for a few weeks yet and I have not had a freeze or over heat on me once. I think they’ve done a good job updating the heat management on the GP11 & 12s (as I say, I think it’s old issues the DJI influencers are asked to highlight) It’s also worth baring in mind that the latest OA4 firmware update for the OA4 in EU actually includes a reduction in maximum working temperature to 48degrees to comply with EU regulations. I actually got a warning on one of the settings on the OA4 stating that a max of 9minutes recording can be achieved at that rate (not due to lack of space). I believe GoPro adhere to the 48degrees max temp across all their cameras internationally.

[@jeffsancricca7041]

So will the GoPro 12 solve the “not being able to monitor real time on your phone” issue? Will the GoPro 12 have a front touch screen? Just a couple of things not mentioned here in an otherwise great honest review.

[@Dcrainmaker]

No idea. However, one thing to keep in mind on the front touchscreen (as illustrated in the thumbnail), is that DJI's front screen isn't concurrent in 60FPS modes. GoPro's is. Thus, if I'm recording in 60FPS anything, then the Action 4 just shows a black image, not the actual video feed, whereas GoPro does. Certainly, I'd love to see a touchscreen on the GoPro, but not if it means doing what DJI did and turning off the screen.

[@Superjeanmarc]

​@@Dcrainmaker What @Jeffsancricca meant was that when monitoring / controlling the camera on a smartphone via the GoPro app, the image turns black as soon as you press the record button... meaning its basically useless... With DJI on the other hand, you get a real time feed while recording.

[@nndoorgaans]

Thanks for this informative video, beyond the hype and with many real-life examples about the (non-)qualities of these action cameras.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks!

[@PatchedBandit]

Thank you for not being the sellout release date video. You provide real value not just a paid add like many others.

[@chrisnelson2770]

Thank you for this video. Its easy to get lost in the hype! Excited to see what the new GoPro 12 has to offer

[@Velogi]

Just bought 2 x Action 3 Just wondering would updating to Action 4 be worth it... Can the external RC control two cameras simultaneously?

[@Dcrainmaker]

No, just one camera concurrently. Also, another tidbit from Shane Miller (GPLAMA) is that if your phone is connected to the camera, the remote can't also connect. It's one or the other concurrently. That's not a huge deal, because if your phone is connected you're likely controlling it with it, but might be some edge case for someone where it matters.

[@r00kiet80]

Action 3 had big problems with focusing which is alot better in the 4 i would return it if you can and get the fresh one

[@lukaszbien2904]

@@r00kiet80 Have two Action 3s - no focusing issues. One of them bought few minutes after release. But I'm in UK - so maybe that's a factor (different batch).

[@kjashzhvyktsul]

remote has multicamera mode according to the manual

[@AshwinRamdin]

@14:19 The price is increased to $399, your spec sheet states $329.

[@asifmohamed5348]

Ray has done it again.... first detailed review 👌. I liked the exposure and colour of gopro better. Audio is better in dji I guess

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks 👍

[@kernzilla]

Was surprised to see DJI still lacking in the shadow detail dept. the GP def has a great look SOOC; was hoping with this A4 being BSI sensor, we’d see bit more shadow/highlight retention/control, and perhaps even better SOOC dynamic range.

[@theshastafarian]

I much prefer the Action 4 exposure and color.

[@HoYoonTV]

always thanks to great reviews!

[@kennethpreston9813]

Thanks for your great review, you’ve convinced me to buy the Action 3. The GoPro is too buggy for me.

Excellent comparison, thx for posting .

[@niceone1456]

I don’t understand why there are fanboys who’s trying to defend or trash certain brands, because trust me, your loyal brand will treat you like garbage if they don’t have a worthy competitor!

[@-robster-robster-]

Very true ,

[@MainJet158]

Have you tried using the remote with the Action 3? I have the DJI remote that was released for use with the Action 2 and it works great with both of my Action 3's but it does not have GPS features. If the new remote works with the 3 I probably won't get the 4. I really would like to know this little bit of info. Thank you.

[@ItsThatAaron]

Agreed. Will love to know this as well.

[@BlueSatt]

Awesome review ! And happy to see Dji is listening to the critics about sharpness and Nr algorithm control. Also the dlog m seems very interesting to me. Now i want to see some raw dlog footage at -2 -2 to compare to my GP11!

[@kellerwong9842]

I just ordered a DJI Action 4 for myself, an upgrade from OA 1! I bought another DJI cos it never fails me! Just need to power it up and ready to shoot! Cheers!

[@markzhangMA261]

Does the action 4 support charging while record external audio at the same time? Such as using something like the GoPro audio adapter

[@ViewsfromOurTravels]

By far the best review, all the other reviews are clearly not offering an unbiased opinion on the Action 4. Also using the cameras in Real World scenarios really show what they can all offer. Always watch your reviews before deciding on which to buy, guess my Hero 11 Black is safe for a while longer!

[@How-to-by-Lou]

Love this .. best review out there .. all other reviews on this camera are holding back probably because they are sponsored…. This is exactly what I was looking for - the full in-depth no holds bar review Will wait till action 5 comes out ..

[@iAhmedSalam]

I'm going to wait until the hero12 is out next month, then make my mind. Thanks for the excellent honest review.

[@R.T7101]

remote control is able to turn on Action4 if you enable Bluetooth Remote Controller WAKE UP CAMERA in the setting page

[@Dcrainmaker]

Very nice. I asked repeatedly, and was told that wasn't an option with "no plans". Indeed, in the most current firmware as of this morning it shows it. Nice! Albeit, only 30 mins, but i'll take it.

[@rufobio3036]

i just bought the oa4, tnx to all the reviews of the youtubers 😅

[@brilliantspeedsuperbikes]

I’m a longtime GoPro user and a big fan of your channel. For me, in the Texas heat, the GoPro 11 heats up and shuts down even when it’s mounted on my motorcycle and I’m moving with airflow. Also, maybe 20% of the time, the GoPro does not shoot video because it has shut down for some reason or the other. I’m finding out that reliability is becoming an issue with a GoPro.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks for following! Out of curiosity, what's the typical temp you're seeing shutdowns at? I've done testing up to about 100*F, and battery always kills it first for me with at least some wind/airflow.

[@brilliantspeedsuperbikes]

@@Dcrainmaker So the bikes are being ridden 100% on race tracks. Ambient temperatures when shut downs happen seem to be ranging from 103 to 107 degrees. And yes…battery failures have happened regularly even if I go out for my session on a solid (70% or more) charge. I’ve been compensating by dropping the quality to 1080p and 60 fps and that seems to help some. But that’s not why I bought the Hero 11.

[@creative-freedom]

Just a question. If its not "sponsored", how did you get your hands-on (+ testing it) the newest dji action camera that has been released literally 2 hrs back ?

[@Dcrainmaker]

DJI provides media loaners to some media organzations (e.g. The Verge, Wired, me, etc...). We aren't bound by the sponsorship/affiliate obligations you'll see on most videos. I can say whatever I want, be it that something is great, or bad. Thus, if something is amazing I'll say that. And if it's bad I'll say that. Whereas reviews that are sponsored have to be pre-approved first, as well as have a hit-list of specific items they are required to mention.

[@creative-freedom]

@@Dcrainmaker Ah I see. Thanks for the clarification.

[@paulbeckmann]

Brilliant review as always!

[@EduGrigoletto]

Did you try connect a external mic straight to the Action 4? I'm asking because I film motovlog videos and I hate the GoPro Mic Adapter and the media mod and I was thinking of buying the Action 4 but the sound with a external mic is very important to me and I couldn't find this info yet...

[@ravinschannel]

I really loved this review and agree with you as well. But I'm still going for the action 4. I still have my first and only action cam, which is the action 1 and I have the wireless DJI mic which plugs in so easily. I mostly capture videos while I'm on my motorcycle and sometimes inside the car as well. Other than that I make timelapses with action cameras. My reasoning is simple, I don't jump brands unless it doesn't work for me. And the action 4 seems good enough for what I do now. I did get a discount deal from where I get my camera related gear usually, so I got the adventure combo for the price of Hero 11 alone. If you're reading this I would like to know one more thing, is it better to leave the micro sd card inside permanently in an action cam? I got two corrupted cards when I was in the habit of taking out the card. After I stopped that, the current card has been working well for long. I used SanDisk cards, original ones same models. Thanks again for the great review.

[@Dcrainmaker]

I take cards in/out all the time, mainly because I find it quicker to offload footage using a dedicated card reader. The only risk to that being that it'll somehow get lost/etc in a shuffle, or, more importantly, forgotten to put back in. Thus, my silly rule of thumb is to take teh battery out (which you kinda have to do anyway), and then never insert a battery unless there's a SD card in there first.

[@SPOOKSTR]

I can live with everything the DJI offers. What I can't live with is the overheating thing well associated with the GoPro. More overheating comparisons would be ideal. That having been said, your video was precise and straight to the point with excellent visual comparisons. That equals 1 like and subscribe. Cheers.

[@adegreen2731]

Was watching a video from another KZbin channel a few days ago doing just this. At 4k 60fps in a room with a slight breeze at 75f/21degrees the OA4 lasted 1h 18min, the GP11 was 1h 9min. A lot of the overheating issues are related to GoPro 10 and before re peddled by ‘influencers’. I added.

[@DaveFattizzo]

Appreciate this video and your honest review!

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks!

[@C5drummer]

Wow...the sense of reason and even real-world examples! Where seemingly every reviewer I've come across thus far on God's Green Earth raves about how fantastic the Action 4 is, most do not include any "ACTION" at all, no quick movement shots (LOTS of talking head "film as I walk around or slowly cycle" vids), and other than a wider FOV natively, the dynamic range and image quality still isn't there for me, ESPECIALLY as an Image Quality Snob! Exceptional as ALWAYS! Massive Thumbs up!

[@jbontregor6717]

Thanks man. Really appreciate the honest review. It really helps!

[@hkbcnwu944]

great review, but DJI Action 4 fits more my needs, I still think DJI performans better than gp11 in the most of scenes you shown, thank you

[@luboslim]

Thanks for the review. The only advantage I see with GOPRO is currently 5K resolution. Although the price of DJI is the same as GOPRO and it doesn't have 5k resolution, but supposedly DJI doesn't have so many problems with system stability, restarting, freezing... It's probably primarily about what a person prefers. The special sensor ratio and resolution of GOPRO vs the stability and features of DJI. Both are worth the money. Otherwise, I'm glad that DJI solved the dynamic range, sharpness and improved the low light.

[@Dcrainmaker]

In almost every case of a GoPro freezing, it's the SD card. Either someone buying too slow a card (DJI will give you an error message instead), accidentally buying a fake (incredibly common, even on Amazon), or, some corruption level. If you buy good (still cheap, $30 for a 256GB for what I buy), I never having freezing issues on GoPro or DJI.

[@Dcrainmaker]

@@undefeatedgaul3201 Shrug - super well proven, but believe whatever you want to believe.

[@ChrisTurnerPhotographer]

I’ve had the Osmo 4 for only one day now, so take that into account but honestly, my GoPro 11 never overheat in terms of shutting down but as soon as I stop riding or ride slowly it figs up cause it’s so hot, the GoPro is unreliable with files and sound, and even just turning on with the quick capture, plus the footage after grading I can already tell is way better on the Osmo. For me im done with gopro now. They are just too unreliable, battery isn’t good compared to the Osmo, the negative gain control on the new Osmo 4, the clip system, the wider field of view. Im stoked. Also not sponsored haha

[@ZoranOreskovic]

9:13 Have you tested Clamp Mount For DJI RC Remote Controller (DJI RC) Bike Clip Outdoor Riding Bracket Bicycle from alliepres?

[@Dcrainmaker]

The Air 3 uses the DJI RC2, which is literally 1mm wider on the rear screws, so it doesn’t fit the existing RC1 remote holders. 🤦‍♂️

[@JohnTye]

i literally just decided to go Action 4 and purchased it 2 weeks ago because I'm sooooo fed up with GoPro's stumbling and having corruption with my videos. I used the recommended memory and I use several across all my cameras and drones. I also cannot stand how GoPro labels its files. it does so in a way that makes them out of order when viewing by name. You have to go by date/time to see them in order. I don't use all the features mentioned in the video so some of the ones that GoPro does excel at aren't things I'll miss. Love this video overall and don't disagree with the rating. I'm just really frustrated with the issues I had with the several versions I've had so trying something different. I definitely like the quick connection.

[@deanontheinterwebs]

Thanks, well worth hearing a frank and open expert opinion than the "second camp" PR spin!

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks - appreciate it!

[@LedZippo99]

wow... likely one of the few reviews to suggest the GoPro... nice... was feeling the DJI was mostly sponsored videos... glad i bought the gp12.

[@WestWightPhotography]

Thanks for the review. Be interesting to see what the gopro 12 has to iffer next month. Almost sold on the dji, i do love tge quick release syatem.

[@dkjens0705]

I just sold my GoPro Hero 10 Black and am waiting for my Action 4 to arrive. I will use it in a dive housing and features like the WB sensor, the larger selection of recording modes accessible via the side button, longer battery life and less heat are major factors in my decision to change. Oh and the often occuring green screen or file repair message that the GoPro would show and make me loose the shot.

[@1Know1tHurts]

Finally an honest review! Thank you!

[@driftlessskater5475]

Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t think the GP was handling the stabilization better in this video. The horizon lock definitely was though.

[@brettpanzer]

That’s literally what I thought. I was in complete disbelief when he said the GoPro’s stabilization was better.

[@chris]

Appreciate the HONESTY. I watched a few other reviews before yours just to see what the sponsored videos say and this was refreshing. I 100% agree with your sentiments at the end about the release cycle. Competition is great, but it's nice to see GoPro still leading the segment they created. Can't wait to see what the GoPro 12 looks like...

[@JTube571]

Leading.......eh. I'm switching to DJI because I was tired of my GoPros freezing, not working when I asked them to (missed a lot of good shots because of that) or just plain overheating.

[@kakihara0]

GoPro is only leading in number of bugs and overheating

[@allstarbury]

4:08 what suction cup is used on which you mounted camera ? I am looking for such suction cup for roof mouting but such which can handle speed 90-120 kmh but not often .

[@Dcrainmaker]

I've long used the stock GoPro one. I bought it many years ago, and it works well, easily at 90-120KPH, even with two cameras (dry conditions), or one camera in wet condtions.

[@allstarbury]

@@Dcrainmaker can you give me link to this cup bcoz i want to compare to one source and how much you payd Also can we mount other camera lets say insta 360 4k boost ?

[@Dcrainmaker]

@@allstarbury it’s just the only one on GoPro.com - for the dual mount atop it, I use some random metal one I found on Amazon a few years ago.

[@allstarbury]

@@Dcrainmaker so its same suction cup .So you can mount this insta 360 4k boost there .Question is what is real speed limit ? Have you done any tests ?

[@RioHusnadyHidayat]

finally someone with an honest review exist in youtube realm.. you've got new subsribers, thanks Ray

[@Dcrainmaker]

Thanks!!!

[@monsteralex3098]

Great review! I was already decided to buy Dji Action 4 instead of Hero 12, but after seeing your stabilisation test I decided for Hero 12 as it would have much better stabilisation. This deal breaker as I ride motorcycle where stabilisation really matters!

[@davidw2739]

I wish the water in your area were clearer so you could have done some underwater tests; especially overheating, as I am looking for an action cam for diving, but I don't want the thing shutting off while I'm trying to get footage. Eh, probably better to just enjoy the dive without the extra work of filming! Thank you for a well-done, thorough review.

[@Dcrainmaker]

So it's interesting, in my testing, it's incredibly difficult to overheat a camera (including the GoPro) in water while snorkeling/diving. Water acts as a giant cooling system (which, is why computers use water cooling).

[@tonypowers123]

Great review! And honest one too☝️ Exactly as you said- Bigger sensor. OMG 😏 really. /1.3 vs 1.7”. It is an improvement, but does that mean when the 5 comes, we are gonna get an APSC sensor like in Mirrorless cameras, who knows. They are not made for night time shooting, so we’ll stick w the day time “action”. And for that the DJI 3 does an incredible job! Thank you for the awesome review!

[@HillPhantom]

Hi Sir. Wondering if there is anything like Hindsight on the DJI?