DJI Action 5 VS Ace Pro 2: Can We Trust the Reviews?

[@TimBrownTown]

Who are your go-to content creators when making purchasing decisions? Which ones do you trust for the most authentic reviews? Have you ever followed advice from a reviewer that turned out to be a mistake? Let me know your thoughts!

[@bensimpson9175]

Congrats on your journey to your first thousand subs! I subbed for your transparency and integrity. Camera Conspiracies, Kasey Stern. He is a SME in videography, and is super critical, but entertaining and absolutely NOT a shill. He buys his own equipment, and also has a patron (Steinbeck) who gifts him a TON of cameras, lenses, and equipment.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@bensimpson9175 Thank you Ben. I agree 100% Kasey has found a way to be honest but still make a living at this. I can only hope to emulate that, with my own creative style. I don't see myself going full time any time soon. At this point, I would like to just earn enough to pay for the gear to review on my own.

[@evandsouza]

Great breakdown of the different types of reviewers for action cameras. It’s really helpful to categorize them into sponsored creators, who may provide access to exclusive features but with a bias; enthusiast reviewers, who give practical and relatable insights for everyday users; and hyper-critical reviewers, who are perfect for those wanting an unfiltered analysis. For anyone trying to make an informed decision, I recommend cross-referencing reviews from all three categories-you’ll get a broader view of the product’s strengths and weaknesses. This approach has saved me from buying into hype more than once!

[@TimBrownTown]

@@evandsouza Well said! Thank goodness for Amazon's 30-day return policy as well! 😀

[@hayabusaTravels]

Le me just say this about sponsored reviews: You have to wait for the next iteration of the product to appear for the reviewer to tell you what the problems of the previous product are.

[@superchargedpetrolhead]

exactly...all these chills rave about the products and then when the next iteration comes they would absolutely dog on the previous model and say how much better the newer model is but when they show comparison footage 9/10 times the difference would be so minimal it is inconsequential.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@hayabusaTravels Lol. Good point!

[@TimBrownTown]

@@superchargedpetrolhead incremental innovation is the new game changer! 😂

[@TravelingAhn]

Tim, excellent video and informative points to consider! Really enjoyed your thoughts and insights on the different perspectives. Yeah, the Ace Pro 2 has some potential for sure! I just appreciate the clean connection with the DJI Mic 2 and the Action 5 with dual Mics at the same time.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@TravelingAhn Thanks Adam and oh, I definitely agree. The Ace Pro is going to have to be really good to get me out of the ecosystem, however I do have the receiver (which I used with the Lav mic on this video). I am considering as a creator that I haven't yet experienced the Insta 360 ecosystem though and I'd like to have that experience. It's going to be a tough call. Audio is very important to me.

[@gmg3precision]

Thx for the video! Good stuff! I believe the Insta360 Ace Pro, and the Osmo Action 5 Pro, are fantastic action cameras good enough for 98% of everybody here. Seems more than a few of the "experts" are resorting to "click bait" videos now. Most of us cannot see the difference between 8k, 4k, and 1080p. Most of us do not know anything about M-log, S-log, and color schemes. The majority of us just want to turn it on, hit record, and share that unedited video on social media. I'm SURE the insta360 Ace Pro2 will be a fantastic option as well, no doubt.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@gmg3precision Very true! That's the 4th type of content creator I didn't mention, "The Click Baiter" 😂😂😂

[@lotoex]

Good points. Always consider who they are making the video for. Also like you said think about the bad points reviewers bring up, but "Does this matter to me?" is the question you have to answer. Great video Tim.

[@TimBrownTown]

Absolutely! Thanks for the encouragement!

[@SupersonicTraveller]

Most of reviews, that were provided in the first few days after the release are sponsored. Because nobody could buy this camera before the release date, except those, who got it for free for testing and review. It took me more than a week to test this camera properly and prepare the review. I was scuba-diving, hiking, running, etc. And I personally never trust to those reviewers of action cameras, who are sitting on the couch and reviewing how cool would be to action with the new camera. Action cameras needs to be tested in an action, under pressure and beyond the limits. I took my Osmo Action 5 Pro deeper, than 20meters without a protection case. I risked to do it. But now I can certainly know the result..

[@TimBrownTown]

@@SupersonicTraveller I agree. For me, how well an action camera performs in water is huge.

[@tonkellner8582]

Dear Tim finally clearly worded regarding the assessment purchase of an action camera. Very clearly waiting for the real non-sponsored users who will assess the Ace pro 2. I am also waiting, have had all DJI action cameras so far and also the Pocket 3, one of the best, absolutely concerns the night recordings. Am 80 years old and had too many problems with the focus (caused by myself) often not paying attention. Hence back again after an action that always has sharp focus from 20cm. Have already had the DJI action 5 found the images too woolly. Now hoping for the Ace Pro 2 I am curious what it will perform. Thanks for your clear explanation when to buy.

[@TimBrownTown]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I really hope the Ace Pro 2 lives up to the pre-hype! It should release tomorrow so we shall see...

[@markshirley01]

Great advice - the action camera market is the most hyped market. I do believe the DJI Action 4 will be a game changer because I reckon it'll come with two lenses - a standard lens and a wide lens. When DJI do this they will have created a camera that will challenge the big camera companies for the small camera market

[@TimBrownTown]

You mean Pocket 4? Yes, or it will have a removable lens system! Maybe?

[@markoolavi]

Excellent video 👍

[@Untied_Shoelace]

Does insta360's Ace Pro 2's low bit have a noticeable blur in their videos overall when moving very fast compared to the 10-bit Action 5 pros? Especially when it comes to skiing and biking?

[@markr041]

The Ace Pro 2's bitrates are significantly higher (both set at high). 10bit versus 8bit color has nothing to do with blurring at high speeds.

[@TimBrownTown]

I think they are both on par with one another. I'm not the best creator to answer questions about fast motion. I would check out This creator's video, but he does get the cameras for free so he has limited ability to be hyper critical: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4LLhH2bjMZkbqM

[@DoglinsShadow]

Great video!!!

[@TimBrownTown]

@@DoglinsShadow thank you!

[@Hiking-guide-and-scenery]

Another category we have to deal with are the fake videos like those showing comparison for some new camera not yet released. Seen that with OA5, OA4, Ace pro2, ... Maybe already some showing DJI Pocket 4! Many of of these kind of "creators" have names with "tech" in them. Videos maybe produced automatically by AI... Edit: I have just found "DJI Pocket 4 Vs DJI Pocket 3 Camera Test Comparison". And the guy has 22k subscribers... what a world!

[@TimBrownTown]

@@Hiking-guide-and-scenery Oh man I didn't even want to go there! LOL

[@TechWandererYT]

(my comment was just removed?) My go-to despite often being sponsored is Tamara Gabriel. I know for a fact that she's legit with all things Insta360/DJI. If she doesn't like something, she points it out, and she is not afraid of saying that something looks trash for example. Would love to hear some other creators that do it too. I consider myself a very balanced creator. We all have biases, but all we can do is say what we really think IMO.

[@TimBrownTown]

My apologies. I've had this happen to me and it's probably because I have some comment filtering turned on. I know it's frustrating but I'm a bit scared to turn it off. I didn't even mention Tamara is sponsored because I think of her as "Small and/or non-sponsored." After I did the video I felt like I should have made the point that there is a way to do sponsored videos and keep your integrity. Photorabz has done some sponsored videos and he also is able to do so. It would be easy to fall into the trap if your channel blows up before you've had a chance to consider how to handle sponsorships and not lose your integrity. I'll have to put that into my catalogue for future videos...Also just subbed your channel. Looking forward to checking out your content as well. Take care!

[@TechWandererYT]

@@TimBrownTown thanks Tim! It’s hard to balance and honestly, I don’t judge other creators for trying to make money. That’s what we’re all here for in parts. But I do think there is an underrepresented audience in the “small and unsponsored” creator segment. That’s where we come in!

[@TimBrownTown]

@@TechWandererYT Balance is the key to just about everything but it is difficult to achieve. I agree wholeheartedly! That's what we are here for, to help maintain that balance, or if you're a star wars fan like me "bring balance to the force..." 😄

[@EspenJohan]

No, never trust those who got the cameras for free. They are beyond polished and they always film in perfect conditions. I am probably too happy with the Dji camera. But I have never been sponsored by any of the big camera manufacturers. Great video👍

[@TimBrownTown]

Thanks so much for your kind words-I couldn’t agree more! I actually made a previous video titled Are Sponsored KZbinrs Evil? where I dive deeper into this topic. Unfortunately, since it wasn’t tied to a trending subject like the Ace Pro 2, it didn’t perform as well. The title and thumbnail might have leaned a bit too clickbait, but I was aiming to give it a little boost since I felt the topic deserved attention.

[@babyboy1971]

I have the action 5 pro and it’s great. I’m gonna get the ace pro 2 by Christmas. I also have a GoPro 12, fun camera. These are fun cameras. I don’t even use them for action. They are my personal cameras for vlogging and family stuff. I also have a pocket 3, which is insanely good for the price. Personally the action 5 surprised me. I saw a lot of negative reviews and bought it to test it myself. I was shocked to find that it was actually fantastic. It’s not perfect. But it’s fun. This is a great video. So true.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@babyboy1971 Nice! I did check out your latest video and subscribed. Nice authentic showcase of the action 5. Sounds like you've got a lot of cameras and could do some comparisons if you haven't already. I'll check out more on your channel later. Thank you so much for your kind words and hopefully I'll be able to get some actual footage of either the action 5 or the Ace Pro 2 soon. I still haven't made up my mind 100%. Which one I'm going to be using to upgrade my hero 10.

[@babyboy1971]

@@TimBrownTown thanks for the kind words! Hope you come back and comment. My channel is very new, though I’ve been on KZbin for over a decade. Thanks again!

[@AccordingToRobin]

What are you using when you need to zoom to get closer to the pic?

[@babyboy1971]

@@AccordingToRobin my feet.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@AccordingToRobin Action cams aren't really made for zoom, but the Ace Pro 2 has a pretty good 2X zoom (much better than the others). That is a disadvantage for them.

[@RobertoNaranjoRjnaranjo]

We need to remember those cameras are for sport and action situations where you need a good camera hard to break for any situations

[@TimBrownTown]

@@RobertoNaranjoRjnaranjo I really think there's a space for these cameras to compete for vlogging and now for low light. Not sure about the last one but... We shall see.... More coming soon.

[@PLACESNONDESCRIPT]

Am subbed to fotorabs he’s good

[@Hiking-guide-and-scenery]

It is so funny and revealing to watch a side-by-side and a guy commenting how much always better looking is the new cam image compared to other one, even it is clear it is the opposite~😄

[@TimBrownTown]

@@Hiking-guide-and-scenery no kidding! Plus the side by side is too small to see all the noise in the shot!

[@glasgowharleyrider]

Helpful video, highlighting the games companies and people play on this platform. Sadly people still flock along , but people are gradually realising what's been going on with reviews and content. I've had 3 DJI osmo cameras and served me well for my videos to date , but sadly the 5 with these required tweeks has me awaiting the AP2. But who cares what I think with my less than 1k subs . 😃👌

[@TimBrownTown]

I prefer subbing creators with less than 1k subs. :-) It's took me a long time to get to even 300 (looks like this one is getting me to 400+ though) even though I've had a couple hit 15K+ views and I have enough watch hours to reach the first tier of monetization. I've had to really polish my videos to get even here. I see a few creators who just throw things up and they get 1K subs from it. Yes, I am definitely excited for the AP2!!!

[@lumixS5M2]

Good point, finally, when small channel get bigger (more views) they start fall in the same trap. BTW 2 months ago i buy my first phone and testing. First impression, not bad.

[@TimBrownTown]

This is also true. I think the key is to set boundaries before you get big.

[@pedro-p1h4i]

Dji action 5 Review is very good and nice ❤️👍 That's reason why i love it

[@TimBrownTown]

Yes, true

[@pedro-p1h4i]

@@TimBrownTown good but why your videos are not growing do you know why ?

[@TimBrownTown]

@@pedro-p1h4i Yes, I do. The main reason for slower channel growth is that I can’t produce high-quality content at a pace suited to the KZbin algorithm. My full-time job, daily responsibilities, exercise, and time with my son limit me to two weekends a month for KZbin. However, each video helps streamline my workflow, and I’m optimistic about eventually reaching four videos monthly. This slower pace actually gives me an advantage, as I’m not dependent on brands or sponsors, allowing me to provide truly authentic and unbiased reviews. I believe this adds more value than sponsored content and is something I’m committed to maintaining. My current goal is to earn enough through the channel and affiliate links to support buying more cameras for review, with plans to build a secondary income stream in the future. For now, though, I have no intention of going full-time as long as my primary job stays the same.

[@pedro-p1h4i]

@@TimBrownTown I understand your point it's not easy though but there is a way to make it more easier without much stress and your videos will progressing , there are some metrics that KZbin recognized , as you mentioned you want to warn through this channel the goal is achievable I will like to guide you through the process because it's what I know the most .

[@EricLouisYoung]

Camera Conspiracies is the best reviewer online period

[@TimBrownTown]

@@EricLouisYoung He's definitely top 3, at least. Maybe I should do a video ranking my top camera content creators?

[@EternalArrow]

Agree!

[@TSGAdventures]

I am waiting for the action 6 and it better have a 1 inch sensor!! I never really watch the sponsored reviews. I always watch camera conspiracies because he just is hilarious. Probably just keep the A4 and with the Pocket 3 probably don't need another action cam unless it is ground breaking and once again has a 1 inch sensor!!

[@TimBrownTown]

Yep. I also enjoy Kasey's humor and also his insight. I enjoy very few of the sponsored reviewers, but they are merely for entertainment purposes. I myself feel like I made a mistake with the original ZV-E10 (bad stab and rolling shutter). I saw reviews where they mentioned it but downplayed it and showed it in its best light. That's one of the reasons I started doing my own reviews. Yes! I am hesitant to even upgrade my GoPro 10 until we have a 1" sensor but I may justify it for "content." LOL

[@TSGAdventures]

@@TimBrownTown ZV-E10 would be good for studio stuff but walking and vlogging it falls short. I almost bought it myself but decided on the Pocket 3. Best choice I have made so far.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@TSGAdventures You chose wisely! Yes, for studio stuff or anything on a tripod or if you're willing to put it on a gimbal, the image quality on the ZV-E10 is phenomenal. I bought a Crane M3 but I can't take that setup anywhere where it won't draw too much attention.

[@Steve-yu6pq]

I'm waiting for the 7

[@TimBrownTown]

@@Steve-yu6pq 😂

[@BikePOV-PauloRodrigo-ow6hm]

If the KZbinr makes absolute statements such as "it's the best thing a human being has ever done on Earth", be suspicious.

[@TimBrownTown]

Very true!

[@Polo.Pilote]

Thank you for saying the truth

[@TimBrownTown]

@@Polo.Pilote More truth coming soon to a theater near you. LOL 🙂

[@brianbathgate4944]

Exactly. Never trust reviewers that post a review on launch day … they’ve had preferential treatment from the company. And I love Camera Conspiracies, but he’s not filming mountain biking trips which is why Im looking at an action camera.

[@TimBrownTown]

Good point! I don't think the ZV-E1 would be good for mountain biking. LOL I could be wrong. 😆

[@brianbathgate4944]

@@TimBrownTown 😂

[@AkAk-lr6vo]

Photorabz on his latest video with Ace-pro-2 confirmed that action camera was sent to him by ace pro!

[@TimBrownTown]

@@AkAk-lr6vo Yes. That is something to consider. I still consider him small/non sponsored but he is growing. I believe it is because he is honest. Tamara Gabriel also receives gear for free as well, but she is also honest. Do you think there should be a separate category for even smaller KZbinrs that buy all the gear themselves? I'm not sure.I think if you're good enough, eventually your channel will grow and you will be offered gear for review, some to keep. I have seen videos where photorabz has come out with videos when he discovered something new and said he could no longer recommend something. But I did just buy the camera and will be reviewing it myself. I always check the return policy if I'm buying it early. It was not yet available on Amazon which has a 30-day return policy but on insta360's website they have a 15- return policy with no restock but you may have to pay return shipping. Stay tuned!

[@kir11]

Nobody talks about very very visible chromatic aberration in i-log in ap2. Dji cant fix the horizon lock, so it begin working as it supposed, this issue coming from from dji3 till 5 pro. Thats weird.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@kir11 Yeah I probably wouldn't use Ilog because it's not 10-bit. Horizon lock is something I do definitely use. So it is working on the OA5 now?

[@kir11]

​@@TimBrownTown Absolutely - horizon lock or similar solution is musthave, and when they present it as technology you buying with cam, and its not working as it should, and they dont fix it from dji 3 - well, i dont know what to think about it. Currently ap2 with all its minuses looking most universal working solution.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@kir11 I have both so I will be testing them out. My AP2 initial thoughts should be done this weekend. I have not even unboxed the Action 5 yet. I did not test the AP2--only shot a Halloween vlog in full auto, high bitrate. I have some work to do but this is definitely not full time. I do this for fun. My affiliate links generate some money to cover some of the costs of the gear, but I will be keeping the winner. I was not satisfied enough by any video. Tamara G. and Photorabz helped but I felt like I needed them both to test for myself.

[@kir11]

@@TimBrownTowncheck aberration in i-log by yourself. When i decide to buy ap2, i plan to use i-log, even in 8 bit. But when i saw the footage from another review on yt, i was disappointed, cause dji oa1 with flat profile gives a very cleaner nice image, which i can color correct, also in 8 bit. Currently i am very dissapointed with all action cam on market, they all get very bad issues. I will do tests of ap2 when it will arrived to me, will try to find workflow and settings that will fit my needs with image and colors (i prefer to color correct by myself). Reviews must be more honest.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@kir11 I agree 100%. I think one review said that this is the first time insta 360 put i-log on this camera so they expected some updates. Hopefully so. With the pocket 3 d log m looks great but you lose face priority exposure. As for the reviews, I think the main thing that's wrong with all of them is that they are afraid to show the camera in its worst light. At the end of the day these are just small sensor action cameras and they still need a lot of light to look good. They also do side by sides a lot which hide and mask a lot of the bad image qualities, especially noise.

[@PLACESNONDESCRIPT]

Fact that most people compared dji osmo action 5 to osmo action 4 same day but insta 360 ace pro 2 comes and nobody compares it to ace pro 1 day one is suspect 😂they all compare to go pro koz it’s weaker and make ace pro two shine

[@TimBrownTown]

@@PLACESNONDESCRIPT that is interesting. Most of the comparisons I'm seeing compare it to the DJI Action 5 as well. But you're right about little comparisons with the original Ace Pro...probably not worth upgrading from it.

[@PLACESNONDESCRIPT]

@@TimBrownTown yes let them compare it to the ace pro 1 and let us see where the upgrades are

[@paulrushbrook1598]

Great video. Talking a lot of good sense.

[@JoATTech]

I personally stoped making purchase decisions based on "sponsored" content. These bigger channels are just marketing departments for the companies they work for. I prefer watching Camera Conspiracies, although he's not that hypercritical :D. I guess my channels is falling into category small and hyperhypercritical. Problem is, that I'm usually testing the items for 3-4 weeks, and when I publish my review/thoughts nobody cares anymore :D. Action 5 Pro is nice, except the face priority in HLG/DLog-M. And normal mode is just unusable ... it looks plasticky also in daylight ... So if someone wants to vlog, should look elsewhere ... I guess it's also not a bad idea to ask DJI to include face priority in these 2 "LOG" modes.

[@TimBrownTown]

Very important point about face priority! It looks like they may have in the update to the Action 5? I commented on Tamara Gabriel's recent video about it because I noticed in her video that it might be doing that? It would definitely be nice to have that on the OP3!

[@JoATTech]

@@TimBrownTown Latest update for A5Pro does not have it. These are release notes (which is still impressive): Added Timer Shooting function. Added support for audio transmission in webcam mode (UAC). Improved video quality in live streaming mode significantly and optimized stabilization performance in both webcam and live streaming modes. Added support for adjusting bitrate settings. High bitrate option is available. Added support for displaying specific style on the front screen when Single Screen Preview (Scrn Off When Locked) is enabled. Added support for using with the DJI Avinox Drive System, which can control the camera and transfer data. Added support for maintaining the previous zoom ratio after the camera is powered on again in video mode. Added support for setting audio gain during recording or live streaming when an external microphone is connected. Optimized stabilization performance when recording videos with slow shutter exposure. Optimized image quality when camera is in video or SuperNight mode Fixed some minor bugs.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@JoATTech hmmm...yeah, I noticed it wasn't in the release notes. Sometimes (although rare), they miss documenting things but likely you are correct. It was probably just a different angle she was recording at.

[@JoATTech]

@@TimBrownTown There is topic on DJI forum for A5Pro. People put their suggestions there. And DJI is good at listening to their customers. I've just put the thought about face exposure there. Other people complaint about cartoonish look of Normal mode. DJI seems to be interested, since they are engaged in the topic.

[@JoATTech]

@@TimBrownTown There is a topic on DJI forums regarding new features (or fixes) for A5Pro. Users suggest what they want and DJI seems to be interested because they are engaged in that discussion. I suggested face exposure priority for HLG and DLogM there :D. Other folks complain about cartoonish look of Normal mode ...

[@pescariuy]

Me compre la dji osmo action 5 inspirado en todos los videos que vi, loa cuales mostraban una calidad de imagen brutal. Llevo casi un mes usándola y estoy medio arrepentido. La uso a 2,7k 60fps y tengo la leve sospecha de que ni siquiera es real ya que mi vieja go pro 7 black en 1080p 60fps logra una mejor calidad y fluidez de imagen en situaciones de buena luz. En luz baja si hay una diferencia brutal pero al mirarlo en un smart tv se logra ver claramente el ruido en la imagen y es horrible. Por otro lado, los creadores muestran buenas imágenes pero claro, usarán el logaritmico para luego aplicar corrección y filtros para lograr buenos colores lo cual me parece una estupidez ya que básicamente estaría haciendo todo el trabajo de la camara tu mismo. Hago videos de pescas, sencillo sin mucho adorno y es cierto que en el monte le cuesta un montón procesar las sombras y luces del entorno y queda una imagen bastante fea. En fin, es como dice alguien en los comentarios; hay que esperar que salga la siguiente generación para que los creadores nos digan los defectos de la actual. Saludos desde Uruguay.

[@TimBrownTown]

Welcome in and thanks for the comment! I was a similarly disappointed by the AP2 (initial impressions video dropping this weekend), but I have to remember it is just an action cam with a small sensor. The Pocket 3 with a 1" sensor is so much better in real life and I am spoiled by it. I was disappointed enough to get the Action 5 and I'll be testing it this weekend as well. I believe the issue is partly because the side-by-side of the reviewers is too small and cropped to show the noise. They also don't show the camera at its worst. The reason why is that KZbinrs are either getting the cameras early for free or are sponsored or are wanting to GET sponsored in the future. Well, that is what I want my channel to be. That which does not yet exist. I hope to do this using affiliate links instead of sponsors or getting the equipment for free so I can be completely unbiased. I feel like I can add value to create an audience that way. I also don't want to become unrealistically critical either to where I'm only recommending $2500 and more camera and lens setups with gimbals either.

[@kyleadams824]

I've found that the 8K of Ace Pro 2 performance is not as impressive in practice, especially when it comes to dynamic range and image stability, making it feel somewhat redundant.

[@TimBrownTown]

Thanks for the comment. To be honest, I haven't even tried it because I don't have anything I can watch 8k on anyway, but having it to zoom either in camera is a plus. I think even Insta360 has officially stated only to use 8k in good lighting and not in an action type of environment. I'm thinking it would be good to use if you put it on a tripod and just did a static video, say of the beach or something. Have you found any other 8k cams to be better?

[@babyboy1971]

This video is great! If you want to see, I took my action 5 & walked through the closest thing I could approximate to a forest in my suburban neighborhood in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opunn4uKmcyBfrssi=JbBSEPZVxkGNveTX 3:40 or so, with skeletons! My takeaway: The action 5 pro is good but requires more testing. And I have not noticed any overheating with the bitrate update. It’s fine.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@babyboy1971 Thank you! I actually already watched your video and subscribed but didn't have a chance yet to comment on it! Great, authentic video! It's Late here on the east cost and I'm going to sleep! I'll try to remember to throw you a comment tomorrow!

[@EternalArrow]

Domt understand why don't they give us something like Action 5 AF (with 1inch sensor and autofocus). Let it be less durable, it's completely ok if you dont use it in real action. Why does it have to be like a tank when the majority of people never use it in real action conditions. Pocket 3 has it and the footage looks the best in low light and in the sun, but i don't like the body of pocket 3 (fragile gimbal, rotating screen, built in battery). If action 5 would have 1 inch and autofocus it would be awesome for everything. And if i need mechanical stab i can just put it on a gimbal like inkee falcon for example.

[@TimBrownTown]

I agree. I would love to see DJI come out with a Point and shoot or bridge camera lineup!

[@EternalArrow]

@@TimBrownTown Yes it would be awesome!

[@TechWandererYT]

I keep trying to comment but it keeps getting deleted. What? 😭

[@TimBrownTown]

Sorry man. I have some light filtering applied so it is obviously making some errors! I commented more details on your other comment though!

[@richardstringer93]

I don't pay any attention to paid promotion rteviews because the people that do them are paid to paint the products in a good light. In fact I very, very rarely ever watch paid promotion videos i've watched two in about a year and gave up half way through one.

[@TimBrownTown]

It wouldn't be so bad if they were clear that what they were doing was showing the camera in the best possible light and although they may mention a few things in a constructive criticism type of way that they recommend that the viewer watch more critical reviews before making a final purchase. The problem is that not only are they being paid for the review but they're looking to make affiliate sales as well. I think one or the other might be more fair but not both.

[@JosefTorkelsen]

I don’t care about bit rate and 8 vs 10 but but the HDR color and blurriness of the action 5 pro is unusable. It makes me sad as the hardware and features are great but the software is broke. I wanted to buy this camera but had to buy the ace pro 2 as the soft visuals I can’t unsee.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@JosefTorkelsen Interesting. I haven't seen any videos with blurry footage on the action 5 Pro. From what I have seen it looks a little bit too HDR in high contrasty scenes but I could probably live with that. What I can't live with is another camera that does low light much better in the same category and for the same price roughly (from what I've seen). My pet peeve is low light jitters. Even if skin tones look a little off, this is better to me than digital jitters. So I actually ordered the ace Pro 2 and I'm going to be testing it once it arrives and creating a video showing my findings so we can really see if I get the same results as the sponsored reviewers and those who have received the camera early for free.

[@JuiceBiker]

Funny how salty the Dji Influs are😂😂😂😂😂😂 Buy Dji Buy Dji is the beste😂😂😂😂No IT sucks hard

[@TimBrownTown]

@@JuiceBiker it is definitely becoming the new ecosystem to buy into...

[@PNWEnduro]

Photorabz is sponsored and very biased towards the AP2, what's worse he promotes purchasing products to make money from (YT revenue and commissions) then returning the product after use. This is unethical and could be considered fraud.

[@TimBrownTown]

Did you catch Peter McKinnon and MKBHD's sponsored DJI Action 5 videos? Interestingly, only about 5% of their footage actually used the Action 5-Peter relied heavily on his high-end Canon mirrorless, and MKBHD used his iPhone 16 Pro. It’s surprising! I personally feel that sponsored camera reviews should feature at least a majority of footage, maybe 75%, from the actual camera being highlighted. Regarding Photorabz, I didn't hear him suggest that viewers should purchase and then return items. Which video were you referring to? I recall him mentioning that he’d rather have a sponsorship than receive cameras for free because it would allow him to buy, test, and return them after his reviews. Also, if items purchased through affiliate links are returned, the commission is deducted from the creator’s earnings. I’ve seen him use affiliate links for the Action 5 as well, and Insta360 provided him a unit on launch day. Yes, there’s a slight bias, but I don’t believe he’s acted unethically.

[@PNWEnduro]

@@TimBrownTown "I recall him mentioning that he’d rather have a sponsorship than receive cameras for free because it would allow him to buy, test, and return them after his reviews" Not to the viewers, he's saying this is what he prefers to do. This is what I'm referring to and I believe this is acting unethically, it's just wrong to buy something, make money off it then return it. It's cheating whatever company you do this to and just morally wrong. Also, if you read his reply's to comments its clear he's more interested in pushing commissions than actually helping people. I get it, he is trying to make money, but the way he is going about it gives me a bad impression. I have not seen the other reviews you mention, I try to watch reviews that are not sponsored or paid for but when it comes to action cameras that's hard to find. Yes, any reviews should for sure show footage from the camera(s) being showcased, using something else is deceiving.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@PNWEnduro I honestly think he was being hypothetical. Amazon returns are subject to restocking fees if they are opened, and I would think they could also terminate your membership if they felt you were abusing their system. However, if someone were to purchase items new, review them and sell them used/open box on eBay would you consider that unethical?

[@PNWEnduro]

@@TimBrownTown no restocking fees from Amazon on open items, at least here in Canada. However, most items returned to Amazon go straight to the landfill as it's not cost effective for them to repackage and sell. As far as purchasing new then selling the item, to me that's fine as you did not cheat the company you purchased it from, they don't lose money and it's on you to take the loss on reselling.

[@TimBrownTown]

​@@PNWEnduroI did some research, and it turns out Amazon has measures in place to prevent potential misuse of their return policies. They often sell returned items as 'used' through their Amazon Warehouse and absorb the cost themselves rather than passing it on to vendors, which helps them maintain that 30-day return policy that sets them apart from other retailers. They also use algorithms to monitor return patterns and may send automated warnings to customers if their behavior suggests they might be overusing the system, with the possibility of limiting their return privileges if necessary. While I wouldn’t personally label this approach as 'unethical' or 'morally wrong,' I do think that building a review channel solely around this concept could come across as a bit tacky or in poor taste. On the other hand, if someone on KZbin managed to pull it off well and grew their channel into something big-think the next MKBHD-I’d probably appreciate the creativity, especially if they had a likable personality and ended up contributing to an environmental charity or something once they became profitable enough to do so.

[@hasenmyer]

I really don't trust anyone anymore and have narrowed my "subs" down to reflect that. In fact I only got one Ace Pro 2 review in my timeline. I learned my lesson from the insta 360 X4, the video I got looked like complete trash, and defiantly unlike what I saw on and KZbin reviews., I realized that they only show select clips and then run that through topaz to get a decent looking image. If this is what has to be done to get a decent image I'm not interested. Also I've never had an action camera that was even decent in low light

[@TimBrownTown]

Ahhhhh...Topaz....that explains a lot! I wish there were a way to identify it. I have a few big reviewers I sub, but MOSTLY smaller ones. The big ones will show up anyway though due to my searches. I did plan to upgrade my GoPro Hero 10 this season though, both for content and for my own personal gratification. I ended up ordering the Ace Pro 2. I was impressed with their innovation with the original last year and they did seem to improve some of the major complaints. It will be interesting to put it up against my Pocket 3 and Pixel 8 with night sight. I don't expect it to be "good" though. I just want something "usable" in low light because there are some scenarios like on the beach where I just refuse to take anything other than an action cam. I ended up having to do a whole review of our private island excursion in Honduras on my last cruise video with the GoPro and the image and audio quality sucked, but I made it worked. Maybe I should have used Topaz? LOL I did have to use Davinci resolve's voice isolation and it is literally like magic. It does sound digital though, but at least you could hear me after it processed.

[@EricLouisYoung]

The action 5 is a flop. I was on the edge of my seat for it.

[@TimBrownTown]

It definitely got overshadowed by the OP3 release! Yeah, it was just as "incremental" as the GoPro hero 12 and 13, but didn't get nearly as much pushback as GoPro did. Hmmm....

[@derekm.]

I used to trust sponsored videos until I bought the Action 3. It had too many initial problems that were wide spread but sponsored creators ignored the problems. These people make a living from the company they are reviewing and would not bite the hand that feeds them. Now if the video is sponsored I never believe the review to its fullest. Now I usually wait about two weeks after the release and the reviews tend to be more honest.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@derekm. That is very interesting. I wasn't very aware of dji 's line until around the action 4. KZbin reviews, specifically these types of sponsored reviews, have changed the game. But, I think once people experience what we have, there's going to be more and more pushback, and we may see some changes.

[@derekm.]

@@TimBrownTown thanks for your video.

[@TSGAdventures]

@TimBrownTown Action 3 had a bad close focus issue on some of the early releases. They corrected on later releases. I bought 2 action 3's and both had the focus issue. They also tried to correct the early releases with a firmware update, but it was a hardware issue. Several videos out there where people corrected themselves. The firmware just basically over sharpened the video to try to correct it.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@TSGAdventures That's interesting but I know that as much as firmware appetites can do. Cuz also quite a lot that they cannot do and I fear they may be making some sacrifices beyond battery life and potential overheating issues with the firmware updates to allow higher bit rate on the action 5. So far I haven't seen anyone point out specifically where there was a noticeable difference between standard bit rate and high bit rate. I actually just ordered the Ace Pro too and I'm planning test it out and if it makes me look like chocolate chip cookie dough base. I've got 15 days to return it. I'll probably pay shipping in that case but to me it's worth it to test it for myself as well as the content.

[@sutv6754]

Tim Brown, I'm your newest fan. I can't tell you how therapeutic it was for me to watch this video. I don't have time at the moment to elaborate. What a great video. I do not do videos like this but because of this very topic I was thinking about making my first ever just to battle the BS. I got into trouble with a lot of peeps yelling at me. For instance very very few and none of the big channels mentions the bit rate situation. How disingenuous is that? I am a huge fan of DJI. I own many drones and I have my Part 107. That being said, because of the action 5 and all the fluff and reviews I learned never ever to trust DJI reviews from the bigger channels again. Somehow DJI has the mliterately in their Pocket. I bought it and it's cool in many ways for sure. But truth be told I think I do better over all with my GOPRO 11 but it's very unreliable. Every GOpro I've ever owned (MANY) was the same. I hate gopro the Co. but have a LOVE/ HATE with the camera. I am past 30 days but I think I can still return my Action 5. It is reliable. The mic2 and the app worlds better than gopro. But I can wait and see like you suggest to see what's gonna be happening with others. Also the footage comparisons between action 5 and Gopro 13 on youtube, I don't buy it for a sec. They are simple making it look better in post often. Anyhow. You are my new hero and you saved me a lot of time making my own video like this. Looking forward.

[@TimBrownTown]

@@sutv6754 Thanks so much for the kind words! Yes, I have my suspicion that even behind highlighting strengths and downplaying weaknesses, they are cheating in post. I've seen a couple of videos where I could swear they were using gimbals and possibly even larger sensor cameras. I have no evidence for this so I didn't go into detail about it in the video.

[@photorabz]

Thanks alot for this video that covers all the aspects of content creation and all type of content creators and for the shoutout hehe. I love PL work, and its normal to be sponsored to be able to pay bills and so on And i wish i will be sponsored one day and this is a truth that no one can hide Because even those who are given stuff for free to review them, they put effort time money on the video production and that won't pay bills on its own. Camera conspiracies is amazing one of the most funniest channels but at the same time with more technical stuff which is important for average+ to pro level consumers, while for beginners and average- consumers they won't understand that always.. Tamara is a great person, always honest (even in sponsored videos) much more than other sponsored creators in my opinion at least when things aren't good she says here are the videos its up to you to judge and she won't give fake conclusions. For dji oa5 no one mentionned though that you cant take the camera out of the box and shoot.. that was a bummer. What bothers me as well is that lots of creators did not mention they were sponsored by dji, or gopro... They were given a camera for sure but they were paid also to preach the brand And i tried to find any info in the video or description saying its a paid sponsored video i did not see that. I dont know if there is an issue abt it or just to misslead the audience. Hope to see you in the live today

[@TimBrownTown]

@@photorabz Thanks for the comment! I was hoping you'd see the video! I agree. I didn't even mention Tamara is sponsored because I think of her as "Small and/or non-sponsored." After I did the video I felt like I should have made the point that there is a way to do sponsored videos and keep your integrity. I have seen your sponsored videos and you achieve that, and that's why I highly recommend your channel. Keep up the good work and looking forward to collaborating with you soon. My schedule is full with work and my son so it's just a matter of finding the time...