DJI OSMO ACTION 4 vs GOPRO HERO 12 | Which Action Camera to buy in 2023? | Review & Comparison

[@Joey_Helms]

Thanks for stopping by in the comments! Curious to hear which one you would pick! Let me know :)

[@BullyOG]

Chose the Action 4 after originally waiting for the GoPro

[@jianzhang8092]

dji

[@fanzbison6417]

I'll wait for, 2" inch sensor 8k (16:9) 480fps 6k (16:9) 600fps 4k (16:9) 840fps

[@frankmetro2605]

Action 4

[@Bellaire_Isaac]

I picked the GoPro, Low light does not apply to me and from what I can tell the bugginess/overheating is both fixed and slightly overhyped. Not trying to discount anyone who does run into any issues with GoPro, but it does seem like most of the issues are pretty regular/predictable and can be worked around. Overall the GoPro is a better fit for me and so that's what I picked. Other people find a better match with the Action 4. That's why it is called a market and not just a checkout line Lol. Side note. I have run into too many comment sections that are either GoPro'ers or Action 4'ers. Each with varying levels of hostility to those in non agreement. I got a warning from one KZbinr that basically came down to three options. 1. Continue with GoPro but admit that DJI is better and GoPro is BAD. or 2. Switch to DJI and state that GoPro is BAD. or 3. Stop commenting on my videos. All I did was ask questions for as to why DJI was Objectively better, or at least why GoPro was objectively BAD. Sorry if I started to rant, but my point is that I really like this comment section for its openness to both sides, discussions are happening with some strong points but everyone I have seen is polite and recognizes that different people have different values from an action camera and that no one camera is best for everyone. TLDR: Thanks for having a good moment section.

[@arturoguedeseara]

I've just cycled across Africa for 7 months using a osmo action 3 and not a single problem. So many things I didn't miss to record because I had this camera. One friend joined for a few months with a gopro and he had so many freezing and overheating issues... also the he missed a lot shots because of the time reaction. Osmo action is a rock 💪🏽

[@CAMOverland]

Your content is awesome! This review here alone made me decide on the DJI. Thank you!

[@Joey_Helms]

That sounds like an epic trip!

[@mayjahness]

I love GoPro and recently picked up the OA4. Yeah, the stabilization on the OA4 during low light isn't the best but I can tell you personally that the OA4 wins in just about every other category. I know you people who have been GoPro fans have a hard time accepting that there is a new action camera king and I had a hard time accepting that also. But truthfully, accepting change won't be as hard once you start using the OA4. The camera is a beast and a game changer. Try it out unbiasedly and you'll be blown away.

[@Broba_Fett]

Eh the stabilization in this comparison was not great even when he was just walking. I have a Hero 9 but I'll wait to see what happens next year.

[@mayjahness]

@@Broba_Fett there is one more mode.... Rocksteady + which he wasn't using. There is a big difference with that more. But I use Rocksteady and it works great for me. The OA4 is currently the GoPro killer. I hope the GP13 is significantly better when it comes out. Personally, I'm staying with the OA4 till then

[@RocaTT1456]

DJI Have optimize it in the last firmware in 0907.2023 😁😁

[@RocaTT1456]

@@Broba_Fett just set the shutter speed to 1/600 or 1/800, all your problems of OA4 will solved

[@BLACKBOGUSDOG]

Im not having a hard time accepting there's an action camera better then the gopro. Im having a hard time finding the evidence, because it wasnt in this video. I dont know what you guys were watching. Seriously.

[@Rizzlyricist]

I was going for the GoPro, but apparently it shuts off when it gets too hot (and you lose your data and/or video). So, I am going for the Action 4. This will be the first time getting a small camera of this magnitude since my first purchase of the Flip Mino HD years ago 😂💀

[@si_mon_lifestyle]

Excellent comparison video, after see your review, I decided to upgrade from iPhone+DJI 2 to OA4. Using it for first person view mainly, land and underwater. Low light recording hit me (there’s low light environment all the time). Invisible stick seem pretty cool for skiing, I wonder if my Action Stick would work.

[@ChrisBranch]

I've got the GoPro Hero 9 and thinking of upgrading to the 12, but in literally every comparison shot I preferred the colour of the DJI. Thanks for the review 👌🙏

[@1999maio]

I have the 8, pre-ordered the 12 cause.... I don't like change. :o) I actually prefer the colors of the GP... seems more vivid to me... brighter? Even with all my new tv's... I quickly choose "vivid" view... I dunno.

[@ChrisBranch]

@@1999maio I know what you mean, I don't like change either, I've got all the accessories for GoPro and it'll be a complete faff to change 🤦‍♂ I definitely preferred the DJI colours though, I liked the contrast. I hope you enjoy the 12!

[@1999maio]

@@ChrisBranch we’ll see…. Headed to the Bahamas October 5… item “claims” to ship September 13th.. we’ll see….it’ll be close

[@ChrisBranch]

@@1999maio oh wow, hope you get it in time! 🤞

[@AbhishekJainaj]

get OA4 and thank me later

[@Fr4p4d1ngu3]

Definitly OA4 ! It rocks. I bought it when its came out, and I don't regret, even when I can now see the GP12. Thanks for the video 🙂

[@RocaTT1456]

actually the lowlight stablizition of low light like Joey mention in 07:08 , DJI turn to keep the image quality with a slow shutter speed like 1/300~1/400, if you wanna a better stablizition in low light, just set the stutter to1/800, but the image will also turn worse, and DJI Have optimize it in the last firmware in 0907.2023 😁😁

[@Reviewphimhaynhat1]

i was bought action 4 and i really disapointed about record 1080, very bad, 1080 on action 4 like 720p on DJI pocket 2, 1080 on pocket2 like 2.7k on ac4

[@Fr4p4d1ngu3]

I always use my action cam in 4k. Why should we buy a 4k camera to use it in a 1080p resolution...

[@Reviewphimhaynhat1]

do you know i used pocket 2 on hd 1080p for 2 years. I dontt have complant . But now action 4 1080p never like 1080p on pocket 2 really shock@@Fr4p4d1ngu3

[@AbelVlogsRD]

The image quality is better on the GoPro. I only see the Action 4 better at low light and battery life

[@mriatravel]

Yes, the image quality in daylight on GoPro is much better. And this is the most important point. Also, stabilization is better on GoPro. All other things are better on Action 4.

[@AbelVlogsRD]

@@mriatravel yeah and the fact that you can connect a Bluetooth mic on it. Also the audio

[@Janis_Celms_Channel]

I've had GoPro and Osmo Action and Insta 360 cameras. Each has its advantages, but the most reliable has always been DJI. In heat and cold, GoPro suddenly turns itself off, freezes relatively often. DJI (1st generation OA) not the best picture but always reliable. If I press REC then I will have a guaranteed recording.

[@naizondj]

dji osmo 4 it's a beast!!!

[@31Peter]

I have went through around 4 other Action 4 vs Hero 12 comparisons, and yours is the only one showing such a big difference in the stabilization, which doesn’t make sense to me. What settings were you on? Was it all standard settings with Rocksteady and Hypersmooth on?

[@isaigonzalez5411]

Same here. The action 4 looks very smooth in all the other videos I've seen except for this one. I was almost discouraged from buying it because of how bad it looks in this video. I went ahed and ordered it anyway!

[@NetoBueno98]

@@isaigonzalez5411and the stabilization is that bad? I ordered mine yesterday and now I'm having questions because of this video😅

[@martinpribanic683]

@@isaigonzalez5411 is action 4 worth buying? Im about to order it but still cant decide gopro vs dji, pls help 😬

[@Khan_O]

@@isaigonzalez5411 could you please tell me what did you decide and what camera did you end up buying? I am very confused due to the image quality of the GP and I need to buy soon. Thank you so much.

[@o.mtopprint8687]

One thing that I noticed after watching this comparison video. Is that everyone is saying that the Osmo action has vetter lowlight capabilities than the gopro. But what good is the lowlights capabilities if it falls apart without the stability. On the other hand the gopro maintains the lowlight capabilities olong with the stabilization. . This is huge for anyone that love the outdoors or like shooting car Videos

[@stefpix]

At 07:13 the GoPro seems to have a better low light performance. The Action 4 has jitters that are very noticeable and annoying. It seems the DJI may be better in low light with very static shots. I’d rather have some noise than those jitters that remind of rolling shutter.

[@MrNoname56]

That's a fraud. He deliberately adjusted the parameters to lower OA4. There cannot be such a big difference. I own the OA4 and am very pleased with it, it shoots extremely well in low light.

[@XanderCB]

@@MrNoname56, except for the fact other people complained about DJI doing that jitter/micro stuttering. As stefpix said, it's very annoying and it reminds us of rolling shutter of old GoPro cameras that were almost unusable when filming MTB riding and such.

[@PrestonGladd]

If you limit the A4 shutter speed to 1/200, increase ISO to 3200 max, and use the lens hood (the lens hood is optional, however it will lower your iso some) you won’t have any EIS issues. He surely knows this but opted not to change the settings for some reason. Or maybe he didn’t know. He said the A4 has a mic on top when all mics are on the bottom. The top is just a speaker. Shows the location of the mics in the manual.

[@17cream]

DJI stutter is a real concern, negates it bring an action camera

[@PrestonGladd]

@@17creamnot if you know how to properly use the camera in those conditions. Just watch Jason Vongs review.

[@egbold]

When it comes to overheating, I think DJI really takes advantage of its magnetic mount system. I think they use the mount system to redirect some heat from the sensor. Can't state it as a fact, but the mount on my Osmo Action 3 feels quite warm after filming 4k 120

[@spacy5896]

that would be genius to just increse the thermal mass to store and disapate heat. but with plastiks that doesn't sound very efektiv because of its poor thermal transfere rates.

[@rockel83]

That's good possible. I was even surprised that GoPro didn't made any adjustments yet to their case. Like this is the 4th case already which is exactly the same and has overheating issues. Verry strange that they keep it like this for so long while they know about the issues. They now probably reduced some processing software wise on the 12. But why not just bringing more metal heatsinks to the outer shell. Really don't understand this after 4 versions now...

[@mark675]

​@@spacy5896'efektiv' 😂😂 Effective*

[@BanditApache-nd6lu]

I own two Go Pros and two DJI’s. For some reason I honestly prefer the DJI, all the way around.

[@1999maio]

3:04 stood out to me.... while taking steps on the street... the shoe in movement was blurry with the action4... clear as day with GP..... I prefer brighter more vivid colors... pre-ordered the 12...

[@kylehennen]

Interesting you said that. I checked and it looks like image blur. Almost like it’s two different fps

[@CopterDeal]

Thanks for a great comparison, from a new Subscriber and fellow KZbinr.

[@Joey_Helms]

Thanks a million! 🙌

[@andreamarcovaldi]

Super happy action 4 owner, ease of use, RELIABILITY, bigger sensor, and with the last firmware update (two days ago) better stabilization

[@ariescorner7655]

As a Hero 10 user, the most unreliable camera of the last 3 years. I haven't lost footage at all despite filling 4 TB of data in very important trips that I couldn't possibly recover. In particular a trip to Italy. So reliability is important for sure, but in my opinion the concerns are overblown.

[@motovloggernyc]

@@ariescorner7655 I’ve lost zero footage on my Go Pro 10 and as long as you’re familiar with it’s shortcomings you can adjust how you record. I was aware of the over heating issues on previous models but thought the 10 fixed it and boy I was wrong. The shorter battery life was awful in 4k60 compared to my OG Osmo Action. The first time I rode with my DJI I kept thinking the battery had died because after an hour I didn’t hear any beeps or anything. After those first 60 mins i had to keep looking in the mirror to see if the light was still on and it was. Got a good 75 mins worth and no issues while recording at home. It just worked and I didn’t need to adjust to anything unlike the Go Pro. This is the reason I switched to a MacBook Pro cause Windows had too many issues and I’ve been in IT for over 20 years. When Go Pro solves its over heating issues and improves it battery life I’m going to get the DJI. Not sure what I’m gonna do with my Hero 10 but maybe I can use it as a front facing camera on the bike and lower the resolution to match with the DJI battery life on 4k60.

[@andreamarcovaldi]

⁠@@ariescorner7655 i can’t tell you cause the action 4 is my very first action cam but before i bought it i made a loooong research over the net and here on yt, and found hundreds and hundres of comments where gopro users complain about freezins, lost of footage, ridicolous battery life, so went for action 4 and i could be more than happy for my decision.

[@Tanner_Teves]

@@ariescorner7655My hero 10 hasn’t lost footage but it likes to overheat if I look at it a wrong way.

[@mtbohana]

GoPro 12 for me. I use my camera for mountain biking and the wider FOV, better dynamic range, better stabliaztion, better video quality, better picture quality, better slowmo, 8:7 sensor, and more video options makes it a winner for me. When I tried using the OA4 the smaller FOV didn't capture as much as I would like and would cut off a lot of the trail. Also, they say OA4 is better in low light, but when I went into wooded areas the stablization would go to crap and I would get a lot of mico gitters, which you can see in Joey's videos. Makes the video unsable. So, if you do any type of action sports, or vlogging go with the GoPro.

[@maddijane1985]

i have gopro hero 9. maybe will buy osmo 4 if i want to upgrade

[@KlausMair]

Great review, thanks. Watched a few of those the last days and you pointed out some things the others didn't like file size, performance in the cold (which was a huge problem withe 11),... Am using the camera for skiing videos and will get the 12.

[@KlausMair]

Still wondering though if the cold performance will be any better as a huge factor there is the wind chill, which you don't get in the freezer. The 11 shut down after 2-5 mins below -10 with wind chill.

[@area28]

May be only with Rock steady turned off. I was driving through a wood with the A4, 4k 60fps and rocksteady, it was getting darker, and suddenly the imagequality gets very bad, washed out, the picture was shaking. Never had this with the G11

[@alexsobrino]

Just in time! I was gonna buy a gopro without giving a thought, now I’m more inclined to the action!

[@dynamicperceptiontv]

I went for the action - only because of my drones are Mavics and wanna use this on FPV so easier to grade in post. Great review as always

[@IanTed]

Dumped GoPro for DJI a long time ago, in a different league, main benefit is the reliability. Never had an issue with DJI I could bore you with the software and firmware issues with GoPro, as I motovlog it’s far more important than any low light performance. Want a camera to perform in low light use a DSLR. Good review, one of the best I’ve seen…

[@mriatravel]

I was going to buy Action 4, but after watching this video, I doubt about this, and more inclined to buy GoPro only for one reason: image quality in daylight. The GoPro 11 and 12 is a clear winner in this category, and this is the most important category. Another huge advantage of GoPro 12 is the option to use ear plugs as a microphone. I like it so much, because it's convenient and there is no need to buy an expensive external microphone.

[@NithilanDhandapani]

That's some testing that you have done for the video Sir. The cameras speaks the effort. Thank you very much. Wishes for your growth Sir

[@Rossi593]

Great review and comparison. I’ve never had either so new to me. I have a DJI drone which is superb. I like the slightly smaller package, the mounting system, the touch screens and those pushed me to the DJI. I got it today! Very neat design and tiny in the flesh. Time will tell!

[@ItsEmily6]

The distortion of gopro 12 is wayyy too much to be acceptable. I really like the magnetic design of action 4 comparing to the screw or gopro's traditional mount. I had an action 3 with the same magnetic mount base and it was so convenient while hiking and biking.

[@FoodStreetRider]

so which one should buy, Gopro or Action ?

[@OmightyOmega]

I agree, the action 4 is the better buy, better lens and sensor, the rest is software features

[@FoodStreetRider]

@@OmightyOmega you mean we can do the video quality better with editing?

[@manolisdiamantakis1606]

Yeas @@FoodStreetRider

[@ItsEmily6]

@@FoodStreetRider I'd go for Action 4, but you should make up your own mind ;)

[@howtotutorials659]

If you never seen anyone with the action four, don’t trust it although I would never doubt you, my favorite KZbinr

[@jz_glass]

I am pulling the trigger on the OA4. Great video. Thank you.

[@KentRoads]

Tbf faster charging speed degrades batteries much quicker

[@wheretherubberhitstheroad3691]

Great vid, informative. I have been a GoPro user since the three. However, after the frustrations of lost footage with the 8, 9, 10 I abandoned GoPro. Unforgivable to not sort out the capture loss over three models. I swapped over to Insta360 and DJI. I use the One RS, X3 and have never looked back. Both of these camera brands have enabled me to capture reliable shots without the lost file anxiety. That is priceless to me! So, in a product comparison, I would love to hear about real life experiences of using and especially reliability. Keep up the great work ❤

[@NageshKumar-p5j]

thank you for video i was waiting for this>>>

[@joshuamarius]

Thanks for the review! Useful information!!

[@wingandhog]

Just pre-ordered the 12. The DJI is nice but I have another GoPro and all the adapters. The 12 looks very promising

[@laurenmason8575]

Always love your insights!

[@bashfullJ88]

The magnetic mounting is a big advantage for the action 4.

[@blackclavish]

The inexpensive magnetic mount for the GoPro takes care of that problem.

[@matt_kelly]

I've been in the GoPro ecosystem for a while and have owned several, but the DJI is awfully tempting. I have had freezing issues with both of my current GoPros and the fact that they haven't upgraded the Max in forever might cause me to get the Osmo4 next.

[@topbanana4013]

there not telling you dji is not true 4k its upscaled from 2k

[@matt_kelly]

@@topbanana4013 Interesting, I wound up going with the GoPro 12 anyways.

[@PNWEnduro]

Features aside what is most important is which camera can you rely on to just work as advertised. GoPro still overheats, freezes and can record clips with the audio missing. This is why I have a DJI Action 3. Your footage of the Action 4 looks like you have the stabilization tuned off, not sure what's going in there as it's fantastic on my Action 3 and my use for the camera is about as demanding as it gets as far as stabilization goes.

[@Limitless423]

Stabilization wins it for me. Gopros stabilization is clearly better. I actually want to use my camera while I’m moving outside.

[@vincentl3846]

too much stabilisation kill the action ! not a criteria for me

[@UnincredibleAim]

The picture from the OA4 is more organic which is indicative of a larger sensor with larger pixels to produce better image quality. The Hero 12 has a sort of smartphone look to it IMO. Kind of like how Arri cameras used to use 1080p 35mm sensors but had amazing picture quality

[@lazarossas4852]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful video-review. Perfect job.

[@kevinpitts9014]

I have the OA3. I was wondering just how good the 12 is before I get the OA4. Being GoPro is more widely available, especially the batteries!!! I will be sticking with the dji! I love the disconnection and the front touch screen. Good comparison!

[@Aidziss]

Many thanks for this excellent comparison, I really enjoyed it. Really helped a lot to make a choice in favor of OA4

[@videosbywilliams]

I think being a Gopro user that because it’s new we also need to give it some time as new updates come to play just like with OA4 I have Osmo pocket and for low light works great and I am a DJI believer I own their Drones no one can beat them , Joey thanks for making this video as you break it down in categories very well.Also FYI if you are a subscriber than it’s $299.00 US.

[@crayons987]

I can't decide!!!

[@pujyarsharutika]

Same😂

[@user-nu5fx6en9h]

@@pujyarsharutikaI got both of them, I use one of them for backup or multiple angles for car vlog

[@motovloggernyc]

I was waiting on this release to make my decision and it’s ultimately up to battery life and fast charging. I have the Hero 10 with the white and black Enduro batteries, the media mod and the Max lens. I also have the original Osmo Action from 2019. The Osmo Action gave me no issues at all, it just worked. The quality was great and 4k60 and the audio was pretty good. The battery life was normally around 75 mins on average. The only issue I had was that the Rocksteady and dewarp cropped in the image too much and I wouldn’t get the motovlogging footage I wanted. I had to disable dewarp and rocksteady to get the video I wanted and at times the jittering was not watchable. Good thing that a helmet cam your head acts like a vibration dampener. I waited for DJI to do a software update or release a super wide lens but it never came. So I got the Hero 10 and the quality and wide angle with the stabilization was pretty awesome. I loved it. I loved the Quik app too cause it was better that what I used on the DJI. So I went on an important ride the first time I wore the Go Pro 10, and set it to my normal 4k60 with Hypersmooth on and set off on the road. Within 21 mins the camera turned off. I thought it was a glitch so I tried turning it on and it turned on for like 30 seconds and then dead again. I had to stop to replace the battery. I had thought I didn’t charge it right. Mind you I had the original stock batteries. Battery #2 lasted about 28 mins, then dead again but within those 28 mins the camera over heated and shut off twice. Battery #3 I switch the resolution to 2k60 and I got a good 50-55 mins worth, yet no over heating cause I was at a lower resolution and I was constantly riding so more air flow. Also I noticed when I left a battery in the Go Pro it would drain from 100% to 94% sometimes 92% without using it or even powered on. This first ride was heart breaking because I missed out on a lot of good ride footage and was frustrated on how bad the battery life was compared to the older DJI Osmo Action. Then I decided to order the Enduro batteries cause I read and watched reviews saying it lasted longer. I got like 4 of them. I went to use them as soon as I got them and I saw maybe a 5-10% increase. It’s better but still not good enough. I then bought the Max lens cause I wanted the best view I could get if I was gonna deal with the battery issue I might as well get the best footage while it lasted. I was bummed the Max lens could only do 2k60. Why did I get a 4K camera if I couldn’t use it as I wanted. I did get close to 60 mins of use time in it after turning off GPS and turned off the wind reduction since I use a mic inside the helmet. The Max Lens 2k60 is not bad footage I kinda like it but in the spirit future proofing my video quality it’s not good enough for me. So the new DJI Osmo Action 3 and 4 actually solved the issue with the cropped in image and have a similar super/hyper wide view as the Go Pro Hero 10 and 11 without the added Max lens. The batter life on the Osmo Action 4 is way way better. The difference between 4k60 and 5.3k60 is negligible. If it was 8k then it’ll be in a different ballpark. The larger 1/1.3 sensor on the Osmo Action 4 actually makes up for the lower resolution and give pretty awesome low light footage. Go Pro had a chance to delivery a way way better device than the DJI and chose to just do a modest upgrade. It’s not a bad upgrade. The new Bluetooth audio feature is cool but reviewers didn’t like it, so I think it’s not gonna be as useful for now. The wider MaxLens 2.0 is pretty neat but the image looks too warped and stretched out. I do love the 10bit color options on the 11/12 and the colors pop yet if I can’t use it cause if the battery then it useless to me on unreliable. I’m ordering the DJI Osmo Action 4 this week with the Adventure Bundle. I’m really excited to use the magnetic mounting system too. Pretty sure I’ll love the longer battery life and the lack of stress knowing it won’t shut off if I stop at a like for a few minutes.

[@crayons987]

@@motovloggernyc that's very helpful, I'm leaning the same direction! For me, I think it's going to be the sensor size leading to better low light capability and the form factor with the slightly smaller size and mounting system

[@motovloggernyc]

@@crayons987 yea the Osmo is much smaller and since I’ve been using the Media Mod Case in the Go Pro 10 the DJI will feel significantly smaller. Not sure if I’m going to use the Osmo Action 4 Case since I’ve never shot my Action cams in vertical mode but it’ll be a cool thing to do with just on snap of the magnet mount. I’m looking forward to using a chest mount on while using a helmet mount, so I can swap it when I’m off the bike and want to still record. Gotta look into getting a longer mic cable of the wireless one DJI makes, or have a second mic already attached to the chest mount or not use any mic since my helmet will me off and I’ll be waking around so no wind noise.

[@zigmilimbujames1940]

This is the by far most detailed video i have seen

[@ohgeez1000]

Good review 👍. After having a GoPro 11, I decided to go with the Action 4. I also have a insta360 GO 3 that I switch back and forth on depending what I’m doing.

[@ContraVsGigi]

The stabilisation on DJI is much worse than the one on GoPro. That's how I figured out which camera is which in the beginning. The other aspect is the HDR part, on GoPro you could see a lot more of the highlights or dark parts (see for instance also 12:07, you have a way better dynamic range on GoPro, you see all those details of the clouds while DJI's clounds are just gray). Too bad it does worse in dark scenes, but I would guess it is less likely to film in the dark. On daytime, I would pick GoPro for sure, you get extremely good stabilisation and very good image; imagine filming on you bike helmet or while skiing. If I may suggest an improvement: please don't change the position of the products; omce you have GoPro on the right, keep it consistent, always on the right; sometimes you film them inverted and itncan get confusing.

[@AndersonGuedes]

The worst thing about the GoPro is turning it off when it gets hot, and in tropical countries it can't handle 2 dry batteries without getting hot and turning off the second battery with approximately 38% of charge used. I take 20 batteries in the GoPro 11 for a day of filming because it gets too hot. What do you have to say about the osmo 4 regarding this?

[@8KHDRVideoBySittipong]

I had GoPro 11, it is great action cam, but after I had watched your video, I think I would try DJI Action 4.

[@Britainfromabove81]

very comprehensive comparison. thank you

[@KayakFishingAddict]

I just switched from GoPro to DJI a day ago. I’m still working through it but it’s been good thus far. You kind of glossed through the timecode features. Can you please see if the GoPro 12 can be jam synced from an external timecode generator? I know you can do that with the GP 11 and labs firmware, but GoPro told me that you can’t do that on the 12… you can only sync timecode via QR Code which there’s only one timecode generator that has that integrated into their time bar app (Tentacle Sync).

[@dementeconmochila]

Thanks mate… I’ve seen several comparisons and though I’ve always been a GoPro user I think I’ll have to go with dji now… a shame they haven’t keep up with the improvements

[@area28]

A very good, neutral review, actually the best review I've seen so far. I chose the Gopro 12 because of the 5.3k, the many different settings I have (including 8:7) and the ability to use the Max Lens Mod. I ordered the Action 4 because it was very praised. It's certainly a good camera, but I sent it back. Why? I had overheating problems with 46 60, perhaps because it is a European model where the temperature is limited to 48 degrees. But I also didn't find the image quality to be quite as good as the G11, just because it has 5.3 k. But in a direct comparison of 4k 60fps, the A4 was better. But the A4 also had blurring around the edges, something I never had with Gopro. And when the lighting conditions changed, like me driving through a forest with the A4, the image quality suddenly became pretty bad, pixelated, washed out. I'm excited about the G12 and will test it intensively.

[@Bellaire_Isaac]

I would just like to say that this is the first comment section on a video that is not full of fanboys bashing the other company in unreasonable ways. Sure! Go ahead and state why you picked one, if you are running into issues with how you use a GoPro then sure I think that is relevant. However, different people have different issues, preferences and different things that they like about the different cameras. Too many people I see are basing the decision like this. (From my perspective without bothering to make it sound polite, I do acknowledge that most comments are more polite than this.) "GoPro is unreliable, DJI has bigger sensor therefor better sensor. DJI NEVER has ANY issues. Therefor DJI Action 4 is OBJECTIVELY better for EVERYONE." I get some people have had issues with GoPro, some issues happen regularly for some people. However, not everyone will run into those issues and a bigger sensor is not always better, or at least not better in every way. For example GoPro has a different aspect ratio for the sensor, some people will use that aspect ratio and benefit from it more than a bigger sensor. I also have a Hot Take for everyone to bash me about. :) (no joke go ahead and make fun of me LOL) In a lot of the Action 4 v GP 11/12 low light tests I actually would rather work with the GoPro in more cases then the DJI. GoPro picks a point at which they just give up on placing detail in the shadows, whereas DJI does have detail, yes, To me it just looks noisy/grainy. I would rather work with a darker image than a poor looking brighter image. The DJI sensor might let more light in but in a lot of cases the processing just does not know how to make that light good. After thought, the well lit areas of the images are both useable to an extent when colour grading anyway. Please, go ahead and bash me ;) Edit: The footage in this video is not the case, at least in the shadows in normal light.

[@merecl]

I think you should put a higher ISO on the DJI when is dark so it can stabilize better, as it has a bigger sensor, it should not get more noisy.

[@nls3081]

hope you are right, i was thinking the same and i-m about to buy the OA4.

[@mriatravel]

Yes, it's strange that a camera with a bigger sensor has darker images on many episodes of this video.

[@merecl]

I've seen really dark footage perfectly stabilized with de OA3, but you need to go with a higher ISO, because otherwise it starts to decrease the shutter speed, and the result is what you see in this video

[@AC-lt5ro]

I’m a huge cyclist and the fact the Go Pro Hero 12 removed the GPS chip this years is a deal breaker. Me and other members in our cycling clubs use the gps data for training. It’s a shame because I was def looking to upgrade from the Hero 9 Black and take advantage of the Go Pro subscription deal smh.

[@MelissaAndAlex]

Get the hero 11 it’s basically the same and has gps

[@motovloggernyc]

@@MelissaAndAlex I’m wondering if you can use the Max Lens 2.0 in the Hero 10/11.

[@SteiraMan]

Same for me. I like mountainbiking, and build in GPS in an action cam ist mandatory.

[@mikegriffin1]

If you have an iPhone and Apple Watch, all the GPS data you would need is in there now with iOS 17

[@MrBirdshell666]

gopro 's gps data is garbage and difficult to utilize in training routines. i cant figure out how you use it instead of garmin/wahoo automatically synced metrics

[@Fourwedge]

Nice thorough video. Thank you

[@deniskii75]

Unbelievable!the footages seems like the cameras were switched🤣🤣 The 2nd Footage looks like the DJi footage🤣 and vice versa 😂😂😂😂 am now thinking about the Hero 12...it seems to me somehow better than the A4

[@randomGenerated996]

Definitely, DJI has a problem of losing details of the clouds. Detailed cloud ones are from GoPro. Really cheap played

[@theobviouschicken]

My use case scenario ( Motorcycle helmet + walkaround/modifying/fixing bike ) requires a camera that works. An action camera that will actually do its job EVERY time I ask it to do that job. So Action 4. The gP12 is a better camera as a camera. As a tool to get footage though it is not as good as the action. And that is something gopro didnt really address. I am currently running a hero 4 silver and ( used to ) GP7 black. So either one will be a massive upgrade but the hero 4 has never let me down. The gp7 constantly let me down which is why I am wary of gopro. This is unfortunate as the gopro is about 200 dollars cheaper like for like ( 2 batteries etc ) here in Oz. Good indepth video with no force fed conclusions 👍

[@stefpix]

❤amazing. You are the first reviewer who discusses the file size. I can put 4 hours of 4K 60fps footage on a 128 GB card the Hero 10 or 11. 😅I read on the DJI forums that the Action 3 can store 2 hours 40 min at 4K 30fps (that should take less space than 60fps). So at 60fps it’s twice the size. For travel and activities it’s a great advantage to have smaller file sizes I have also the Action 2 and the Mini 2. File sizes seem always very large. Thank you.

[@EdgarArroyo]

new subscriber, great content bro! hi from paradise Costa Rica

[@GDoggProductions]

great video i love how well you went into this video 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Acton 4, no doubts, reliable, beautiful underwater, best menu system, low’light, quick magnetic mount. No need for gimmicky features, fake HDR nor higher res on such small action anyway.

[@kyliannaudin8831]

Nice video, thanks a lot !

[@Rizzlyricist]

If you're seeing this, you're awesome.

[@charliesays1961]

you left out the apps part. I went from GoPro to Dii just because the apps on phone/iPad are way better and faster.

[@xmen2pondy]

Thank you for the video. I decided to purchase DOA4.

[@o.mtopprint8687]

I honestly looking at everything! I think the gopro 12 takes the Win 🏆

[@ManCaveStudio]

I am new to your channel. This is the review I have been waiting for. I am ready to upgrade an old GoPro however after watching your review I must say the Action 4 is the one I would choose. For my use, I need long run times without overheating and shutting down. I also require fast charging times and low-light performance since I will be using the camera for live musical performances on dimly lit stages. For most of your video samples, I preferred the Action 4 however the Go Pro wins in the stabilization department. Not a deal breaker for the Action 4 since that is not something I will need the majority of the time. I also preferred the audio on the Action 4. The larger file sizes on the Action 4 to me just mean more video and audio data. Not a bad thing when quality is of concern. Thanks for this very informative review!

[@Joey_Helms]

Happy to hear that this video helped you make an informed decision. :) Have a blast!

[@bainoe]

I picked the GoPro 12.

[@PrestonGladd]

The DJI action 4’s microphones are all on the bottom. If you look at the manual it identifies the location of all. The top of the Action 4 is a speaker only, not a microphone.

[@MaceraMuhendisi]

would you prefer oa4 or gp12 for cycling, hiking, running?

[@GalacticForceMedia]

I have a Hero 11. I also have a DJI Mic that I can exclusively use with the Action 4, hence getting the action 4. also, i can shoot with the 11 next to the action 4 for overall good video.

[@joekinniofficial]

I ve used gopro for almost 10 years now, it was hard to accept.. but.. DJI OA4 is far better than GoPro12 in EVERY scenario. I bought one and the image quality and even type of compression is another level. My videos dont look like they came from an Action Cam with OA4 right settings and post... pro tip is to under expose a bit the OA4.. cinematic

[@skyhawk_jaro]

Which one will be best for fpv pilot

[@IamNoOne-001]

DJI means business with this Action4!!! I am impressed! when I can get one I'll go with the DJI for sure!!!

[@richardthacker3575]

I wonder if the DJI stick will come off the camera when diving into water since its only held on by magnet

[@ridingwithmarshall]

I'm over pulling out the SD card to retrieve my video. No one talks about that. I have Man-nails, they don't touch the card. I have to find an object on the desk to eject the card. Then, you run the risk of leaving the card in the card reader (not supplied by GoPro). Then there are the battery drain issues when not in use for a day, and the pull-the-battery-because-the-GoPro-locked-up issue.

[@kentwong1118]

are you sure you turned on Rock Steady with OA4?

[@QuixiTrollz]

For fps slow motion which to choose?

[@edprocoat1]

I have to ask, what is the stuff on the lens ring on the Osmo in this video? It seemingly changes in appearance in different views on the video, at times looking clean, then looking like it has a thick coating of dust like the vent from a clothes dryer and even looking like it was a liquid in one shot. Maybe it needed a quick wipe down before shooting?

[@bashfullJ88]

Does osmo action 4 charge a monthly fee for there app like gopro does?

[@tonyslander1]

No

[@ericspeltier]

Great Review! For me, the magnetic clip on the 4 is what sways me to the DJI.

[@PeterGuitarSound]

Action 4 bigger sensor makes a difference and I agree with the pro-action 4 crowd. Same for the magnetic fixation. BUT, the stabilisation on the Action makes the footage really glitchy and shaky, the colors and focus almost warp. You can see it clearly at 3:35. It made my Action pointless (POV Motorbike footage) and I've ordered the GoPro 12.

[@PHTRAVELPALS]

About the stabilization dji has rocksteady for it. There will be no shaky at all.

[@PeterGuitarSound]

@@PHTRAVELPALS Just look the comparaison footage. Impact on color is also big.

[@pashpash4261]

I'm wait action 4, after 2 days ill will be doing my 1st test 😊

[@Denverdaytrippers]

To me - the GP12 image looks a bit better but that is like splitting hairs. The stabilization on the GP12 was a lot better plus it has better slow mo. Gopro also has a pretty decent app along with the cloud storage and an upcoming relaunch of a desktop app. Id say the GP12 is the winner but it depends on what type of content you are making. Also-who needs an action cam to film for over 30 minutes? wouldnt you be better off with a dedicator vlogger cam like a sony at that point?

[@motovloggernyc]

You are right about all that but I do long motovlogging sessions and can record 2-3 hours per ride. Sometimes I just record the ride like a dash cam and lower the quality to 1080p 30/60. This improves the battery life on my Hero 10 and OG Osmo Action. Over heating and battery life are my main concerns. 5K vs 4K is negligible to me since for now we don’t general view footage above 4K. Maybe 5K would be better to future proof the video, you would’ve want pixelation on a nice video when 8K TV and phones become the norm. Yet I’m pretty sure upscaling technology will be far more advance and we wouldn’t really have the same issues and DVD quality on 4K TV.

[@IslandFilmMaker]

Great review. Over all "Camera to Camera" GoPro HERO 12 is a BETTER CHOICE, in both video & Image quality's! As you stated however, it depends on your applications, such as low light, magnetic mount, processing & charging speeds, front touch display, WB, and deeper underwater usage is all pluses for DJI. Overheating could be an issue, but these cameras weren't designed to be left sitting. That said, I can change the GoPro mount to a magnetic one, I use a GoPro housing for deeper depths, I don't need a front touch screen. The only major option I see that would be important to me in the DJI OSMO ACTION 4 would be battery run and charging time. However, if I'm doing long runtime sports whereas I'm shooting for 4-6 hours at a time, I just strap a charging brick on it and I'm good to go! The one thing that does stand out on the GoPro HERO 12 besides being the better Camera is its ability to compress file sizes by almost half without loosing quality. That's a GAME CHANGER for me, as I'm not forced to reduce image quality to get it all on a single card before I need to swap out. This will be very important option for many PRO'S when choosing from these two Flagship Action cameras. It's was a nice surprise to see the GoPro HERO 12 come out at the same price point. Competition is grand!

[@sunlit777]

Looks like GoPro has indesputably better stab in low light - question is is it due to Osmo not cranking up the shutter speed so high in low light - it shoots less noisy footage, but stab fails, or is it due to GoPro finally figuring it out how to deal with low light. My Hero10 behaves exactly like Osmo4 in low light, possibly even worse - lights are jumping randomly, and weird smears all over

[@ThorenTravels]

It definitely looks like a shutter speed issue.

[@yarospringglory]

SUBBED!! great video and channel

[@Mehedi_Hasan13]

All over Go pro is best action camera❤ & best comparison so far. Thanks from Bangladesh🇧🇩 Shortly I will buy go pro 11.

[@fahadbinsakhawat3669]

I have a good advice for you, go for hero12. Bangladesh 🇧🇩

[@Bellaire_Isaac]

I would recommend going for the Hero 12. Unless the price difference is actually an issue for you. Or just get the GoPro subscription for the $100 USD discount. Still works out a bit cheeper I believe, I might be wrong about that last option though.

[@outthereJCH]

Thanks for this review! Really very helpful. I just started using GoPro 8s for work (wildlife biologist) and I like them, but the Action 4 seems like a better buy for a novice like me.

[@BillBilly-hy6px]

The basic for a n action cam : Go pro 12 Best action cam (stability) Best video picture Dj Better in low light conditions A little better baterry life So iget a charger that charge 2 enduro batteries at the same time and.. I bought a GP12,very pleased!

[@JustKeepWandering]

Thank you for this review :) I'm using a GoPro8 for my channel. Do you think I should upgrade to GoPro12 or DJI Action 4?

[@freyafoxmusic]

GoPro wins for me doing daylight paddle boarding and river trekking where the wider angles and resolution work for me

[@thegrumpygamer3081]

Hmmm, interesting. My A4 overheats on 4K/30 in 18 - 24 Minutes Static. It was fine before I updated the firmware to 01.01.07.30. Oh just noticed there is a new one. Hope that is better

[@maryetdave]

Let us know if the new firmware is better

[@1Know1tHurts]

That's really weird. When I tested mine in 4K/30 it went for 7 hours and I just stopped recording as I saw no point in continuing. Looks like I won't be updating the firmware anytime soon.

[@BoTilly]

Can you use dji mics on the GoPro 12??

[@Realjofa_98]

great review!

[@DarkpawTheWolf]

Great comparison video. Though I like the Action 4, and am a big fan of DJI, I'll be buying the Hero12. Much like when you're with Apple, you get "in" the world of GoPro, so it makes sense to just stay with it. Battery charge time? Doesn't matter to me...I literally have a bag full of GoPro batteries at this point (backwards compatible for multiple cameras), so I'll just charge up 6 or 7 of them the day before I leave, and can film all day.