GoPro Hero 12 Vs DJI Osmo Action 4 - Which action camera is better for biking?

[@xavibrooks]

So much work put into this review, thanks a bunch! I'm new to color grading and finding DJI flat profile much easier to work with, it's like a few tweaks to bring out vibrant footage

[@YanDoroshenko]

I liked DJI more overall. The unnaturally vivid GoPro colors are not my cup of tea and nor is the over the top fish eye effect. Everywhere else DJI performs better in my opinion. It's not like I have anything of value to film and therefore won't be needing either, but if I did, I'd get the DJI. Being cheaper doesn't hurt too.

[@Izaya_Orihara]

Agreed. You can always boost color in post anyway

[@joeldriver381]

The low light on the DJI was impressive. The details looked great.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Agreed!

[@JBlakePhoto]

As someone who films, edits, and rides, I know how much work that was. Thank you for the hard work and effort. Great review.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Much appreciated cheers!

[@mtbboy1993]

Wind noise won't be an issue for me on any camera, I use good and cheap furniture pads to cover it, it works really well.

[@uzico]

25:35 The audio of DJI is sooooo much better

[@Ali_Clarkson]

The difference is crazy! I need to check if the wind reduction was actually switched on with the GoPro though, I’ve discovered an annoying aspect with it where it doesn’t always keep settings the same in different modes, it essentially resets itself which I wasn’t expecting

[@kisong1960]

I learned that camera quality is not the issue, but my riding is. 😂😂

[@muhamadfaizal1034]

Hell yeah😂

[@joeldriver381]

Same! 🤣

[@vipershady]

Watching from Bhutan 🇧🇹. I am gonna buy Dji osmo action 4 now. Thank you for your handwork. Love you bro. Ride safe 🙏

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I’m glad the video was helpful :)

[@simonmitchell1978]

Hi. Awesome video. Thank you. May I point some other factors out too about these cameras. Sorry. The GoPro Hero 12 has a front screen just like the DJI Action 4. But the GoPro front screen is not a touch screen. The DJI Action 4 front is a touch screen. So can change setting on the front screen aswell as the back. Not able to do so on the GoPro. Also the batteries. The GoPro Hero 12 last between 83 and 155 minutes. Depennding on the settings and if the camera does not over heat first and cut off. Which I have seen many people reviewing these cameras mention. Fully charged around 2 hours. The DJI Action 4 is about 160 minutes. With 80 percent charge in 18 minutes. So faster charging times. Again. Sorry. But this may also contribute to people choice too. Still an awesome video. Thank you. Me personally have the DJI Action 4. For all the reason in the video and what I have mentioned.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Missed this comment but some very good points!

[@sammycalver2579]

Great review thanks!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks very much!

[@Izaya_Orihara]

Has anyone tried using the DJI Osmo Action 4 as a dash cam for the car? I'm tired of dash cam's having shitty camera sensors so you can't even capture license plate numbers.

[@dimensionsofearth]

Killer super detailed comparison video! It took me ages to watch it but I watched the whole thing and read all the details. I'm so glad GoPro isn't the only option anymore, the DJI seems really impressive! I'm still living in hero 4 days but when I upgrade I'm going to try a DJI. It just seems easier to use and has more natural looking footage too.

[@Dirtdaredevil]

7:52 love the longneck grips!

[@BikingBadwithTC]

Tremendous amount of work went into your review, much appreciated! Gopro low light quality is unusable, big win for DJI here. One comparison I would’ve like to see is horizon lock which Gopro excels at with lens 2.0.

[@TomPickup1]

Great review , I do feel however the gopro peaked at hero 8 and the dji at action 3. If you put them side by side with anything new there's not an awful lot of difference. I do like the ability of being able to link two lav mics to the new dji without the need of a reciever.

[@the_Monkee]

Thanks for that video Ali. I have a hero 9 and am looking for an upgrade. Kinda stuck with GoPro because ‘they’re the best right?’ You certainly put a different perspective on things. Actually leaning towards the dji. Not overly fussed with the lens mod 2.0. So value for money and overall quality made my mind up. Again thanks for the informative style and genuine opinion.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks so much for this comment! So far the video is doing really poorly view-wise (like, the worst of any video I’ve ever made for some reason) but knowing it was appreciated and has actually helped people makes it still worth it :)

[@MTBScotland]

never knew about the magnetic mount for the gopro.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Yeah there’s a couple of aftermarket options available 👍🏻

[@wrench_n_ride8159]

QQ. You have shown through axle adaptors where they use bolts instead of nuts. Who makes those?

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Reverse made the one with the nut but there’s plenty of QR ones that you can tap to take an m6 bolt…just search for 12mm adaptor and you’ll see them

[@mtbboy1993]

I want to see linear mode comparison. I use a Gopro Hero 7 black with PeauPro87 lens. It uses Wide only, and minimal loss of FOV, no distortion, atleast nothing noticible, so trails look like they actually do. But as it's Hero 7, it does nothandlrn subzero temps, so I need to upgrade for winter riding. It can't even handle - 1c. But hero 9 and up to 12 will. I have a 4 session, which handles atleast - 11c, but it has distortion. But not suitable for mid summer with 30c if you record too long it shuts down, gets painfullu hot to the touch. And it's 1080p if I record in 60fps. Which is a must for me. I notice the "missing" frames, it looks wrong to me. As I want 4k 60 as minimum and needs to work in sub zero temps I need to upgrade.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Sounds like you need the Action 4, super reliable in hot and cold, can do 60fps in 1080 and linear mode looks pretty natural 👍🏻

[@mtbboy1993]

@@Ali_Clarkson thx for your insight, 1080p would be a downgrade, but it should do 4k 120 fps. I see it's cheaper.

[@mtbboy1993]

@@Ali_Clarkson Seems like it does better in low light too. at least according to Dc Rainmaker's vids. He says it hero 12 is better in the day, and Action 4 in the dark. I can see it in the footage, Hero 12 looks horrible in the dark. As I mentioned I have hero 7, but it too looks horrible in the dark, even with Exposure Six pack light in front, but having it on improves things, despite me being able to see clearly, the camera struggles, so in pitch black it's a problem, I see hero 12 still got the same issue.

[@christopherhardison9725]

I personally like the dji in all categories the best

[@KokoroKompass]

Get a dji pocket 3 for your other shots, it's smaller than your main camera and the quality will likely be better. The low light is actually better than I can see with my own eyes it's crazy!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I would love to try one! Little out of budget at the moment but maybe one day!

[@KokoroKompass]

@@Ali_Clarkson I use mine daily otherwise I'd borrow one haha. Maybe DJI will be kind enough to send you one to review if you ask nicely!

[@nick22954]

hello. what are u using now as your main camera? Im mountainbiking also. Enduro rides,steep terrain. the gopro,the osmo or the 360x4 ? i sold my gopro9 to upgrade, but i dont know what. :D

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I use the DJI for pretty much everything including my main vlogging camera. I might still be tempted to use the GoPro with a lens mod for purely POV MTB shots but nothing else. Got the Hero 13 arriving tomorrow which I’ll be pitting against DJIs next camera when it’s available 👍🏻

[@nick22954]

@@Ali_Clarkson thnx for the answer. Im also waiting for Osmo5. But ive heard dji and Android are not a good combo. Insta360x4 is big/heavy and the lenses are a big risk for mtb

[@Ali_Clarkson]

@@nick22954 ah can’t comment on the android aspect sorry

[@paulsmith8438]

does the Action have wifi and can you do a live broadcast on social media?

[@ShakaFPV]

Random question: I know you have been doing trials for many years but do you remember how long it took you until you felt you were pretty decent at it? Thanks!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Hmm, I did my first competition in 1997 and I’d say I felt like I was pretty decent by the time I was doing well at the British champs in expert category in 2004…I still had a lot of improvement to do though

[@cyclefactoryuk]

Proper job that Ali 👏

[@KirillKonshin]

Can you post a link to magnetic mount for GoPro?

[@KirillKonshin]

The most comprehensive review ever! Thanks! Next time try full frame 8:7 GoPro mode, as you can crop 16:9 or 9:16 from it easily. And 4:3 modes :) with Lens Mod and 4:3 you pretty much never need to rotate the camera for vertical footage, you can just crop, the FOV is wide enough.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Thanks but I’m pretty sure I did do all those things you’re suggesting 😂

[@KirillKonshin]

@@Ali_Clarkson I might be wrong but the videos in all comparisons look 16:9 ;)

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Check out 19:41 when I start riding you can see I start with a square format on both cameras and then crop in to 16:9 and 9:16, I guess you could keep it square but that’s not the point of that format

[@KirillKonshin]

@@Ali_Clarkson right! Ooops :) even better review then :)

[@billr6983]

I think these cameras are so close in specs and performance that if I had to choose between the two, I'd go solely on which one has the best price.

[@UndCon]

I like my Action4. It replaces my Gopro Hero Session 5 - I miss the smaller form factor and the less than half weight - but the 5 is ageing and the non replaceable battery has its downs... In all - very proud owner of the DJI Osmo Action4, and I buy my stuff myself, sponsored by my wallet alone. Not to mention the difference between Gopro media mod and the DJI mod that enables my DIY helmet mic in a snap. DJI media mods are prone to breaking, failure to charge and what else...

[@Ali_Clarkson]

I’ve had real bad luck with GoPro and their accessories, firstly I put in a pre-order for their Media Mod which never turned up. I eventually bought one once they had been out for a while and the built-in mic sounded so bad it was unusable. Thirdly I bought the Volta battery bank stick and after a few months it won’t charge any more. I’ve not bought many accessories for DJI but the mic adaptor for the Action 4 has impressed me

[@lonoreturns]

Do your own experiment. I watched first on my TV and was drawn mostly to DJI, but on my phone, Gopro seems better. Think Gopro is graded for mobile users who are probably the majority of the viewers. That 2.0 without lens footage looked like old movie car chase footage😅.

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Yeah you might have a good point there

[@rtan451]

Uh oh, not an easy watch having just gone for a GoPro... but great test video!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Sorry! 😋

[@MatteoCorvo]

pocket recording with gopro is a classic!

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Glad it’s not just me then 😂

[@cleggycyclist]

@@Ali_Clarkson its a very easy fix, turn off the one button recording

[@Ali_Clarkson]

@@cleggycyclist true but having that option is a life saver when things happen quickly, like someone you’re following sets off before you expected or something random happens and you need to be quick

[@wrench_n_ride8159]

The extra wide angle lens from the chest position makes it look like your arms are made of rubber. 😂

[@Ali_Clarkson]

They may well be 😂

[@ThereIsNoSubstitute]

Many thanks. Dji it is then.

[@ashleytombs]

GoPro is an absolutely amazing camera it has been for many many decades but nowadays the small brands are taking over Insta 360 and DJI are just as good as the GoPro so I’m not surprised DJI Is winner winner chicken dinner😂😂

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Spoiler alert 😂

[@ashleytombs]

@@Ali_Clarkson there is always one isn’t there 😂😂

[@Emz_Jhaye]

Wow, thats a loooong action camera review/comparison...😅 For me, i like the DJI 😎👍🚴

[@Ali_Clarkson]

Hard to get all the detail in a shorter video haha

[@Emz_Jhaye]

@@Ali_Clarkson even its a very looong video, still enjoy watching... 😎🚴🚴🚴

[@Ali_Clarkson]

@@Emz_Jhaye thank you but I’m tempted to replace this with a shorter version, apparently the algorithm hates this longer one

[@Emz_Jhaye]

@@Ali_Clarkson hahaha, yup i think they like a shorter vid... 😅😅😅 Btw, where's the cat? 😸 Havent seen him for a while... Is he hunting some good bike parts? 😸✌️

[@alimantado373]

Im oldskool ... footage in my memories 👌