Is the DJI Action 4 Good for FPV Drones? (vs GoPro 12)

Is the DJI Osmo Action 4 any Good for FPV Drones? (vs GoPro 11/12)
DJI recently announced their brand new addition to their Osmo Action line of cameras, the Action 4 (Avata 2 Camera) which boasts a lot of killer camera features over the ever popular GoPro 11 & newly released GoPro 12. I've been using the Action 4 for over a month now and have compiled my thoughts on how it performs for Cinematic FPV, in terms of colour, resolution, stabilisation, low light, optimum quad size and performance in various lighting conditions and environments.
In this video, I take a first look at how good the Action 4 is for FPV Drones specifically. As cinematic FPV pilots, we want the best image quality, low-light performance and colour fidelity from an action camera. So does the Action 4 stack up to its headline specs and can it replace your GoPro for FPV?
The Action 4 compared to the GoPro 11/12, boasts a 1/1.3inch sensor, D-LogM recording and a much more convenient mounting system compared to GoPro. It also records gyro data that we can use in Gyroflow to stabilise our footage and get a super smooth result.
What do you think of the Action 4? Will you be buying it next for your FPV drones or are you a loyal GoPro customer? Let me know down in the comments! 👇
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:07 First Flight Comparison
03:07 Colour Comparison vs GoPro 11
04:37 Sunset Comparison vs GoPro 11
07:29 Low Light Test
08:44 Should You Buy It? Features Comparison
14:10 Outro
DJI Avata 2 vs GoPro 12
DJI Avata 2 camera vs GoPro
DJI Avata 2 O4 vs GoPro
#cinematicfpv #djiaction4 #dji #osmo #osmoaction4

[@staffordlynn7819]

Super review super shots super flying and super informative keep up the great work dude

[@devliegendecameraman]

great unbiased review man! Thanks!

[@eazee-fpv6345]

Great review and fantastic shots and editing Ben, 1st class as always

[@bentoogood]

Cheers mate! 🙌

[@alex_k1ng]

Amazing comparison review! 💪😄

[@amitj7034]

Thanks for the detailed video and appreciate the efforts. We all would be grateful if you make a video on The Best FPV Settings For The Action 4.

[@DroningaboutIreland]

Superb comparison analysis Ben, I'll share this on my Twitter page 👍

[@bentoogood]

Cheers Richard! Appreciate that 🙌

[@mickue]

Nice comparison! Thx 👍

[@milfordkd]

Great comparison! Very helpful

[@bentoogood]

Glad to hear it mate! 🙌

[@vikas4685]

Thanks for the review

[@paulrobinson270]

Top quality work Ben, keep it up.

[@bentoogood]

Cheers mate!

[@mlentsch]

What's wild is that I came here for the Action 4 review for FPV... Then I noticed that you have the new GepRC 9" pulsar.. which I just ordered this morning.. Nice!!

[@bentoogood]

Nice! Yes I'm loving the Pulsar 9. It's such a smooth flying quad. Have a review coming out on it soon!

[@jacobhorton761]

One of the best comparison videos ive ever seen

[@bentoogood]

Thanks Jacob! Really appreciate it.

[@daveflanagan4213]

Terrific skills knowledge and presentation Ben

[@bentoogood]

Thanks Dave 🙌 Appreciate it

[@widelenspics]

Great video!

[@tuan310580]

Amazing review and conparison ! Thank you for sharing with us 🙏 The Geprc Pulsar 9" is a beast 😍

[@bentoogood]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 And yes the Pulsar is a total beast. I have a review coming out on it soon! Stay tuned 👀

[@doitchannel67]

​@@bentoogoodwaiting 9"

[@DeeSazHughes]

Great video buddy 🙌🏻.

[@bentoogood]

🙌🙌🙌

[@scoutfpv]

Great review! I purchased the Action 4 before watching this video and has never once froze on me unlike my gorpo that needed the dreaded battery pull at lease 6 times while snorkeling. The Action 4 easy menu system is much better than the gopro. Also, the color sensor on the Action 4 is excellent.

[@ixography]

great review mate, I was waiting for a while for something like this, honestly I like them both at this point, maybe I will sell one of my gopros and buy the Action 4 if I have to do some low light shooting. One thing where GoPro wins for me is the fact that it records 5.3k in 8:7 so you dont gave to mount it vertically and the same footage can be used both on social media and on KZbin. Lets hope the Hero 13 or Action 5 will finally have a 1 inch sensor. Beautiful colorgrading too! Subscribed!

[@bentoogood]

Thanks man! Really appreciate that. Yeah the GoPro 100% wins in terms of resolution. Even when you pixel peep the 5K vs 4K footage it's definitely more clear. I have found the Action 4 though to look much less like an action cam though which is cool. Cannot wait to see who drops the 1 inch sensor cam first 👌

[@user-qd7sq7if1p]

I would love to see a video more in-depth with settings you like on the action 4. Gyroflow/rocksteady? fps? do you use auto settings? Great video tho man

[@ver2Go]

wow, nice review

[@badger-productions]

Awesome video dude. Low light is important to me, so the osmo looks the best option

[@GazzFPV]

great video ! just subscribed :)

[@bentoogood]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it 🙌

[@mlentsch]

p.s. Subbed - awesome review - You told me exactly what I wanted to know.

[@bentoogood]

Thanks! Very glad to hear it 👍

[@fadah_fpv]

Great review! What did you use to stabilize the footage? In-camera stabilization?

[@bentoogood]

Thanks! All footage in the video was stabilised in Gyroflow.

[@simonestinelli]

Thank for this! Great Comparison. I will take the Chimera pro v2 6s HD too, I see that you use a different mask than Goggle2. About signal is better or with goggle can fly in long range?

[@bentoogood]

No problem! Yes I use patch antennas on my V2 Goggles. They provide better range in 1 direction, so are good for things like long range. The ones I use for the V2s are the iFlight Crystal HDs. I also have patches for my Goggles 2, for these I use the TrueRC patches

[@twiume4830]

I would definitely go with action 4.

[@potatopower2144]

I'd like to get my wife something fun to play with. As someone who doesn't know anything about photography, I'm torn between getting her a drone (mini 4 pro) or an action camera (hero 12, pocket 3, or action 4). Any advice?

[@WilzFPV]

Hi Ben, great video! Im getting some problems with gyroflow with the action 4, i get something like "clouds jumping" or like a strange "shadowing", did you had any problems with action 4 on gyroflow?

[@bentoogood]

Hi, it depends on how you’ve mounted the cam. It sounds like you’re experiencing vibrations in the footage. Try running a lowpass filter in Gyroflow. Next thing to try would be an enclosed 3D printed case for the can, hard mounted onto the frame. I personally haven’t had any issues with vibrations with my quads and the magnetic mount, but I know others can depending on how smooth your build is. Let me know how you get on 👍

[@WilzFPV]

Thanks for your answer! I ain't even tried the cam on a drone, this is happening handheld, and also while on a chest mount riding a motorbike, I wonder if I'm missing something on this cam

[@abh_mishra999]

Yep can u create a video on how to make one ( drone ) like this

[@mlentsch]

Yeah, so I was about to pull the trigger on the Action4... then I see Captain Drone's review of the new Insta360 Ace Pro and I grabbed one. It has a setting called "Pure Video" that is a friggin' low-light game-changer. No Log or 10-bit, and i don't care - it's that good. It's heavier than the others, but my 6S 3.5" whoop carries it for at least 6 min of easy flying...

[@jacekkaczmarczyk_drones]

Thank you for review Ben. Nobody talks about this but can you power action 4 from fpv lipo same as naked GoPro? Cheers

[@bentoogood]

No problem! Yes you can indeed power the cam via USB. But be careful as there doesn't seem to be any confirmed specs around input voltage. But I'd bet as it can be powered by a 5V BEC if it can be powered via USB

[@jacekkaczmarczyk_drones]

@@bentoogood many thanks Ben

[@nujinabi]

Hi i also have a action 4 and i shoot d log m and how can I export from gyroflow h265 or prores I don’t wanna lose any information about log because i am going edit after stabilization thanks🙏

[@lakshmikanthprakash6744]

what do you think @bentoogood ???

[@danmarm5357]

Where did you record that sunset? 6:42, this place looks aweomse!! Is it the UK?

[@bentoogood]

It's a place called Gibbs Island on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland 🙂

[@danmarm5357]

@@bentoogood thank youuu

[@OdysseusVrakas]

Dynamic range has always kept me away from the Osmos. Maybe not anymore. Lovely video production too

[@K1LLA_KING_KONG]

How do you connect the Action 4 to goggles or a phone for FPV? (live view) Is it part of the app? Or can you buy particular googles that connects to the action 4?

[@bentoogood]

Video transmission like this is not possible with the Action 4. The most you can do is preview the camera screen on your phone using the DJI Mimo app.

[@SteeveFPVeee]

hello Ben, did in use in camera stab or did stab in post process with Gyroflow?

[@bentoogood]

All footage was stabilised with Gyroflow

[@SteeveFPVeee]

@@bentoogood your footage looks sooo good.Hi. when I use the gyro data my footage is very shaky and lots of jello. could you please share your action 4 setting? thank you

[@colinlinehan6778]

The 🐐

[@evanmahendra_]

Can i get your action 4 luts?

[@CabralWGS_FPV]

im having a problem with this camera on my 6'' fpv it makes the footage look wably i dont know why

[@bentoogood]

Have you checked you’ve mounted it securely? If you’re seeing jello in your footage make sure you’re running a low-pass filter in Gyroflow to remove any jitters

[@DroningaboutIreland]

And I see you went with the Red thumb nail 😉

[@bentoogood]

Yes, the instagram poll was overruled. I preferred the red one 🤣

[@milfordkd]

​@@bentoogoodyou made the right choice

[@legendfpv]

Your conclusion is all about color, what about sharpness, smoothness, and detail

[@st_0121]

Any recommended fpv settings for the action 4?

[@bentoogood]

I ran 4K 4:3 at 30fps and D-Log M colour. Then whatever ND filter was necessary to keep my shutter at 1/80 or 1/100 without clipping the highlights 🎥

[@infinityphotorob]

How does the Action 4 compare to the O3 air unit?

[@bentoogood]

The action 4 has a larger sensor than the O3 and so will have better dynamic range and low light performance. In terms of colour, in normal mode/d-cinelike they’re both really great but the Action 4 has the advantage with D-Log M recording

[@infinityphotorob]

I am debating on action cams stuff for this yr. I like the action 4 features but saw a video about it for FPV and more pro work. It is only 8 bit color. That is a punch in the nuts when color grading and trying to match real cameras. I think for all around the DJI is maybe a better fit. Especially that I am already dealing with the O3 now.

[@bentoogood]

@@infinityphotorob The Action 4 is 10bit. You get 10bit recording with DLog M

[@RowOfMushyTiT]

The problem with GoPro footage is their noise reduction and smoothing algorithm. They have to do this as their sensor is trash. It makes everything look fake, like when you zoom too far into a phone photo. It's very noticeable with rocks and mountains. Look when you fly over that stone wall @5:14 and compare. There is a complete loss of textures due to denoising - look at the grass or ocean - looks mega smoothed.

[@AL3XFPV]

judging by the video I liked the gopro footage best, the action 4 looked over sharpend and colors harsh, while gopro was more soft and cinelike. lowlight deff best with action4

[@JoshHenriques]

epic review! TEAM ACTION 4 ALL THE WAY

[@bentoogood]

💯🙌🙌

[@DaVaBro]

D-Log m isnt D-log, so using a CST or a conversion made for D-Log isnt accurate or perfectly gonna work for D-LogM. I dont know how different the results will be if you use the conversion lut from DJI DLog-M to REC709, but since you didnt mention it and said DLog, i assumed this is not what you did.

[@bentoogood]

I’m using the D-Log M transformation LUT for the Action 4

[@Ragnarok_FPV]

you can make a natural camera saturated in post, you cant make a saturated camera natural in post

[@BrunoParnell]

Title says GoPro 12 yet you are using an 11?

[@bentoogood]

Both camera's share identical sensors & recording specs so it really makes no difference which one is used. The GoPro 12 was only released after I'd filmed this video so that's why I didn't have one at the time of the comparison. But again, they're identical cameras.

[@argentinaerialsFPV]

Action more dark

[@AirKhanFPV]

Gopro has still the better dynamic range the reason for that is Local Tonemapping its there since the Gopro 10 before that it was Global Tonemapping. And Gopro can gyrolog while recording full sensor readout (5,3k 8:7 wide, wide in 8:7 is on the gopro 11/12 full sensor readout) dji can only gyrolog with the digital crop lens "wide", full sensor readout on the action 4 is 4:3 "ultrawide". For Gyroflow Gopro is the best option! But when it comes to low light, the action 4 wins.

[@marcospalacios1241]

yeaaaah dji wins haha

[@AirKhanFPV]

not really, no! @@marcospalacios1241