The Chinese manufacturer DJI, which is primarily known for its drones, has launched a new version of its action cam: the " Osmo Action 3 " is a robust photo and video camera that is particularly interesting for water sports enthusiasts. It is also suitable for underwater photography without a diving housing and is waterproof to a depth of 16 metres.
And it also lasts a long time at sea without having to be plugged in again - thanks to a battery life of up to 160 minutes. And it can be recharged to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes, which should be enough for around two hours of filming. This camera can even cope with winter: DJI promises that the Osmo Action 3 works reliably down to -20 degrees.
Actioncam from DJI impresses in the test
At a price of around 360 euros, it is a favourable alternative to the GoPro Hero 11, for example, which costs around 450 euros. In tests, it also impressed with its good image quality under water. "The colours look natural and the sharpness is also right, although the unprocessed video image of the GoPro Hero 11 Black looks a tad more intense and clearer in direct comparison," writes the magazine CHIP . "The DJI Osmo Action 3 is a relatively inexpensive, robust and cleverly designed action cam that is characterised by particularly good handling for vloggers and other selfie filmmakers," is the conclusion.
Also COMPUTER PICTURE (test score 1.8) praised the "great image quality". DJI delivers "great images": the colours "look good and are vibrant", the image is "sharp and without annoying artefacts. Only with fast movements does the sharpness diminish", write the testers.
Two displays and editing app for the Osmo Action
The camera weighs 145 grams and has two colour displays, a larger 2.25-inch monitor at the back and a smaller 1.4-inch screen at the front. A relatively large 1/1.7-inch sensor is installed inside, which enables videos in a resolution of 4K with a maximum frame rate of 120 frames per second (fps). The action cam shoots photos with twelve megapixels. For slow motion, 240 fps is also possible, but only with a Full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels). The GoPro Hero11 Black delivers a maximum of 5.3K (i.e. 5312x2988 pixels) at 60 fps and a maximum frame rate of 240 fps at still 2.7K (2688x1512 pixels).
The DJI's field of vision is 155 degrees, and thanks to a protective frame it is easy to switch from horizontal to vertical shots. DJI offers the free "LightCut" app for editing photos and videos.
Manufacturer DJI not without controversy
DJI, headquartered in Shenzhen near Hong Kong, was founded in 2006 and is now one of the largest manufacturers of civilian drones used by photographers, companies and private individuals. The company is also a leader in the use of satellite navigation to control drones. According to Wikipedia, the US Department of Defence placed DJI on the list of "Chinese Military Companies" working directly or indirectly in the USA in 2021 - US companies are not allowed to do business with the manufacturer. The US government accuses DJI of human rights violations by using its drones for surveillance.
Founded in 2002, GoPro is a US manufacturer of action camcorders that can record photos and videos. In the 2021 financial year, GoPro generated a turnover of 1.16 billion US dollars and reported a net profit of 371 million US dollars.
Further information at dji.com
