DJI Osmo Action vs. GoPro 7 Black

Is it a GoPro killer or just another copycat? While that remains to be seen, the DJI Osmo Action is at least finally more than a rumor. Many people are now faced with the same decision: GoPro 7 Black or DJI Osmo Action. Let’s see what is the best.

Looking at the specs of both camera we can see that their are a lot of similarities. Both pack 4k/60fps video, feature a 12MP sensor and can take time lapses as well as 8x slow-motion at 1080p/240fps. They also both feature built-in video stabilization with a proprietary name (Hypersmooth on GoPro and Rocksteady for the Osmo Action) and a touchscreen on the back.

Now onto the differences between the two.

DJI Osmo Action

The biggest advantage that the DJI Osmo Action offers over the GP7B is it’s front facing screen. Where GoPro has constantly only offered a black and white informational display on the front of the their cameras, DJI has included a 1.4″ LCD screen onto the front of the Osmo Action. This is key for framing up your selfie shots but the small size of the screen makes it fairly inaccurate when it comes to judging the exposure or shot quality.

The Osmo Action also offers HDR video recording, something that GoPro has yet to offer in any of its cameras. This doesn’t necessarily mean that footage recorded on the Osmo Action will look better. Many factors go into video quality besides dynamic range and “HDR mode” doesn’t technically mean anything specific. However, the fact that the DJI action cam can record at a max bitrate of 100MB/s (versus the GP7B’s 77MB/s) means that the Osmo Action can record more information per frame of video — which will hopefully translate into better quality footage.

GoPro 7 Black

While the Osmo Action may beat GoPro’s current flagship camera in a few categories, GoPro makes up for it with the proven reliability of nine generations of action cameras. This is apparent in the UI, app integration and overall ruggedness of the camera. GoPros have been sent to space and used in movie and TV productions — a true testament to their versatility and proven track record.

Though it has yet to really been compared, early testing has shown the GoPro 7’s Hypersmooth stabilization to be far superior to the Rocksteady mode of the Osmo Action. This not only helps when shooting regular video, but also allows GoPro to add additional modes like Hyperlapse. That mode alone could be reason enough to buy the GoPro over the Osmo Action (if you don’t believe me, watch this). Hyperlapses offer something unique to help your videos stand out and give video creators another tool in their tool belt.

To their credit DJI does have a Hyperlapse mode on the Osmo Pocket though whether or not they bring it to the Osmo Action is yet to be seen.

Otherwise the GoPro 7 Black offers built-in GPS — something cool to have but not necessary for everyone. GoPro uses this info to overlay stats such as speed, elevation, etc. over the video using the GoPro or Quik app. GoPros also currently have access to a wider range of accessories though that could change as more companies release products for the Osmo Action.

Which is better?

The Osmo Action has certainly received a lot of hype. However, early testing has shown that it isn’t quite up to par with the GoPro 7 Black in stabilization. In terms of video quality both cameras are extremely capable with only slight advantages over each other. Considering that it is $50 cheaper it is quite enticing, especially with its selfie screen for vloggers.