Thinking of getting a new 4K action camera for your outdoor adventures? There's more than one major player in the market. Today Best Buy and Amazon are offering the popular DJI Osmo Action 4 4K Camera for only $299.99. That's a hefty $100 (25%) off the original $400 MSRP. This is an excellent alternative to the GoPro Hero 12 Black while also costing considerably less.
DJI Osmo Action 4 4K Camera for $299.99
The Osmo Action 4 is DJI's latest and greatest action camera. It can record 4K video at up to 120fps. The lens itself sports an f/2.8 aperture with a wide 155-degree FOV, which is similar to the GoPro Hero 12. It also has a 1/1.3" sensor, which is bigger than the Hero 12's 1/1.9" sensor. The major benefit is that the Osmo Action 4 is better at low light video recording. DJI's "Rock Steady 3.0" image stabilization is every bit as good as GoPro's "HyperSmooth" image stabilization, which means a gimbal isn't required in most cases.
The Osmo Action 4 compares favorably with the GoPro Hero 12 in other respects as well. It has a longer battery life (DJI claims up to 4 hours on a single charge). It has a easier, simpler, and faster to use magnetic mounting system. It has also dual displays, front and rear, so you can compose and review your shots much more easily. It's also waterproof to 18m, compared to the GoPro Hero 12's 10m rating.
Although the Osmo Action 4 is a more versatile and convenient general purpose action cam, the GoPro is still better for daytime, fast action video recording. After all, that's what it was specifically designed for. It has a much higher resolution (27MP vs 10MP) so daylight video capture is noticeably sharper, and the built-in HDR mode helps as well. It also has the outstanding ability to record at up to 240fps at 2.7K resolution. The GoPro 12 offers more choices for aspect ratio so there's less need to crop in post production. There are also more accessories available for the GoPro, since it has been out for longer.
At its original MSRP, the Osmo Action 4 is a compelling alternative to the GoPro. It's superior in many respects, and it's from a very well-established company (DJI makes some pretty awesome quadcopter cameras like the Mavic and Air). At $100 cheaper than the competition, the scales are tipped in its favor.
