DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is the perfect camera for creatives who want to engage with the world

When the review sample from DJI arrived at my desk, I spent the first couple of days just staring at it with fear. I travel a lot, but I'm not what you'd call an action vlogger. I don't get sick air time off slopes, and I don't do lifestyle videos with my shirt off. There are those who can pull that off, and I salute them.

So, for a good while, I felt paralyzed with how to approach this tiny wonder. Because that's what it is: a tiny wonder. A superlative piece of technology that fits in the palm of my hand and delivers exquisite video quality and long-lasting battery life out of something that shouldn't be possible.

Eventually, I realized that I don't need to be an adventuring type to review this. Not everyone who uses the Action 5 Pro will be, either. Instead, I can focus on the question many will have while in the market for their next upgrade: Is the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro good for vlogging?

The answer to that is two-fold. In short: Yes, it is. To elaborate: It is, with some caveats. Let's take a look.

Who's It For?

I'm not a big camera guy. In the past, I worked with a Sony Alpha 5 for years as my daily driver, before moving onto using my smartphone camera almost exclusively.

But I was never happy with the quality I got out of my phone. The photos were uniformly nice, be it an iPhone or Android, but I always found the video footage flat and not what I saw on the location. It always felt like too much work to capture even a fraction of what I wanted. It diminished my creativity, because I felt that I had barriers in every direction I wanted to go.

When I found the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, all that changed. I started to carry it around with me everywhere, and it's still my go-to camera for everything I do as a content creator. Beyond that, I had practically given up on action cameras, as their advertising is exclusively aimed for, well, action.

After using it for about 6 weeks, I can safely say that I'll be buying the Action 5 Pro as an addition to my camera lineup. It's everything I'd want in a small form camera, be that video quality or reliability. But more than that, it's a testament to how important convenience is to someone who is easily overwhelmed by choice. As a solo creator, I have to rely on what I have at any given moment, and I don't have a second pair of hands or friends to help set things up.

The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro allows me freedom to create on my terms without ever compromising on quality.

The Technology

The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is tiny. So tiny, in fact, that I've had minor panic attacks in the month of testing it at least four times, because I've put it down and instantly lost sight of it. If you're like me, with autism and ADHD, you should invest in a bright case of some kind, just so that the matte black device won't get lost in daily use.

But don't let the size fool you, as the Action 5 Pro packs in so much technology and innovation that it still boggles my mind. It weighs just 146 grams without the case, which barely adds any weight to it.

For techies, here are the important bits: The Action 5 Pro records in 10-bit color, from 1080p/240fps up to 4k120 video. It has a 1,950mAh battery; a 35mm equivalent lens with a Type 1/1.3 inch sensor; USB-C and Wi-Fi connectivity; a 2.5-inch display on the back and a 1.46-inch front screen; a microSDXC slot and 46gb of internal storage; and it's waterproof up to 20 meters without a case.

In short, it's an incredibly capable device that covers nearly everything you would want from an action camera. You can take up to 40mp photos with it, though you'll get the best results with video.

In Finland, it starts at €389 for the standard combo. My loaner unit, which heads back to DJI after this review, is the more expensive Adventure Combo (€499), which comes with two additional batteries, a charging case, and a 1.5m extension rod.

For enthusiasts, DJI offers expansion pieces like bike seat rail mounts, flex mounts, and wrist straps for an added cost. As with most things related to the Action 5 Pro, the emphasis is on motion and activity, as that's what the action camera is built for.

The basic kit comes with two quick-release adapter mounts, a curved adhesive base, locking screws, a protective frame, and lens protectors. For basic use and those just getting started, it's a comprehensive and easy-to-use setup that should be more than enough at first.

Daily Use

On paper, the technology in the camera might sound like overkill for someone who just wants a reliable vlogging device that fits in your pocket. In daily use, I found that the Action 5 Pro hits the sweet spot between technology and practicality that makes using the camera a joy. Even if you're not actively using every feature.

For example, I took the Action 5 Pro with me on multiple trips involving public transit, trains, and airplanes. My goal was simple: I wanted to see if I could carry a recording device that could handle long periods without charging, not get in my way during transitions, and could still deliver great picture and sound even in difficult surroundings.

The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro delivered on all counts.

First off, as stated before, the Action 5 Pro is small. It fits into the palm of my hand. As such, it fits into my jean pockets better than my smartphone. That alone makes it easier to carry around for quick vlogs or times when I want to grab a video of something and pulling out my phone is too much of a hassle.

Video quality during the day is crisp and clear, with superb stabilization throughout. I could run and move freely without every fearing it would result in unusable footage. During the night – or day during Finnish winter, where it gets dark early and fast – the Action 5 Pro struggles with certain scenarios, but it's still more than usable. In fact, I found that as long as there is some kind of light source, be that a candle, lamp, or even a distant sign, the Action 5 Pro could produce lovely and moody shots for my use cases. You're not going to shoot a Hollywood film with this, necessarily, but that doesn't mean it isn't superb with what it delivers.

It's here that DJI's stellar software also comes into play. The Action 5 Pro, like my usual daily driver, the Pocket 3, is almost instantaneous in its boot time. Click the power button, and it's ready to shoot within seconds, if that. There's so little time between pulling the device out and actually filming that it lowers the bar with capturing unexpected moments. It made me more aware of my surroundings, because I felt that I could film anything at any point without limitations.

The camera sits quite squat, and it has a wide enough base to balance on almost any surface, even if you don't end up using the telescope or other extras. I propped it against stools, ledges, dashboards, scanners, and even quick shots on the conveyor belts at grocery stores. No matter the situation, the Action 5 Pro came through with quality footage.

This same convenience comes into play when using the Action 5 Pro for more mundane tasks, like interviews or personal vlogs. While the camera records perfectly well on the field, it's also super useful in the office thanks to its USB-C capabilities. Plug it into a laptop or desktop, and you can choose to use the Action 5 Pro as a webcam or for file transfers.

As a webcam, I found the Action 5 Pro to work just as well as my Osmo Pocket 3; which is to say that I don't want to use anything else for the job anymore. The picture is crisp, clear, and the sound is pristine. Combine that with an external microphone and earbuds, and you've got a portable studio that delivers exceptional quality no matter where you are.

As for sound, the built-in microphones on the Action 5 Pro are fine, though the sound they record can be a little flat. It does pick up background noise a little more than I'd like, but luckily the strong Bluetooth connectivity remedies this easily.

I already own the DJI Mic 2, which has become my main microphone for almost every recording task around, and it pairs seamlessly with the Action 5 Pro. Granted, this isn't unique to the action camera, as the Osmo Pocket 3 has the same feature capability, but it's a sign that DJI is more forceful and aware of its creative ecosystem, and the support is more than welcome.

It must be noted, though, that like the Osmo Pocket 3, the Action 5 Pro must be activated first through the Mimo App. It's a mandatory and, in my opinion, a very unfair step against users. One that DJI could do without.

It's not a dealbreaker, but out of all my notes during the review period, it's the one I hold as the biggest fumble that DJI makes.

The pairing is a simple process and can be done entirely on the camera. In fact, the extra DJI Mimo app is required only for a few things in early setup, and isn't mandatory beyond that. It's a refreshing change of pace compared to competitors, who build most of their functionality into extra apps, when the whole idea is to free the user from added bulk.

Once paired, the DJI Mic 2 and Action 5 Pro work seamlessly. Upon recording, I found no lag or desync between the material, and the final output was perfect for quick B-roll and even a feature interview I conducted.

I've read of complaints that the color directly out of the camera is a point of contention for some, and while I personally found no issues with the look, DJI does have the option to film everything in LOG color space for greater freedom in the edit. Now, if you're a vlogger just getting started or someone who does not know what LOG means, don't worry – you won't need it. The image quality out of the camera is just fine for everyday use.

As for battery life, I got a solid 3 hours of recording at 1080p/60fps on every occasion. This wasn't constant recording, as I rarely have the need to keep the camera on for that long. Instead, this was on-the-go sessions, where the camera would come out for a quick shot here and there, and the Action 5 Pro never let me down. On the occasion that I was running close to an empty battery, the process of switching out a second one from the bundle is so fast, it never even registered as an issue. The travel case is easy to handle even one-handed, and the Action 5 Pro has easily accessible ports for every part of the camera.

The Competition and Verdict

Like I said earlier, I'm not the go-to audience for action cameras. But, if you're reading this, I assume you're not, either.

In that case, you're probably looking for a vlogging camera that is easy to use and carry, has good battery life, and works out of the box with minimal fuss. Well, you're in luck, because that's exactly what the Action 5 Pro is.

It's main competitor, in my books, is also from DJI, and that's the Osmo Pocket 3. But in comparison, the Osmo Pocket 3 is slightly bigger and has a different kind of form factor. Yes, you can just whip it out and start filming, just as you can with the Action 5 Pro, but it's gimbal-based optics and flippable screen do present extra steps that some don't want to take.

While I love my Osmo Pocket 3, I view it as a step forward from the Action 5 Pro. It's just in the middle-ground of content creation, where you want to start exploring options with a little more variety. For everyone else, the Action 5 Pro is the full package, and then some.

Verdict:

If you're in the market for a solid, reliable camera, that has a robust ecosystem around it, and superb built-in functions right out of the box, you won't find anything better than the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro at this price range.