Also need to have a quality SD card or the data won’t record well and it won’t look smooth.
DJI Osmo Action 3 - does anybody use one?
- Thread starter whiskthrot
- Start date
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I don't own one. I'm just comparing what I see in video's in Youtube. For example I watched your video on Mics (I now have a Samsung mic with earbuds cut off to try!) and the digital noise just seems high compared to what I'm seeing on other videos that I know were created with a Hero 11. It's most noticeable to me when the bike is at speed.
For example at 1:05 in your mic video on the left hand side of the road, the grass and the hills in the background have a lot of digital noise. The same at 12:43 on the right side of the road. The grass is just a big blob of green. I'm not expecting to see individual blades of grass or anything, I just never see this as heavily on a Hero 11.
HippoDrone
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Were you watching his video at the highest available resolution?
I hand't thought of this, and now I wasn't, it was at 720p. So I upped it to 4k and the effect is still there. In fact you can see exactly what I am talking about at 12:24 in Phil's video:
The car is super sharp, the lines in the road, the guard rail, the trees on the left; all good. But look to the right and the grass is just one big blob of green, the trees on the right also look janky. This really is only noticeable when the bikes speed is high.
Compare this to the opening seconds on Road Reality's video here:
The grass and sides never wash out and get noisy. It's even on a lower resolution (not available in 4k).
I know its very hard to compare across videos. I just find that I find myself saying "oh this was shot on a Action 3!" when watching some videos.
The grass and sides never wash out and get noisy. It's even on a lower resolution (not available in 4k).
I know its very hard to compare across videos. I just find that I find myself saying "oh this was shot on a Action 3!" when watching some videos.
Drakhen99
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I had seen the same things regarding image quality on the Action 3 vs Hero 11. It seems that GoPro just does a better job with their sensor than everyone else... reliability, bugs, battery life, overheating? Not so much.
-John
Drakhen99
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Hey, I know that guy!
FWIW, that video was shot at 1080 and rendered out of Resolve at 1440. It was also something before the Hero 11, but I forget which one I had on my helmet that day.
The devil is in the details - bitrate, bitrate, bitrate. If a camera can record at a higher bitrate, the results will be that much better. I have my Sharpness set on high for my cameras.
-John
The Action 3 delivers if you look at the source files. It's what YouTube makes from the rendered file. You can see that the compression gets higher in every step. Grass and cobblestone information gets discarded, but the tiny white writing on the van is almost the same in every image.
One of the reasons why GoPro footage does not get crushed as much is the agressive image profile. Compared to the Osmo the GoPro has loads of sharpness and contrast added. Any compressor will try and preserve the "information" of an agressive image that isn't actually present in a natural image. I bet if you would match the Action 3 image to look as crisp and contrasted as the GoPro image, the result would be identical. The compressor doesn't care what your camera is.
One of the reasons why GoPro footage does not get crushed as much is the agressive image profile. Compared to the Osmo the GoPro has loads of sharpness and contrast added. Any compressor will try and preserve the "information" of an agressive image that isn't actually present in a natural image. I bet if you would match the Action 3 image to look as crisp and contrasted as the GoPro image, the result would be identical. The compressor doesn't care what your camera is.
Hi @PhilTonic , which mic did you use with the DJI OA3? Is it still working ok?
Don't own one but seen the recent reviews. They do look like GoPro killers. Would probably switch at some point but bit like the iPhone I'm too tied into the GoPro architecture, GoPro Plus, mounts etc will probably always stay with GoPro now. Insta360 though will probably go there next!
Still VERY pleased with the OA3. No issues whatsoever. Currently I'm using the cardo wired mic: https://www.cardosystems.com/de/shop/kabel-mikrofon/
Snapped the cable and soldered it to a 3.5 mm jack that connects to a Boya BY-K4 TRS to USB-C Adapter.
If you want something even easier: get yourself the Samsung EO-IC100 headset and snap the speakers off. Plugs straight into the OA via USB-C. Audio levels on the OA3 are a tiny bit on the hot side, but if you are not too nitpicky (like me) it will be pretty good. Don't forget to wrap some felt or foam around it for wind protection.
As mentioned in another thread, I expect this combo to work just fine with the OA4, since it handles the audio differently than the OA3.
As mentioned in another thread, I expect this combo to work just fine with the OA4, since it handles the audio differently than the OA3.
tojjer29
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I see the new Insta 360 Ace & Ace Pro are out now. That seems to have taken action cameras to a new level. Not cheap, but looks very good indeed.
Have to say though, it would be nice for a manufacturer to make a camera that we bikers can just plug a 3.5mm mic straight into it, and have it just work without all the adapters, gain faffage and everything else that comes with getting decent audio!!
Have to say though, it would be nice for a manufacturer to make a camera that we bikers can just plug a 3.5mm mic straight into it, and have it just work without all the adapters, gain faffage and everything else that comes with getting decent audio!!
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tojjer29
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My Hero & Black has a cracked rear screen and still records ok........apart from the overheating, and the corrupted files, and the mic adapters vulnerability to rain, and the.......................
HippoDrone
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The batteries are what overheat I believe, the camera switches off to protect them... The Hero 10 paired with the endurance batteries have never overheated on me, although I record at 1080 mostly. I admit I am a fanboi of GoPro, but they are def not without many flaws and faults.... which they don't seem to learn from often. But a good memory card very much helps, never had any corrupt files from my SanDisk Extreme 256Gb card purchased from a trusted seller.
Also worth taping up your mic adaptor too, we get proper wet on our trail rides, so need to protect them too...
Last edited:
Good afternoon all,
as I run the Osmo Action 3 I thought I’d throw in my experience with it. Previously I ran a GoPro 10 (and Steff my riding partner still does so you can easily compare the differences on our YouTube channel)
I personally wouldn’t go back for multiple reasons. The very fast switch on time helps if you suddenly spot something you want to record as you go past. The battery life is substantially better. The batteries charge much faster. The camera has never once shut down or glitched. The camera has never overheated. These are all problems I suffered I the GoPro occasionally. The footage seems to be pretty much identical quality to the GoPro. Audio is plug and play without having to use a media kit (Although it definitely has issues with clipping unless you use the right mic)
I am in no way saying it’s far better or everyone should be using it. As we all know the kit we all use is exceptionally subjective and what works for some is a nightmare for others!
The latest series (the Pyrenees ACT) on our channel (the wandering honda) has Steff using her GoPro and me using multiple Osmo Actions. The Audio is always recorded for both of us from my helmet intercom
as I run the Osmo Action 3 I thought I’d throw in my experience with it. Previously I ran a GoPro 10 (and Steff my riding partner still does so you can easily compare the differences on our YouTube channel)
I personally wouldn’t go back for multiple reasons. The very fast switch on time helps if you suddenly spot something you want to record as you go past. The battery life is substantially better. The batteries charge much faster. The camera has never once shut down or glitched. The camera has never overheated. These are all problems I suffered I the GoPro occasionally. The footage seems to be pretty much identical quality to the GoPro. Audio is plug and play without having to use a media kit (Although it definitely has issues with clipping unless you use the right mic)
I am in no way saying it’s far better or everyone should be using it. As we all know the kit we all use is exceptionally subjective and what works for some is a nightmare for others!
The latest series (the Pyrenees ACT) on our channel (the wandering honda) has Steff using her GoPro and me using multiple Osmo Actions. The Audio is always recorded for both of us from my helmet intercom
HippoDrone
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Heya, great to hear your input
The GoPro is very slow to turn on unless you use one-touch record, which stops you running an external mic, so you lose all audio, so yes, that GoPro is a major pain in that sense. Did you run the white GoPro Endurance batteries, or the blue ones? I get huge stamina from the white ones, at least compared to the blue ones... I know several other manufacturers can kick the GoPro butt on battery stamina stock, but I swear by the white batteries, also never get any overheating issues running them either, as I believe it is the batteries that overheat, not the camera, the camera just shuts down to protect itself and the battery. I hate the GoPro mic adaptor, but hate it a lot less than the media mod, which does very much hinder a battery swap, but it is dead simple if using the mic adaptor.
I didn’t think about running the endurance batteries. That’s a great tip. As I say I think different things work for different people. In an ideal world they’d take all the good bits from both cameras and build a super camera. That would be awesome.Heya, great to hear your input
The GoPro is very slow to turn on unless you use one-touch record, which stops you running an external mic, so you lose all audio, so yes, that GoPro is a major pain in that sense. Did you run the white GoPro Endurance batteries, or the blue ones? I get huge stamina from the white ones, at least compared to the blue ones... I know several other manufacturers can kick the GoPro butt on battery stamina stock, but I swear by the white batteries, also never get any overheating issues running them either, as I believe it is the batteries that overheat, not the camera, the camera just shuts down to protect itself and the battery. I hate the GoPro mic adaptor, but hate it a lot less than the media mod, which does very much hinder a battery swap, but it is dead simple if using the mic adaptor.
The other advantage (for me and probably less important if your set up is different) is the incredible mounting system of the Osmo. I have various mounts on the bike and to swap the camera to them it’s just a magnetic click. Takes less than a couple of seconds. It’s ridiculous to say (and shows how impatient I am!) but the twiddling around with thumbscrews every time I wanted to change position drive me mad.
I’m sure that says more about me than the camera lol
Thanks again for the battery tip. I’ll pass that on to Steff
HippoDrone
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We'd bloomin love the Super-Action-Camera... the Goldilocks for motovlogging hey!
The mounts sound mega useful if you move the camera around a bit for sure!
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