My Honest Review of the Action 5 Pro… Totally Let Down

Buying Advice
1

Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

2

This is why you can’t trust just any reviewer. The ones who buy the products themselves and speak their mind are the only ones worth watching. Anyone who’s getting free stuff will be cautious with their criticism.

3

Kingsley said:
This is why you can’t trust just any reviewer. The ones who buy the products themselves and speak their mind are the only ones worth watching. Anyone who’s getting free stuff will be cautious with their criticism.

Who do you think are the most honest action cam reviewers?

4

Mackenzie said:

Kingsley said:
This is why you can’t trust just any reviewer. The ones who buy the products themselves and speak their mind are the only ones worth watching. Anyone who’s getting free stuff will be cautious with their criticism.

Who do you think are the most honest action cam reviewers?

Dcrainmaker is one I trust.

5

People really need to be careful about the pre-release review system DJI uses. All the launch-day reviews are approved by DJI, and if you’re too honest, they won’t send you products again. It’s a cycle of only hearing positive stuff to keep the reviews coming.

6

Noor said:
People really need to be careful about the pre-release review system DJI uses. All the launch-day reviews are approved by DJI, and if you’re too honest, they won’t send you products again. It’s a cycle of only hearing positive stuff to keep the reviews coming.

I’ve stopped following creators who do these on day 1. It’s just so sketchy how they all say the same thing and hide how they got the camera.

7

This is why I never buy anything on launch day. I always wait for the real-world reviews from people who aren’t getting paid by the companies. Those are the ones that tell you the real issues.

8

I watched Tamara Gabriel’s comparison with the Action 4, and the 4 looked way better. I hope they fix this with a firmware update because it looks like cheap phone footage right now.

9

Ming said:
I watched Tamara Gabriel’s comparison with the Action 4, and the 4 looked way better. I hope they fix this with a firmware update because it looks like cheap phone footage right now.

I saw her video too, and she nailed all the problems I was having. Glad to see someone being honest.

10

Ming said:
I watched Tamara Gabriel’s comparison with the Action 4, and the 4 looked way better. I hope they fix this with a firmware update because it looks like cheap phone footage right now.

Let’s see if they fix it. They switched to a Qualcomm chip for this one, and it seems like they prioritized battery life over image quality.

11

Try setting texture and noise reduction to -2 and set auto exposure to -3EV. It might help until they release an update.

12

Tallis said:
Try setting texture and noise reduction to -2 and set auto exposure to -3EV. It might help until they release an update.

Thanks! I’ll give this a shot and report back.

13

Paris said:
Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

Thanks for this review. I just got mine, and I’m already seeing issues. I might end up returning it and going back to the Action 4.

14

Paris said:
Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

I was hoping to switch from GoPro to this, but the image quality is just not there. Even the D-log doesn’t save it. I’m pretty sure I’ll be returning it too.

15

Rex said:

Paris said:
Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

I was hoping to switch from GoPro to this, but the image quality is just not there. Even the D-log doesn’t save it. I’m pretty sure I’ll be returning it too.

I feel the same. D-log is better, but it’s still not great.

16

Paris said:
Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

Here’s some footage comparing the Action 5 Pro with the GoPro Hero 13. I actually thought the Action 5 looked better, especially in bright light. https://youtu.be/YHPF0QefJ-Y

17

Paris said:
Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

Thanks for this review. I was deciding between this and the new GoPro, and you’ve helped me a lot.

18

Ira said:

Paris said:
Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

Thanks for this review. I was deciding between this and the new GoPro, and you’ve helped me a lot.

Honestly, GoPro isn’t great either. Look into Insta360 if you can. GoPro has been on the decline for years.

19

Paris said:
Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

I’ve had a good experience with mine so far. It’s been better in low light than the GoPro, and the battery life has been amazing.

20

Eden said:

Paris said:
Background: I’m a full-time travel vlogger for 5 years, and have been shooting on GoPros for almost a decade. I watched every review I could find on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and decided to take the plunge, hoping to finally switch away from GoPro. This review is all about the image quality and color because plenty of reviews already praised the battery life.

I got my camera this morning, charged the batteries, and took it out to test. After checking the footage, I’m really disappointed, and I’ve lost trust in almost every YouTuber who reviewed this.

The test was done in bright, midday sunlight, no clouds. I haven’t tested night footage yet, but based on what I’ve seen, I’m not sure I even want to.

Issue 1: Image Quality and Shadows
The image quality is just bad. I shot in 4K, 60FPS with all settings on normal, and my face looks pixelated like an old AI filter. You can see in this video how blocky it is, and it barely captures my hair. It’s like the camera’s trying to fix lighting changes but failing horribly. Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/SIYbrVl5fRk.

Every clip made me look like a cartoon character, and this photo really shocked me: https://imgur.com/a/pbHUAtX.

Issue 2: Over-Sharpening and White Balance
The camera over-sharpens and flickers as it adjusts to different light sources. The colors are natural but lack the vibrance of a GoPro, making the image look washed out. Whites are too bright, and overall, it feels dull.

Issue 3: Sun Lens Flare
The sun causes bad lens flares, more distracting than the GoPro’s. It takes up a lot of space in the shot and ruins the video.

Random Thoughts
I like how natural the colors look, especially my skin tone. Stabilization is good but not quite GoPro level. The mic is better, and it didn’t overheat, even when recording in a bag for 40 minutes. But none of that matters if the image quality is this bad.

Conclusion
I’m stunned I spent $500 on this camera. I wouldn’t recommend it for vlogging, action sports, or anything else. It’s just not good. I’ll be returning it, and since I sold my GoPro 11 yesterday (LOL OOPS), I might just have to buy another GoPro. What a bummer.

Feel free to ask any questions or request more footage. Updates on D-log footage coming soon.

Update: I reviewed the D-log footage, and while it’s better, the low bitrate still makes it worse than GoPro. The detail just isn’t there. Here’s my comparison video: https://youtu.be/tXJJZ9FnGSM.

I’ve had a good experience with mine so far. It’s been better in low light than the GoPro, and the battery life has been amazing.

Would love to see some of your footage!