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Review: DJI Action 2 reimagines action camera design, but can’t beat physics: Digital photography review


DJI Action 2
from $399 | DJI.com

The DJI Action 2 is a modular action camera with a very compact body and impressive 4K video recording capabilities. It’s a reimagined version of DJI Action Osmo camera and has a variety of magnetic modules that users can customize to their photography needs.

The Action 2 uses a 1/1.7″ CMOS sensor, which is larger than the 1/2.3″ sensor in the original Osmo Action camera. Its F2.8 lens offers a 155º field of view (FoV), and a new color temperature sensor helps the camera quickly adjust as shooting situations change.

The camera also features a new stabilization mode called HorizonSteady that promises to keep horizons steady regardless of camera orientation, and DJI’s RockSteady 2.0 to reduce shake. Other features include Hyperlapse, Timelapse, 8x slow-mo and ‘Lapse Control’, allowing users to control the speed and duration of the hyperlapse and timelapse modes. The camera can be used as a webcam or for live streaming at 1080/30p.


Main specifications

  • 1/1.7″ CMOS sensor
  • F2.8 lens with 155º . FOV
  • Video: 4K/120p (16:9, 3840×2160), 4K/60p (4:3, 4096×3072), 2.7K/120p (16:9, 2688×1512), 2.7K/60p (4 : 3 , 2688 × 2016), 1080 / 240p
  • 12MP photo (Raw or JPEG, but not at the same time)
  • 4x digital zoom with Horizon Stabilization Off, 2x digital zoom with HorizonSteady on
  • 32 GB internal memory
  • micro SD card slot on the front-facing camera and battery pack modules
  • 1.76″ OLED touch screen
  • One built-in microphone (up to three when paired with the front-facing camera module)
  • Electronic image stabilization up to 60 fps
  • Waterproof to 10m (33 ft.) Without carrying case, down to 60m with case
  • Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

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Body and design

The Action 2’s updated body design is the most visible change to DJI’s line of action cameras. It is extremely compact to use without any accessories, weighing only 56 grams (~2 ounces) and measuring 39 x 39 x 22.3mm. An OLED touchscreen is found on the back of the camera, and a single button at the top lets you record video or take photos.

All camera settings can be changed using the OLED touchscreen on the back or the DJI Mimo app. At the end of Action 2, you’ll find magnetic contacts that allow you to connect various accessories to the camera.

The DJI Action 2 can connect to the battery pack or the front display module using its unique magnetic design. The ultra-small but powerful magnets on the bottom of the DJI Action 2 allow you to attach a variety of accessories.

You can connect a front-panel display module or additional battery pack to the Action 2 to increase its battery life. Using either accessory also allows you to record to a micro SD card, expanding on the main module’s 32GB of built-in memory. The front-panel display boosts battery life from 70 minutes to 160 minutes (1080/30p recording), and the battery pack boosts battery life up to 3 hours. Two modules cannot be used at the same time.

The DJI Action 2 can also be used with accessories such as a magnetic necklace for FPV video recording, a floating handle and waterproof case, a magnetic articulating adapter mount, and a remote control extension stick. , mini tripod and macro lens accessory.

Attaching a front-panel display module or an additional battery pack doubles the size of the DJI Action 2, but it also adds extra functionality and battery life.

The modular magnetic design makes it easy to swap accessories quickly while keeping the Action 2’s overall dimensions relatively small. The magnetic design also allows you to attach the Action 2 to any magnetic surface, which should, in theory, be like a way to capture some unique perspectives. But for reasons I will explain below, I do not recommend mounting this camera to the hood of your car.

Spite Fuxxx performing at Our Wicked Lady.
F2.8 | 1/60 second | ISO 6400

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How is it to use

While the magnetic design is handy for attaching extra battery packs and small tripods, it’s less functional when attached to random magnetic surfaces. I tried to attach the Action 2 to the metal C stand and was disappointed to see it slowly slide down the length of the kickstand. The magnets in this device are clearly designed for use with other magnetic DJI devices.

Although the camera is firmly attached to the wearable necklace accessory, the FPV footage still leaves something to be desired. I took some super photos with it and keeping my hair, headphone cable or jacket from covering the camera was a problem. The horizon lines in the footage also tend to be slightly off.

Hyperlapse of Ridgewood, Queens, shot with the DJI Action 2 attached to the magnetic necklace attachment. Speed ​​up at 1080/30p.

If you’re shooting with the Action 2 attached to a necklace, you’ll want to control it with the DJI app, but if the camera is left on for long periods of time, I’ve noticed that the camera tends to disconnect from the app. and the camera will stop recording.

The collar is more discreet than the chest harness, but the flashing light on the front of the Action 2 makes it clear you’re wearing the camera. Depending on your bust size, the design can also be a bit confusing, and the magnet that allows you to connect the camera to the necklace accessory is tiny and easy to lose track of.

The camera is also prone to overheating and shutting itself off, and keeping it close to your body only seems to make that happen faster. While having the option of going hands-free with the camera is a nice touch, I’d rather hold the camera or attach it to one of the mini tripods. As for the hands-free option, the headband might provide a slightly better option for capturing FPV perspectives.

Using one of the mini tripods is the easiest way to work with the DJI Action 2. The stabilization technology inside the camera is good enough to eliminate the need for a gimbal.

Finally, the speed at which the camera seems to overheat may be its biggest drawback. In use, the Action 2 became extremely hot to the touch after about three minutes of recording at 1080p. While shooting 4K footage, it was not unusual in my time with the camera overheating, stopping recording, and shutting itself down.

When used in a controlled environment, the longest we were able to shoot in 4K/50p before the camera turned itself off was around seven minutes. One ‘fix’ is to shoot at a lower resolution, which generates less heat, but for many users that defeats the purpose of buying a 4K action camera. However, DJI did share some additional information about the camera’s thermal management that proved helpful.

As long as the wind speed around the camera is at least 1 m/s, it should have no problem overheating in medium outdoor temperatures.

It turns out that air cooling is part of the camera’s design. It’s built from an aluminum alloy that’s designed to conduct and dissipate heat, and according to DJI, as long as the wind speed around the camera is at least 1 m/s, you shouldn’t experience overheating issues in mid-temp. outdoor vase. Additionally, the camera includes a setting that allows you to adjust its crop temperature to suit your usage and preferences. It can be set to Standard (48º C) or High (53º C), with the latter giving you a bit more latitude.

This means that the context in which you intend to use the camera is very important. When doing a controlled experiment on a tripod in an apartment, or even when filming bands at indoor clubs like we did, there won’t be much airflow through the camera and it won’t. heats up pretty quickly. On the other hand, if you’re going to mount the camera on the handlebars of your bike or use it on a ski helmet, with the wind blowing around the camera and taking away the heat, overheating may not be a concern. hesitate.

Rizzos performing at TV Eye in Ridgewood, Queens.
F2.8 | 1/40 | ISO 3290

The touchscreen is responsive, but given the camera’s small size, it requires nimble fingers. Switching modes on the back of the camera can be a bit tricky, as you have to swipe from the center of the screen to switch between photo, video, fast clip, slow motion, and timelapse modes.

You can use the DJI Mimo app to change modes, but unfortunately the current version doesn’t support file playback yet, so if you want to see your footage on a larger screen, you’ll have to Download the file to your computer. It also means that features like the AI ​​editor are not accessible.

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Image and video quality

While it’s frustrating not being able to watch anything through the app, the footage Action 2 produces is quite impressive. The wide field of view is great for video recording, and even when shooting manually, the footage is incredibly stable. Beautiful and vivid color reproduction, and accurate auto exposure. Videos are saved in MP4 format (H.264 or HEVC).

Rebellion performing outside in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Shoot at 1080/50p.

During my time with Action 2, I took it to a number of live shows and was impressed by what it could do. It’s much smaller than a phone, easier to hold, and if someone in the crowd comes to see you in the middle of the scene, you don’t need to worry about Action 2 crashing. It happened, and Act 2 is fine. If it were my phone, it would be a shock.

Rizzos at TV Eye. Shoot at 4K/50p. While the camera is excellent at capturing steady footage, having only one microphone means the sound quality isn’t much better than what you can capture with a smartphone.

With just one microphone, the sound quality wouldn’t be ideal, but in reality, the sound captured at those gigs was on par with what I was able to get with my phone. An additional microphone accessory coming in December will be a must-have if the audio quality of what you’re recording is important.

Children dance at a Rebelmatic performance in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Shoot in 4x SlowMo (1080/120p capture with 1080/30p playback).

As mentioned earlier, the Action 2 can heat up quickly and easily turn itself off, so it might not be the best choice for behind-the-scenes footage. I tried to use it as an extra cam when shooting music videos and was disappointed that it overheated and turned off on its own for most of the song.

The 12MP out-of-camera JPEGs look good enough, and there’s a Raw option to give you more flexibility with edits. However, Action 2 requires you to choose a format and does not allow you to shoot both JPEG and Raw at the same time. Most action cams aren’t capable of super close-ups, but the Action 2 is unique because it has a macro lens attached. Even so, shooting with a macro lens accessory will give a rather heavy texture to the images it produces.

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Conclusion

DJI has spent over two years rethinking its position in the action camera market, and the Action 2’s design is truly innovative. The camera is tiny, the field of view is wider than most of its competitors, the stabilization is excellent, and the footage it can capture is impressive.

We’re optimistic that app functionality will improve over time, but overheating can be an issue depending on how you plan to use the camera. This means that air cooling is an integral part of its design given its ultra-small size, but this limits its use in certain cases. As a result, the Action 2 is probably not the best choice for shooting 4K video in a still or indoor setup, but it could fit the bill for outdoor activities or action sports.

The price is also a bit high for what you get. The Action 2 itself is $399, but if you combine it with the front-facing LCD module, it rises to $519. The design here is certainly innovative and we were impressed by the quality of the footage it captured. But the price is high for a camera that is capable of overheating and shutting down when you least expect it.

What we like

  • Compact size with loads of handy accessories
  • Magnetic module design
  • Impressive video
  • Great stability

What we would like to see improved

  • The functionality of the DJI Mimo app is limited
  • The camera relies on airflow to prevent overheating and thermal shutdown
  • There is no micro SD card slot on the main camera module



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