DJI Osmo Action 3 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
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Overview of the DJI Osmo Action 3
DJI Osmo Action 3
DJI's 2022 premium action camera: 4K120fps video
The DJI Osmo Action 3 was released in 2022 and while it is a few years old, it offers incredible 4K120fps video at a very affordable price. It's successor, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is mostly an incremental improvement, making the Action 3 a great budget friendly action camera.
- Pros
- 4K120fps footage
- Freeze-proof
- Good image stabilization
- 52ft / 16m waterproof without case
- Cons
- Older model
Overview of the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI's flagship action camera: 4K120fps video and SuperNight mode
The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is overall a great action camera, that captures high quality footage in low light situations. It is very capable, rugged, usable in very cold weather and underwater without a diving case down to 66ft / 20m. It is the successor to the DJI Osmo Action 4 which was already a very popular choice.
- Pros
- SuperNight mode
- Waterproof 66ft / 20m without case
- Freeze-proof
- Built-in storage
- Cons
- Still only 4K video
Comparison of the Action 3 vs the Action 5 Pro
Weight and size
Both cameras are the same size. Both the Action 3 and the Action 5 Pro have similar weights.
DJI Osmo Action 3
70.5mm x 44.2mm x 32.8mm / 2.78in x 1.74in x 1.29in
5.11oz / 145g
Features
Dimensions
Weight
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
70.5mm x 44.2mm x 32.8mm / 2.78in x 1.74in x 1.29in
5.15oz / 146g
Why size and weight matter:
Weight is important for action cameras because we often mount them on helmets, or hold them at the end of a selfie stick while moving. Therefore a heavier camera can be dvifficult to use or uncomfortable. Weight is even more crucial for certain sports like road cycling or running.
Battery life
The Action 5 Pro offers a slightly better battery capacity. Both cameras have removable batteries.
DJI Osmo Action 3
1770mAh
Removable
160min at 1080p
Features
Battery capacity
Removable battery
Battery life
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
1950mAh
Removable
240min at 1080p
Why battery life matters:
Nothing worse than running out of battery just before capturing the best footage of the day! A long battery life is reassuring and convenient when shooting footage outdoors where options to charge are limited. Even the use of a power bank can be tedious or simply impossible like when filming watersports. Having removeable batteries allows battery swapping on the go which further extends your runtime.
Storage
Only the Action 5 Pro features built-in storage. Both the Action 3 and the Action 5 Pro support SD cards.
DJI Osmo Action 3
No built-in storage
microSD
Features
Built-in storage
Storage format
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
64GB (47GB available)
microSD
Why storage matters:
High quality footage can quickly take up lots of space and insufficient storage can soon be frustrating. Having a large amount of storage and the possiblity to extend it or swap SD cards while on a outing will ensure you will always be able to capture the footage you want. However, smaller, wearable action cameras often rely on built-in storage because of their small size.
Video performance
Both the Action 3 and the Action 5 Pro offer HDR video.
DJI Osmo Action 3
4K video at 120fps
4K
Features
Max resolution
HDR video
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
4K video at 120fps
4K60fps
Camera and sensor technology
The Action 5 Pro features a much higher resolution. Both feature a 155° field of view. The Action 3 has a slightly better video bit rate than the Action 5 Pro.
DJI Osmo Action 3
12MP
155°
130Mbps
Features
Pixels
Field of view
Video bite rate
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
40MP
155°
120Mbps
Camera settings
The Action 5 Pro's 100-51200 ISO range is far superior to Action 3's. Both cameras have the same exposure compensation adjustments.
DJI Osmo Action 3
100-12800
+/-4
Features
ISO range
Exposure Compensation
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
100-51200
+/-4
Action 3 vs Action 5 Pro specifications
Name | DJI Osmo Action 3 | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro |
Year of release | 2022 | 2024 |
Width | 2.78in / 70.5mm | 2.78in / 70.5mm |
Height | 1.74in / 44.2mm | 1.74in / 44.2mm |
Depth | 1.29in / 32.8mm | 1.29in / 32.8mm |
Weight | 5.11oz / 145g | 5.15oz / 146g |
Waterproof | 52ft / 16m | 66ft / 20m |
Waterproof with diving case | 197ft / 60m | 197ft / 60m |
Min operating temperature | -4°F / -20°C | -4°F / -20°C |
Max operating temperature | 113°F / 45°C | 113°F / 45°C |
Battery capacity | 1770mAh | 1950mAh |
Removable battery | Yes | Yes |
Battery life | 160min at 1080p | 240min at 1080p |
Charging time | 49min | 53min |
Built-in storage | - | 64GB (47GB available) |
Storage format | microSD | microSD |
Storage rating required | V30 or UHS-3 | V30 or UHS-3 |
Maximun storage supported | 256GB | 1TB |
Field of view | 155° | 155° |
Sensor | 1/1.7" | 1/1.3" |
Pixels | 12MP | 40MP |
Aperture | F2.8 | F2.8 |
ISO range | 100-12800 | 100-51200 |
Color Depth | 10bit | 10bit |
Video bite rate | 130Mbps | 120Mbps |
Exposure Compensation | +/-4 | +/-4 |
360-degree video | No | No |
4K video | 120fps | 120fps |
2.7K video | 120fps | 120fps |
1080p video | 240fps | 240fps |
Slow motion at 4K | 4 | 4 |
Maximum slow motion | 8x at 1080p | 8x at 1080p |
HDR video | 4K | 4K60fps |
Stabilization | RockSteady 3.0 | RockSteady 3.0+ |
Horizon lock | - | Yes |
Video format | H.264 (MP4) | H.264 (MP4) |
Live streaming | No | No |
Timelapse mode | Yes | Yes |
Starlapse mode | Yes | Yes |
Timeshift mode | Yes | Yes |
Loop recording mode | Yes | Yes |
Subject tracking | No | Yes |
Photo burst mode | No | Yes |
RAW format supported | Yes | Yes |
Microphones | 3 | 3 |
Stereo audio | Yes | Yes |
Noise reduction | Yes | Yes |
Audio format | aac | aac |
Audio input | - | Dual DJI Microphone Direct Connection |
Audio bluetooth support | - | DJI Mic 2 |
Wifi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax |
Bluetooth | BLE 5.0 | BLE 5.1 |
USB | Type-C USB | Type-C USB |
GPS integrated | No | No |
GPS pairing | - | GPS remote |
Pressure gauge | - | Yes |
Voice commands | Yes | Yes |