DJI often fluctuates wildly as it iteratively upgrades existing ideas and frameworks, and ultimately becomes a more meaningful and transformative successor, surpassing its predecessor.
Their new action camera, the Osmo Action 6, seems to be the former at first glance, but that’s also a shame at first glance, because the DJI Nano specifically highlights that different types of creative tasks require different equipment.
But dig a little deeper and you’ll find that the Osmo Action 6 is actually more groundbreaking than first thought, and DJI is once again reminding us just how wild things can be, both from hardware and software manufacturers, when they really put in the work.
The shape of the body remains the same, and while the camera is a little heavier, the looks, functionality, and actual footage remain the same – which is still pretty impressive considering what this camera can deliver.
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The biggest new change is the switch to a square lens – which doesn’t matter much if you’re using 16:9. Technically, the size is slightly smaller at 1/1.1 inches, but the difference is that it’s easier to edit in other aspect ratios, such as switching between vertical and horizontal aspect ratios. In addition, the camera now has a variable aperture, from f/2.0 to f/4.0, which means the lens can adjust itself to the amount of natural light. This is significant Improved performance in low-light environments makes it easier to see the conversion effect at night because image noise and artifacts are more effectively suppressed.
In good light conditions, the effect is more limited, but you’ll have better depth of field anyway. Add in robust and reliable technology like RockSteady 3.0 and HorizonSteady, and you have an extremely effective action camera that has become even more versatile since the last time.
Because of these more significant upgrades, it’s a bit boring to see the same 1950mAh battery, IP68 certification, and 50GB of internal storage (also expandable via microSD). It’s not that there’s anything glaringly missing here, and the better graphics help soften the sting of disappointment, but DJI should really keep working on improving its form, that’s for sure.
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But overall, it’s still a great way to shoot. The two OLED panels make composition easy, and support for 10-bit D-Log M setup sequences is great for enthusiasts who care about this kind of thing, but at the same time you can just press a button and almost always be happy with the results.
The Osmo Action 6 is more groundbreaking than I thought, and while I think DJI could try new ideas next time—perhaps built-in mounting suction cups, ditching the small OLED screen for a swiveling stand—or a completely different design—but overall, it’s all very impressive, and it’s hard to see a novice buyer buying the Osmo Action 6 and not being able to find what they’re looking for.
