Many motovloggers and everyday riders have been switching cameras in recent years. DJI’s latest offering, the Osmo Action 5 Pro, improves on the already successful series of action cams in many ways that will benefit motorcyclists in particular. But more notably, the new Osmo boasts a few industry-first professional features. This is in direct contrast to the competition, which riders have been complaining about working less well for our unique needs with each new iteration.

Standard features that we have come to expect on modern action cameras, such as front and rear touchscreens, recording in 4K at 120 frames per second, and excellent image quality, are all there. Let’s take a closer look at what puts the latest from DJI above and beyond the rest, particularly from the perspective of an adventure rider.

Improved Image Quality

We use action cameras to capture great-looking videos of our rides, so let’s start there. The Osmo Action 5 Pro features a 1/1.3” sensor with a 2.4μm pixel size. These are the same specs as the previous version, but DJI says this is a next-generation sensor with an all-new design. It also has a high dynamic range of up to 13.5 stops, an industry first. These specs rival some professional cameras, never mind the action camera competition.

The 155º ultra-wide-angle lens provides the same field of view as its predecessor and robust stabilization with 360º HorizonSteady. The next time your bike decides to take a dirt nap, the image will remain oriented to the horizon while the bike tips over, rather than the entire world revolving around your bike (which, we know, it does). It also retains the 10-bit D-Log M and HLG modes, providing greater color grading flexibility and achieving cinematic visuals.

Low-Light Performance

Rides often take longer than we expect them to, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop shooting video. The Osmo Action 5 Pro continues to shoot high-dynamic, low-light video in 4K at 60 frames per second. This is still a good frame rate for smooth video, while the slightly longer exposure time helps capture intricate shadow details without overexposing highlights to enhance the overall image quality. If you’re out way too late, SuperNight mode with AI noise reduction algorithms can overcome the darkness in extremely low-light environments to yield cleaner and clearer footage.

Optimized For Underwater Performance

The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro provides the industry’s deepest waterproofing depth at 20 meters without a case. The built-in color temperature sensor captures true-to-life colors under the sea. The camera can also be set to start recording automatically while submerged and to stop after surfacing. Not all of these features are applicable to adventure riding, but with waterproofing like this, you won’t have to worry about catastrophic failure if you get caught in heavy rain with the camera still attached to your helmet or motorcycle. If you tip over during a water crossing, it will keep working while submerged, ensuring that you’ll at least get some epic video to commemorate your mishap.

Fast Charging and Long Battery Life

How many times have we finally reached the best part of a ride, only for our action camera’s battery to run out and miss it? The industry average for action camera battery life is approximately two hours. (My personal experience is even shorter than that.) The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro offers double this average with up to four hours of battery life. This was made possible by being the first in the industry to use a 4nm chip along with a larger 1950mAh battery, and a proprietary DJI algorithm that optimizes energy savings.

Although it’s an established fact that no battery performs as well in cold temperatures, the Osmo Action 5 Pro does better than most. Even in temperatures as low as -20° C (-4°F), the camera can reliably record video for up to 3.6 hours. No more will we have to save our recording time for “the good part,” only to miss the shot of that moose running down the road right in front of us. We can record it all.

If even four hours isn’t enough, the DJI 30W USB-C Charger will quickly pump power back into the battery, extending your recording time over a scenic stop or a lunch break. Even a short 15-minute charge will give you another two hours of shooting time without slowing down your ride. If you’d rather not worry about charging on the fly at all, an extra battery only costs $32 at the DJI Store.

DJI vs. GoPro

As previously mentioned, many motovloggers have been moving to the DJI Osmo Action line of cameras instead of the 800-pound gorilla that is GoPro. GoPro has practically owned the action camera market until recently, despite producing a long line of cameras that have not been particularly friendly to the needs of motorcyclists. This has improved in recent models, but I know a number of motorcycle video creators who have switched from GoPro to DJI and other cameras because of reliability issues.

The Hero 13 Black is the latest version GoPro has to offer, and it includes some extremely impressive features. However, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro beats it in many ways. The Hero 13 Black can not match the DJI’s new low-light imaging features or distortion control. The Osmo Action 5 Pro has 47 GB of built-in storage in addition to whatever memory card you install. This can become an invaluable safety net if your card fills up, but you’re still not done recording. Or if you somehow left your card at home, you’ll still have some room for some decent footage. The GoPro has no built-in storage. 

And while the Hero 13 Black’s 2.5 hours of operating time is above the industry average of two hours, it does not compare to the Osmo Action 5 Pro’s four-hour recording time, despite both cameras having almost the same size battery. That’s where DJI’s special 4nm chip and energy-saving algorithm come in.

Also worth noting, many GoPro models have a noticeable lag between the time you press the recording button to the time it actually starts recording, which can cause you to miss capturing what you were attempting to record in the first place. The Osmo Action 5 Pro begins recording just 0.3 seconds after you press the button, compared to three seconds on the GoPro. In fact, DJI even offers up to 60 seconds of pre-recording time, enabling you to capture those moments you “missed” because you weren’t actively recording at the time. It’s too bad this feature has to be turned on every time you turn on the camera, but at least it has it, while the GoPro does not.

One area we can’t directly comment on is audio quality. Both cameras have built-in microphones and support wireless ones as well. GoPro uses standard Bluetooth, while DJI offers its proprietary OsmoAudio system, which connects to the DJI Mic 2 Transmitter. We haven’t tried this inside a helmet while riding to see how well it picks up the rider’s voice in a loud environment with lots of wind noise, but DJI says the Osmo Action 5 Pro has “AI Wind Noise Reduction.” Of course, background music and voiceovers can always cover up a soundtrack that is otherwise noisy.

Finally, there’s the price. The GoPro Hero 13 Black starts at $399, while the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro starts at $349 for the Standard Combo. That’s $50 less than the Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo cost when new (though its price has now dropped to $299). The Adventure Combo adds two additional batteries (up to 12 hours of recording time), a multifunctional battery case that can charge them, and a 1.5-meter extension rod (essentially a “selfie stick”) for $449. While there is also a Motorcycling/Mountain Cycling Combo available for $428, all it adds is a handlebar mount, which may vibrate too much on single-cylinder motorcycles, and a chest strap mount, which not many riders I know use. I’d recommend either the Standard Combo for shorter rides or the Adventure Combo for the extra power on long rides, and mount the camera to your helmet to minimize the chance of vibration, as well as for the rider-view angle.

For detailed information on all of the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro’s features, accessories, and capabilities, visit dji.com/osmo-action-5-pro

Author: Justin Hughes

Justin has been an automotive and motorcycle journalist for the past 10 years. After learning to ride on a series of Suzuki GSs, he took up touring on a Honda Silverwing and PC800 before turning his attention to off-road adventures. His racing experience is mainly with cars, although he did do a track day once on a KLR650. He has traveled with his cat, Lister, to 44 states in his “moto-glamping” camper van, Smokey Da Van, with his V-Strom 650 in tow.