DJI Osmo Action 6 Australian review: Better but worth the upgrade?
From waterfall caves to rainforest roads, DJI's newest action camera delivers stunning results in challenging conditions – but is it really worth the upgrade? FULL REVIEW, PHOTOS, VIDEO
If you are new to action cameras, prepare to be blown away.
The Osmo Action 6 is an incredible little camera built for capturing the most adventurous people on the planet.
But is also great for vlogging, content creators and just recording family moments.
The latest model is the first to offer a variable aperture with a range of f/2.0 to f/4.0 to enable better lowlight performance.
It now has a custom 1/1.1-inch square CMOS sensor and 2.4 μm fusion large pixels, boosting image quality.
But is it a big enough improvement to justify upgrading from the Action 5 Pro or even the excellent Osmo Action 4?
For most, probably not.
The maximum aperture of f/2.0 definitely takes in more light during lowlight shoots so if you do more photography and video work at night, it is a plus.
We have put the camera to the test shooting along some rainforest-lined roads at dusk, at sunrise, in the ocean, as well as in a cave under a waterfall.
Given the movement, it was amazing how much detail the camera picked up travelling along the road, while it also managed to pick up the sunlight in the cave behind the waterfall, which was surprising.
The camera also introduces Starburst mode to turn city lights into more creative scenes.
We also tried it with the sun coming through the trees in the rainforest and it generated a slightly more interesting shot, though you could probably achieve the same on a good phone.
We also tested the optional macro lens on our pooches with video and photos.
With the macro lens attached, the minimum focus distance is reduced from 35cm to just 11cm.
We were able to capture some pretty fun and very interesting looking photos and video of the dogs.
The macro flower shots were nothing special with better results from your phone.
There is also a FOV boost lens which is sold separately to expand the 155° field of view to 182°.
DJI says Osmo Action 6’s all-new 1/1.1-inch CMOS sensor delivers up to 13.5 stops of dynamic range.
With new noise reduction technology, SuperNight mode can capture detailed video up to 4K/60fps in lowlight conditions.
The 10-bit D-Log M colour system preserves highlight and shadow detail for greater flexibility in post-production as well as on-screen D-Log M preview for real-time colour and exposure monitoring.
A new 4K custom mode also allows users to shoot first and crop later in post-production to frame video, something that will appeal to those creating video for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms.
Probably the thing we had most fun playing with was the slow-motion capture.
Shooting scenes of diving through the water, you see the incredible detail of water bubbles emerging in front of your face. It looks amazing.
Osmo Action 6 natively supports up to 4K/120fps slow-motion recording and can intelligently generate up to 32x Super Slow Motion playback at 1080p.
By interpolating frames recorded at 1080p/240fps, it produces a slowdown effect equivalent to 960fps when played back at 1080p/30fps, providing a cinematic effect for action footage.
It’s perfect for slowing down dirt bike action or whizzing through the snow.
The camera also comes with plenty of stabilisation and horizon balancing features.
I sent my son out on a run with the camera strapped to him without the stabilisation on and the footage was shocking with movement from side to side.
With Rocksteady stabilisation on, even footage from a car is smooth.
The camera also has 2x lossless zoom to bring the action in a little closer but the perspective is much wider than you see through a phone.
The camera also has six built-in film tones, portrait mode to detect faces and ensure true to life skin tones as well as subject tracking.
The Osmo Action 6 is waterproof up to 20 metres without a case or up to 60 metres in the optional case.
It’s rugged enough for the snow, with it being suitable for temperatures as low as -20C.
The four-hour battery can be fast-charged to 80 per cent in 22 minutes, while there is generous 50GB built-in storage as well as a memory card slot.
You can also use voice commands to take photos and stop and start recording, as well as gesture controls, though we found the voice commands a bit hit and miss.
The sound recording on the camera is the best we have seen on an action camera with a three-mic array to capture stereo sound. It also supports direct connection with up to two DJI microphone transmitters (compatible with Mic 2, Mic 3 or Mic Mini).
The dual connection allows creators to record two different sources such as a two-person conversation, or ambient sounds like engine sounds and a voice-over.
The Osmo Action 6 is a great camera but it is arguably not a big enough leap for those using the latest cameras to justify the cost of upgrading.
But if you are looking for more lowlight options and variable aperture, and you are into content creation, it is a great camera.
Price and availability in Australia
Osmo Action 6 Standard Combo – $669
Includes Osmo Action 6, Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus (1950 mAh), Osmo Dual-Direction Quick-Release Adapter Mount, Osmo Action Curved Adhesive Base, Osmo Locking Screw, USB-C to USB-C PD Cable and Osmo Action Anti-Slip Pad
Osmo Action 6 Adventure Combo – $839
Includes everything in the Standard Combo, plus two additional Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus, one additional Osmo Dual-Direction Quick-Release Adapter Mount, one additional Osmo Locking Screw, the Osmo Multifunctional Battery Case 3 and Osmo 1.5m Extension Rod.
The camera is available from the DJI online store and selected retailers.
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Originally published as DJI Osmo Action 6 Australian review: Better but worth the upgrade?
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