- The Osmo Action 6 has a 1/1.1-inch sensor and adjustable aperture
- It is water resistant up to 20 m without a case.
- Prices start at £329 / AU$669 and US pre-orders start at $379
After being rumored for months and teased by its creators a couple of weeks ago, the DJI Osmo Action 6 is finally official. And DJI’s latest flagship action camera, which replaces the excellent Osmo Action 5 Pro I reviewed just over a year ago, includes some interesting technology.
Perhaps the most eye-catching new feature is variable aperture, as our in-depth review of the Osmo Action 6 explains. DJI claims it’s the first action camera to offer one, and while I must confess it was never something I thought GoPros and the like were crying out for, I’m quietly intrigued by the possibilities.
The aperture has a range of f/2.0 to f/4.0, and DJI suggests this allows the camera to operate in a wide range of lighting conditions. Of course, it can be set to automatic adjustment if you just want to focus on other matters.
The other key feature is the new 1/1.1-inch square format CMOS sensor, which has 2.4 μm pixels. I say new, but we’ve seen it before on the DJI Osmo 360, and its size, shape and sensitivity are impressive. It should mean better low-light performance and better dynamic range (DJI says it can deliver up to 13.5 stops of the latter) while also supporting a “record now, crop later” approach, which means you can record a video and then crop it differently for different social media platforms later.
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The Osmo Action 6 also features 10-bit D-Log M recording, 4K capture at up to 120 fps, 4K at up to 60 fps in low-light SuperNight mode, a 2x lossless zoom, and RockSteady 3.0+ image stabilization with 360° HorizonSteady horizon leveling.
There’s 50GB of built-in storage, as well as a microSD slot, a battery life of up to 4 hours (with fast charging from 0 to 80% in 22 minutes), and a rugged, cold-resistant build with IP68 water protection. The camera is rated for diving up to 20m deep without additional protection and up to 60m deep with the optional diving case.
The return of the macro
A wide range of optional accessories launches alongside the Osmo Action 6, including ND filters, charging cases, stands, and a new macro lens. This lens add-on reduces the minimum focusing distance from 35cm to 11cm, allowing vloggers to film close-ups of objects (including their own faces). I’d say 35cm seems like a long minimum focusing distance for a camera of this type, and I’m very interested to see how suitable the camera is for vlogging without the Macro Lens add-on.
The DJI Osmo Action 6 is available to order now, with the Standard Combo (which includes the camera, a battery, a quick release bracket, a curved adhesive base, a locking screw, a USB-C cable and a non-slip pad) priced at $379 / £329 / AU$669 and the Adventure Combo (which includes the above plus two additional batteries, an additional quick release bracket, an additional locking screw, a battery case and an extension rod). 1.5m) priced at $479 / £415 / AU$839 (B&H Photo is taking pre-orders in the US).
With DJI’s largest sensor size, variable aperture, and excellent waterproofing, it could be one of the best action cameras available.
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The best action camera.
