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Hands-On With DJI's Action 2 Camera and Mic

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Back in November, camera and drone company DJI released its Action 2 Camera, introducing an interchangeable and adaptive magnetic design for accessories, a lighter weight chassis, camera improvements, and other updates for those who want to film their adventures.


In our latest YouTube video, we went hands-on with the DJI Action 2 to test it out and see if it's worth the $399 price tag.

The Action 2 is an iteration on DJI's original Action camera, so DJI is not new to the extreme sports videography market. The new palm-sized model is much smaller and more lightweight at 56 grams, and it continues to be dust proof, waterproof, and drop proof, so it's able to hold up in all kinds of environments.

dji-action-cam.jpg

It comes with a 1/1.7-inch f/2.8 12-megapixel sensor that can record 4K video at up to 120 frames per second, and the field of view comes in at 155 degrees for capturing more of what's around you. There's a 1.76-inch OLED touchscreen, and the battery lasts for up to 70 minutes.

Camera quality is similar to other action cameras on the market and maybe even a bit behind the latest GoPro Hero 10, but the stabilization is competitive and DJI wins out when it comes to form factor. The inclusion of magnets for attaching peripherals was a great idea because it makes the Action 2 more versatile.

dji-action-cam-2.jpg

The DJI Action 2 works with all kinds of accessories, including a Front Touchscreen Module that boosts battery life to 160 minutes and adds another screen for vlogging, and a Power Module that lets the camera last for up to 180 minutes. DJI also has several mounts and adapters to meet multiple use cases, along with a waterproof case for underwater filming and a magnetic headband for head-mounted video.

There's also a magnetic necklace mount for wearing the camera on a shirt, and a macro lens that's perfect for close up shots, and even with accessories attached, the Action 2 is compact. The compactness of the camera does have one major negative - heat dissipation. It runs hot and can overheat when shooting at high frame rates and high resolution, leading it to shut off to cool down.

All in all, at $399, the DJI Action 2 is a solid little camera that's worth considering for those who are looking for a tiny, modular form factor, but those who want to film at the highest resolution will definitely want to think twice because of the heat issues.

Article Link: Hands-On With DJI's Action 2 Camera and Mic
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/02/25/dji-action-cam-and-mic-hands-on/
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DJI should have timed the release of this camera for the Olympics–and signed up Chloe Kim, Eileen Gu, and Lindsey Jacobellis as brand ambassadors. Although now that I think about it, it seemed like every snowboarder and trick skier had an iPhone on them when competing. Come on Apple, how 'bout a iPhone 14 Pro Xtreme (more water resistant, more impact resistant, a wireless video camera accessory...)???
 
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Adorable camera + system.

It still doesn't work as a webcam with several versions of OS X (ie using the Action2 as an overhead camera or tethered secondary camera):

Webcam does not work on MacOS

Hello, I can't use my Action 2 as a webcam on macOS Monterey. It is identified as "UVC Camera" but the camera only displays a black screen. Does anyone work webcam function on Mac without any issue?
forum.dji.com forum.dji.com
 
It’s unfortunately a step back from their previous camera. Internal memory, internal battery? What are they thinking?
Oh but you can add a battery pack with a sd card slot, but wait, if I do that the camera is no longer waterproof…
And roughly 12 min recording in 4K with the internal battery?
Beyond belief
 
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I've so, so, so wished for years for Apple to make something like this using iOS and the iPhone's camera. A few years ago I was working with a production company and we bought a few dozen Polaroid Cube, I think it was the "plus" version?, cameras just because they had magnetic bases and could stream (I remember the streaming was a pain to record which is why we were bemoaning that Apple didn't make something like them). We set them up, and then quite literally threw them up and around onto the scaffolding, ceilings and sides of a one-time only huge event we were documenting. They were so cheap, small and just stuck that after the event we didn't even bother taking them down and just left most of them. If Apple would make a reasonably priced small water/dust/weather resistant camera that had a magnetic base, wifi and streamed and also optionally recorded internally they likely sell a ton of them. We're sitting here just yelling out ideas to one another of the possibilities after I sent this article around.
 
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I dont think it is worth $399. actually it looks plastic and not durable and easy to break. I dont care how great the video is. An iPhone Camera put in a square casing with a cheap viewing screen to boot.
 
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MacRumors said:


Back in November, camera and drone company DJI released its Action 2 Camera, introducing an interchangeable and adaptive magnetic design for accessories, a lighter weight chassis, camera improvements, and other updates for those who want to film their adventures.


In our latest YouTube video, we went hands-on with the DJI Action 2 to test it out and see if it's worth the $399 price tag.

The Action 2 is an iteration on DJI's original Action camera, so DJI is not new to the extreme sports videography market. The new palm-sized model is much smaller and more lightweight at 56 grams, and it continues to be dust proof, waterproof, and drop proof, so it's able to hold up in all kinds of environments.

dji-action-cam.jpg

It comes with a 1/1.7-inch f/2.8 12-megapixel sensor that can record 4K video at up to 120 frames per second, and the field of view comes in at 155 degrees for capturing more of what's around you. There's a 1.76-inch OLED touchscreen, and the battery lasts for up to 70 minutes.

Camera quality is similar to other action cameras on the market and maybe even a bit behind the latest GoPro Hero 10, but the stabilization is competitive and DJI wins out when it comes to form factor. The inclusion of magnets for attaching peripherals was a great idea because it makes the Action 2 more versatile.

dji-action-cam-2.jpg

The DJI Action 2 works with all kinds of accessories, including a Front Touchscreen Module that boosts battery life to 160 minutes and adds another screen for vlogging, and a Power Module that lets the camera last for up to 180 minutes. DJI also has several mounts and adapters to meet multiple use cases, along with a waterproof case for underwater filming and a magnetic headband for head-mounted video.

There's also a magnetic necklace mount for wearing the camera on a shirt, and a macro lens that's perfect for close up shots, and even with accessories attached, the Action 2 is compact. The compactness of the camera does have one major negative - heat dissipation. It runs hot and can overheat when shooting at high frame rates and high resolution, leading it to shut off to cool down.

All in all, at $399, the DJI Action 2 is a solid little camera that's worth considering for those who are looking for a tiny, modular form factor, but those who want to film at the highest resolution will definitely want to think twice because of the heat issues.

Article Link: Hands-On With DJI's Action 2 Camera and Mic
Click to expand...

The fact that you have to register in order to use and own DJI product is big NO to me, especially since this is a China-based company that will hold your information.
 
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The problem that I've been hearing from many reviewers is overheating, which is not fun if you're out and about and your recording device cannot handle recording more than a few minutes.

The form factor is really intriguing though. I was looking at this vs the insta360 go2, but the overheating is really a turn off.
 
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I like lots about the DJI Action 2, but not liking the design too much as one bad drop and it's goodnight, GoPro's are built a little more tougher.
I use GoPro 8/7/ZV1/Insta360 GO and Insta360 ONE at the moment in my YouTube Cycling Channel, skipping the GoPro10 for this years model when it arrives in Sept.
 
Magnets will Never work for a true action cam, unless you like buying new cameras every couple of weeks. Having experience both in mounting cameras in weird places and doing fun sports absolute first rule is needing to attach a safety lanyard for redundant fall protection. Any action cam that doesn't address this should be avoided and called out for the oversight. Anyone using an action cam without a safety lanyard is an outright jerk. When fractions of an inch mean something you don't want your buddy's camera come flying at your face. I can't believe the reviewer didn't ask one athlete about this absolute basic requirement or address it up front.

These manufactures are basically greedy jerks designing their cameras forcing users into their exclusive accessory system when for decades if not a century the photography filming community have been fine making connections with the 1/4 20 screw thread. Quite frankly because YT reviewers don't call them out.

We're accepting an unnecessary complexity so the product is forced to live in a proprietary system.

Edited: for grammer
 
Last edited:
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Good comparison btwn the dji action 2 & the insta360 Go 2. The Insta360 GO 2 is my preferred compact action cam.
 
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This is a great review of this camera.

I am grateful for sites like MacRumors that have the courage to allow comments on posts dealing with important matters of life and death, such as this post about cameras.

Thank you for displaying bravery and your willingness to allow voices to speak out against evil and death in a time when many other sites would be cowards and turn off comments on articles like this one about cameras!
 
bunty said:
I've so, so, so wished for years for Apple to make something like this using iOS and the iPhone's camera. A few years ago I was working with a production company and we bought a few dozen Polaroid Cube, I think it was the "plus" version?, cameras just because they had magnetic bases and could stream (I remember the streaming was a pain to record which is why we were bemoaning that Apple didn't make something like them). We set them up, and then quite literally threw them up and around onto the scaffolding, ceilings and sides of a one-time only huge event we were documenting. They were so cheap, small and just stuck that after the event we didn't even bother taking them down and just left most of them. If Apple would make a reasonably priced small water/dust/weather resistant camera that had a magnetic base, wifi and streamed and also optionally recorded internally they likely sell a ton of them. We're sitting here just yelling out ideas to one another of the possibilities after I sent this article around.
Click to expand...
You’re living in a dream world if you think Apple would ever bother with an extremely niche product like this. The market is tiny which is why very few companies make anything like this. Apple makes the main product and leave the accessories for those products, for the most part, up to others.
 
juhansonin said:
Adorable camera + system.

It still doesn't work as a webcam with several versions of OS X (ie using the Action2 as an overhead camera or tethered secondary camera):

Webcam does not work on MacOS

Hello, I can't use my Action 2 as a webcam on macOS Monterey. It is identified as "UVC Camera" but the camera only displays a black screen. Does anyone work webcam function on Mac without any issue?
forum.dji.com forum.dji.com
Click to expand...

I’m curious if it’ll work with iOS?
A few years back (iPhone 5/5S era) Sony made a great camera with 3x Zoom that connected via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and had microSD storage. It allowed for remote camera picture taking as well.

This is much much smaller. Very curious about how the microphone accessories works - looks like 2 mic’s and some control unit in the box yet never removed in this video? Gotta check out their site.

EDIT:
Sweet … the power adapter ads microSD and power.

2 microphone transmitters and 1 receiver for the microphone kit:

1645937142291.jpeg


For remote camera I think Apple (using lidar) could really get into this market.
 
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