Wondering whether to buy the GoPro Hero 8 Black or the DJI Osmo Action?

You’ve landed at the right place.

It’s no doubt that GoPro has consistently been ranked as the top action camera for many years. But, ever since DJI came up with their own action camera – the DJI Osmo Action, GoPro has got real competition. 

In this post, we’re going to do a head-to-head comparison between the GoPro Hero 8 Black vs the DJI Osmo Action. I think DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro Hero 8 is a fair comparison because both the cameras were launched in the same year (2019). 

 

DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro Hero 8: Specs Comparison


Here’s how the DJI Osmo Action and the GoPro Hero 8 Black compare when it comes to their specifications:

SpecificationsDJI Osmo ActionGoPro Hero 8 Black
Weight124 Grams126 Grams
Dimensions65 × 42 × 35 mm66.3 x 48.6 x 28.4 mm
Screen Size2.25 inches1.95 inches
Front DisplayColor DisplayMonochrome Display
Image Sensor12 MP12 MP
Resolution4K / 60FPS
2.7K / 60FPS
1080p / 240FPS
720p / 240FPS
4K / 60FPS
2.7K / 120FPS
1440p / 120FPS
1080p / 240FPS
Image StabilizationRockSteadyHyperSmooth 2.0
Battery1300mAh1220mAh

DJI Osmo Action on Amazon

DJI OSMO Action Cam Digital Camera with 2 Displays 36FT/11M Waterproof 4K HDR-Video 12MP 145� Angle Black (Renewed)
48 Reviews
DJI OSMO Action Cam Digital Camera with 2 Displays 36FT/11M Waterproof 4K HDR-Video 12MP 145� Angle Black (Renewed)
  • Dual Screens - Osmo Action’s dual screens allow you to capture it all with the...
  • RockSteady - After years of providing advanced, reliable stabilization technology to...
  • More Dynamic Detail with HDR Video - This shooting mode delivers natural transitions...

GoPro Hero 8 Black on Amazon

GoPro HERO8 Black - Waterproof Action Camera with Touch Screen 4K Ultra HD Video 12MP Photos 1080p Live Streaming Stabilization
1,787 Reviews
GoPro HERO8 Black - Waterproof Action Camera with Touch Screen 4K Ultra HD Video 12MP Photos 1080p Live Streaming Stabilization
  • HyperSmooth 2.0: HERO8 Black has three levels of stabilization: On, High and Boost....
  • Streamlined Design: The re-imagined shape is more pocketable, and folding fingers at...
  • Expandable Mods: Vloggers, pro filmmakers and aspiring creators can do more than ever...

 

Key Differences Explained


Listed below are the key differences between the DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro Hero 8 Black cameras:

Design

The DJI Osmo Action and GoPro Hero 8 have many similarities when it comes to their appearance, dimensions, and weight. The DJI Osmo Action measures 65 × 42 × 35 mm and weighs 124g, while the GoPro Hero 8 Black is 66.3 x 48.6 x 28.4mm and weighs 126g.

The most noticeable difference between the two cameras is the inclusion of a front color display in the Osmo Action. The GoPro Hero 8 Black, on the other hand, sports the same monochrome front screen as the Hero 7 Black. However, with the introduction of Hero 8, GoPro has come up with a new system of mods (sold separately), which includes-

  • A display mod (an add-on color screen)
  • A light mod (an LED light), and
  • A media mod (an advanced mic).

These mods clip onto the camera and turn your GoPro into a vlogging powerhouse. Of course, you’ll have to spend some extra bucks on these, but you definitely won’t miss the front display with the display mod on.

Another design difference between the two cameras is the inclusion of flick-out magnetized mount fingers on the bottom of Hero 8. This lets you easily mount the action camera without a housing. In the case of DJI Osmo Action, however, you’ll require a mount-housing if you don’t want to hold the camera.

Interface

Following the Osmo Action’s launch in May 2019, GoPro faced criticism for its interface as the software of Osmo Action felt more intuitive and responsive than that of the Hero 7 Black. However, with the launch of Hero 8 Black in October 2019, GoPro responded with Custom Scene Modes. With this, you can create up to 10 customizable scenes for the perfect shot.

Resolution

This one is more of a similarity than a difference. Both the cameras have 12-megapixel sensors and can shoot 4K video at 60FPS. With 1080p resolution available at 240FPS on both the cameras, you can capture some amazing slo-mo shots at 8x slow-down.

However, with the GoPro Hero 8, you get some extra flexibility when it comes to the field of view (FOV). There are four view modes on GoPro Hero 8: SuperView, Wide, Linear, and Narrow. The DJI Osmo Action, on the other hand, has only one standard wide field of view.

Stabilization

Both the cameras have their own version of stabilization tech. In Osmo Action, it’s called RockSteady. In the case of GoPro Hero 8, significant improvements have been made to the HyperSmooth stabilization, and it’s now called HyperSmooth 2.0 which comes with the Boost mode.

Now, if you take a look at how HyperSmooth 2.0 compares with DJI’s RockSteady, you’ll notice that the DJI Osmo Action picks up vibrations much more compared to the Hero 8 Black with HyperSmooth 2.0.

Battery Life

DJI Osmo action features a 1300mAh battery, whereas the GoPro Hero 8 Black has a 1220mAh one. A fully charged battery on the Osmo Action can support video recording at 1080P/30fps for up to 135 minutes (with RockSteady turned off), and 4K/60fps for up to 63 minutes (with RockSteady turned on).

On GoPro Hero 8 Black, expect to get about 81 minutes of runtime when shooting at 1080p/60fps. And, if you shoot at 4K/60fps, you’ll get approximately 47 minutes of recording time. Therefore, it’s clear that DJI Osmo Action has a slight edge over the GoPro Hero 8 Black when it comes to battery life.

Price

When it comes to price, the DJI Osmo Action costs a tad bit lower than the GoPro Hero 8 Black (at the time of writing this post). The Osmo Action comes for $276.99, while the Hero 8 is priced at $299.00 presently.

Check the Current Prices of both the cameras here:

DJI Osmo Action:

DJI OSMO Action Cam Digital Camera with 2 Displays 36FT/11M Waterproof 4K HDR-Video 12MP 145� Angle Black (Renewed)
48 Reviews
DJI OSMO Action Cam Digital Camera with 2 Displays 36FT/11M Waterproof 4K HDR-Video 12MP 145� Angle Black (Renewed)
  • Dual Screens - Osmo Action’s dual screens allow you to capture it all with the...
  • RockSteady - After years of providing advanced, reliable stabilization technology to...
  • More Dynamic Detail with HDR Video - This shooting mode delivers natural transitions...

GoPro Hero 8 Black:

GoPro HERO8 Black - Waterproof Action Camera with Touch Screen 4K Ultra HD Video 12MP Photos 1080p Live Streaming Stabilization
1,787 Reviews
GoPro HERO8 Black - Waterproof Action Camera with Touch Screen 4K Ultra HD Video 12MP Photos 1080p Live Streaming Stabilization
  • HyperSmooth 2.0: HERO8 Black has three levels of stabilization: On, High and Boost....
  • Streamlined Design: The re-imagined shape is more pocketable, and folding fingers at...
  • Expandable Mods: Vloggers, pro filmmakers and aspiring creators can do more than ever...

 

Which One is the Best?


While both the action cameras are pretty solid, flagship action cameras of their respective brands, there are still some shortcomings in both.

If you want to capture high-quality cinematic shots with superb stabilization, then the GoPro Hero 8 is probably your best option. The GoPro Hero 8 Black has been upgraded by the company in many areas and has improved on both its video and photo capabilities. But, the fact that there’s no front screen is a total letdown for many!

However, if you’re a vlogger who doesn’t want too many external accessories weighing down your setup, then the Osmo Action is the way to go for you. The area where the DJI Osmo Action falls short is its stabilization. When comparing GoPro’s HyperSmooth 2.0 technology to DJI’s Rocksteady, the latter tends to run short.

 

Thanks for reading!

I hope this guide helped you find out which one of the two leading action cameras is the best for your needs 🙂

 

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