DJI's Action 2 Camera Is A Surprisingly Affordable GoPro 10 Alternative
The Action 2 camera, DJI's second-generation device, is surprisingly affordable for such a tiny, unique, and robust GoPro Hero 10 Black competitor. Action cams are pretty popular for outdoor enthusiasts, but the small size and ease of use that the Action 2 provides might open up a range of new possibilities, such as vlogging, cooking, and crafting demonstrations, along with the more common road biking, hiking, and diving videos that might be best captured with a body or head-mounted camera.
DJI is best known for its drones, but the company also has a strong background with camera and stabilization technology, something that pairs nicely with its drones. DJI's Ronin is a stabilized camera platform initially designed for use by professional cinematographers, and the lineup has expanded to cover a wide range of price points. The Osmo stabilizer series works well with smartphones, and the Osmo Action was the company's first action cam, which had a similar design to the GoPro.
DJI's latest action cam, Action 2, opens up new possibilities for quick changes and super portability. The key feature is its magnetic attachment with a rock-solid locking mechanism. When bringing the camera within an inch of the power module or other accessory, the force of the strong magnets is immediately felt, and the device is guided into place with two locking hooks snapping into place on the sides. A squeeze releases the lock, and the camera can be lifted away. It's fast, reliable, and just works. It's also a very clever design. Starting at just $399 for the Power Bundle that includes the Action 2 camera, a power module, lanyard, and magnetic adapter, the camera itself matches up well with the latest GoPro Hero 10 Black, which has a list price of $600. With up to 4K-resolution at 120 frames-per-second, DJI's Action 2 includes excellent stabilization, and automatic horizon leveling is an option as well.
One of the most fun accessories included as part of the $399 Power Bundle is a magnetic lanyard that is worn under the shirt so the Action 2 can snap to it and become attached to the user's chest for one of the quickest and easiest point-of-view videos possible. The Action 2 measures just 1.5 by 1.5 by 0.9 inches, so it can fit in a pocket and be quickly snapped to the lanyard anytime, eliminating the prep-work and hassle of a chest strap or head cam arrangement. It's less intrusive also. A head strap is in the works as well.
A front screen module, Bluetooth remote tripod/selfie stick, floating handle macro lens, and more accessories will be available by mid-November. Photos, videos, timelapse, and hyper-lapse are all possible with a 155-degree field of view, and the touchscreen makes it easy to change modes and settings. In addition, the Action 2 gets 50 minutes of record time or 180 minutes with the power module and has 32 gigabytes of internal memory as well as a microSD card slot for expansion. DJI's Action 2 will be available in the US and Canada starting November 2, 2021, offering an innovative new magnetic quick attach method for this high-quality action cam.
Source: DJI