DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro or Osmo Pocket 3? The Pros & Cons (& which one I chose)

I panicked a bit when you said it wouldn't be out until Christmas on your previous video but here I am now the proud owner of my first osmo action cam😊
Not had chance to set it up yet but my initial thoughts are that it's very high quality compared to all my previous GP products. I gather that they have lowered the bitrate and others seem to think the colours are wrong. I guess this could all be fixed with updates?

I now want the Osmo pocket 3 😂😂 it looks a great little video camera, although I think you possibly need the Action 5 as well 😉😉 good video as ever thanks 👍👍

Can you run the Pocket 3 via a power bank for extended recording? Can you get mounts for Pocket 3 for tripod or handle bar mount. I thinking for vloging when fishing off the beach keeping the power going and mounted to the rod stand as I do now with the Action 1? Great video thank you.

I was considering the action 5, but I have the pocket 3, which I'm over the moon with, but I also have the action 3 for the rainy days I think it's such a shame they couldn't of made the pocket 3 atleast rainproof because it is such a brilliant camera and lowlight is the dogs nuts maybe in the future dji will concentrate on rain proofing some of there gimble drones and camera then I'm all in lol 😁👌👍 🇬🇧

I already own pocket 3, would probably get both and use action 5 in sports related activities scene.

I wouldn’t be strapping the pocket 3 to my motorcycle it’s too fragile & not resistant to water I’ve upgraded to 2 x OA5, I might add a OP3 more likely OP4 longer term but needs optical zoom even just x2.

Depends on what you doing. Because I am doing mixed stuff no way an Osmo pocket will work. In an Ideal Ian type world you buy both. I had to pick the middle which is the GoPro type which can take the beating.

Great video, thank you. I have the Action 4, which I thought would be right for me. But then the Osmo 3 came out and I thought I had gone for the wrong camera. Maybe in the future I will invest in the Osmo 3. Thank you. Really quite refreshing that you did not go and follow the trend, of “I gotta have the new camera”😀🙌

I have both now. For my normal camping I can use the pocket 3. But when hiking or bad weather I can use the action 5

Great video and i see your point perfectly 👍, SONY and other camera companies should take note of how camera tech is evolving into smaller form factor while getting and better better, otherwise they could lose a huge market share as people switch to more smaller and convenient devices.

I’m looking for a small action camera, not for action, but for mall walking tours, city walks and walks at night in the city lights. I was about to buy the ace pro but then this action 5 dropped. Do you think the action 5 is a good option for evening and night walking videos? And mall walking?

And does the action 5 have jittery effect in low light with artificial lights?

I think the pocket 3 might be my better choice but the action 5 looks good also.

Exactly what I did. I sold my sony zv1, and got pocket 3, I also have action 4 for action shots. The only thing I wish dji did is placed 2nd zoom camera, basically module from air3 on the gimbal, that would make ideal pocket solution nobody has.

I just sold my DJI Pocket 3 ...After a lot of testing the 3 axis gimbal was no better than the Digital stabilization on my Gopro when you walk gently it still bumps the picture up and down slightly unlike the 3 axis gimbal on a drone which is perfectly still. Its not as handy in the pocket and always feels like i'm going to break something on it as its very mechanical. Also if you start the pocket 3 up at a slight angle the gimbal needs to be recentered each time which is a nuisance. Pocket 3 has great image quality though and great in low light. I'm going to buy the Action 5 pro easier to work with on holiday for me.

Your voice volume is too low or music volume too high

Pocket 3 may work as webcam. Action 5 - doesn't

i agree and im big fan of both and i have allready pocket 3 and its perfect camera for talk straight and for sure will take dji action 5 pro but on the time when my content need it

They're both product with different proposition, Pocket is essentially a Vlogging camera, with Way better image quality, physical stabilization e low light capabilities, but is not a rugged piece of gear. Action 5 Pro is the best camera for wherever the pocket 3 can't go. It all depends of what your priority is, some peoplecould benefit for having both. but, if you're not going near water, sand or any fast action filming, the pocket 3 is still has the better image quality and the moving gimbal can be quite useful.

Great video Ian, as always, user use should be the main consideration

They're different cameras for different purposes aren't they? I have a Pocket 3 and an Action 3 which I use for different reasons and to get different shots.

I've had the Pocket 3 for a few months now, It's the best vlogging camera for interviews, pov and cinematic shots. I'll have the Action 5 Pro in a few days, I needed something that I can take on the go that's rugged, whether proof and I don't have to worry about damaging it. The only downside is that DJI lowered the bitrate to conserve battery life.

Can the new action camera be mounted on a version of this smart gimbal?
Can the output of both be streamed live, wirelessly to a portable 4k super bright monitor (aged eyesight!")?

Hi Ian , I have just came back from a holiday where I took both cameras. In the evening I shot with the OP3 because it's an amazing camera with great stabilization, and during the day, when we went to the beach, water park or the pool, the OA4 worked great. And when you're travelling, your iPhone is always with you. So each camera has its own conditions of use. The ZV1 is a great camera for static video. I had one, or rather I have it, but it fall in the water and it doesn't work anymore. By the way, I also bought the OA5 in the hope that it would someday help me in a dark conditions. Yes, it shoots brighter in the dark than the OA4, but it is not without noise.
Respects from E6.

To be honest, i think you need one of each depending on what type of video you're making. More action like skiing or mountain biking, id go with action 5, vlogging or hiking or filming hyper/motion/time lapses, Osmo pocket 3. Two different cameras essentially

If your never going to film any action type footage, and you don't need a water-proof and rugged camera, the Pocket 3 is the clear choice. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Ian and thanks for the great video. I actually went for both so will use the OA5 for B roll. As an aside, I’m about to do more home vlogging and really like the uplighters you use behind you. Any chance you’d share what you use. Many thanks Richard.

Ian hello again mate. I am in a quandry too. Do I get the mini 4 for better lighting at night in the next few months as I do fly commercially and my mini 3 lets me do mapping missions, or do I upgrade my DJI tech for the ground and get the pocket 3? I already have the Osmo Mobile 6 and my phone but it struggles at night and I want to be able to blend and even grade all my ground footage better with my drone footage. I have an Air 2s (unused now) and the mini 3 as I care not for obstacle avoidance but lose out on the log features that rae in the 3 Pro. I want the 4 as I have just had a nice pay day from a major client and the spare change lets me make a purchase for my company? DJI Mini 4 Pro or Pocket 3 based on my needs what would you get right now? Step up my ground footage ability, and grading into my drones better, or get the mini 4 and enjoy that? In addition to my thinking, I am struggling to justify my fav thing in the world, a new imminent Air 3s because I can not do any roof surveys with it unless you know how I can do roof surveys with the imminent Air 3s, or even my Air 2s would do but I know I can't but is therea secret within the GVC and OP Auth that lets people fly bigger drones for inspections as I would do the GVC course today if it gets me closer to better outputs from my mapping missions?

I bought the Action 5 my last one was the original DJI Action so a few generations of waiting lol , I also still have the Pocket 2 with the remote Mic that came in the bundle I bought at the time , it still does the job , so the 5 was the best choice for me until Pocket 4 ? 😆 the Mic that came with my pocket 2 does not appear to work or link with anything else unless anyone knows different ?

I’ve got the Pocket 3 and the Action 4 which I bought at the end of August 😢
If I’d done my research 🙄 I’d have waited until the Action 5 came out !
( I still might treat myself! )
Great video, thank you , subscribed !
☺️🏔️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Nice video. Your thoughts mirror mine. I owned a Pocket 2, but the small screen really bothered me. Liked the motion timelapse function a lot. Sold the Pocket 2, but have been looking at the Pocket 3 for some time now. Looks like a big upgrade from the 2. Wish it was a little less pricey, but everything now seems pricey. Hope you do some Pocket 3 videos! Have fun with the new camera!

I have not bought one of them because of the deliate gimbal. It is probably cheaper to use a MINI 2 or 3 (about the same price) and hand hold it. And it flies as well. NEO not bad for this with the connectivity to the DJI Mic2 as well.

Great review of your decision making process, thanks very much. I'm going to be in the market for a new action cam in the next 6-12 months and this has proved very informative. Whichever I choose, it'll be a big upgrade from the GoPro Hero 6 I'm currently using! 😄

Good info i mainly do pov w GoPro cameras and currently looking for other options. Only caveat no phone apps no ms or Mac… all editing and work is done on bsd or Linux..

between, the place where you live there that greenery is heaven, I am jealous >

Any chance of those uplighter models pls? Sorry to ask but setting up studio and yours are head and shoulders above other ‘office studio’ setups!

I just traded my action 4 for a pocket 3. The best thing that I ever done. Not give me wrong, I loved the action 4, but I had way more use for the pocket 3. I do a lot of real state videos and the gimbal is a real game changer.

I understand the different uses, but is the Action 5 Pro good for normal vlogging content too?

would love to know about the battery life of each and overheating issues on hot days etc

Hi Ian, I'm loving my 5 pro after all these years with GoPro but one thing I would like is additional magnetic mounts but I want the smaller ones and I can't find them anywhere🤔

Thank you for this timely and important review. Your demonstration of the moving gimbal tracking you was the clincher for me. Question: Was it mounted on a tripod?

Add Timestamps to the videos pleAse

Gosh... I've never considered the pocket cam. I only focused on the Osmo Action POV cam. Nearly 100% of my shots are of me talking to the camera, not action shots. I was ready to buy the Osmo 5... Ow, I'm seriously thinking your suggestion makes more sense! Thanks, Ian... You've given me quite an awakening, buddy!

I have 3 little kids. I wanted op3 but the problem is I don’t wanna stress out about it being very fragile. So I’m thinking oa5pro or wait ace pro 2! What do yall think?

Totally agree, but Action 3 and 4 for me as I primarily motovlog. The Pocket 3 is a superb camera though..the object tracking on a mechanical gimbal is superb.
PS. I still use the original Action😉

Only one thing make me stay faraway from pocket 3 , waterproof option

As a photographer you assisted me make an informed decision. As I don't need the action functionality it's easy to choose the Osmo Pocket 3.

I have the original Osmo Pocket, and yes I agree the screen and the mic are awful. You might just have sold the new osmo pocket to me. erm, when I have extra dosh

Totally agree, Pocket 3 is a great device for vlogging and it’s DJI mic 2 compatibility makes it great for interviews where you’re ready in few seconds and it has great quality, just like the image from his camera !

I have a couple of GoPro Hero 6 action cams, which are pretty good. Plus, they'll be just right on the Antiques Roadshow.

Big thanks for the shoutout, Ian! Keep killing it with quality content 🙌🏼