My only real reason to sell my OA4 and get an OA5 are the 48MP Photos to be honest.

Did they manage to reduce the ugly flares of the OA4? Or are they the same?
Could somebody, owning both cameras, provide some direct comparison photos here (in RAW) of the OA4 and OA5?

Would be very nice.

On the YouTube comparison footage that I’ve seen, unfortunately, the flare looks identical to the 4. I thought that this would probably have been eliminated and was surprised to see it there at exactly the same place and time as on the Action 4.
For example, it shows on this video around 11:07 and I've seen it worse on others, depending exactly where the sun is.

Hi there,

We understand your concerns. When shooting in scenes with strong light sources, such as capturing footage at locations with strong light sources at night, filming under indoor lighting, or shooting in bright sunlight, optical refraction and reflection may occur due to the thickness of the lens and its less-than-perfect transparency. Consequently, you may observe "glare" on the screen or in captured images. This is a common optical phenomenon, so please feel confident in using your camera.
Thank you for your recommendations. Please rest assured that we will forward your feedback to the related department for evaluation. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Iancraig10 Posted at 9-19 21:17
On the YouTube comparison footage that I’ve seen, unfortunately, the flare looks identical to the 4. I thought that this would probably have been eliminated and was surprised to see it there at exactly the same place and time as on the Action 4.
For example, it shows on this video around 11:07 and I've seen it worse on others, depending exactly where the sun is.

Hi there,

Thank you for sharing your video. As mentioned on the 3# thread please take note as this is a common optical phenomenon, so please feel confident in using your camera.

Thank you for your recommendations. Please rest assured that we will forward your feedback to the related department for evaluation. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Anything with glass and lenses is going to suffer from this, coatings and design can help reduce this but you’re never going to illiterate it.

Unfortunately, there are the same ugly flares in the shape of funnels, trumpets as in Action 4, nothing has been improved

AlanHd Posted at 9-20 02:37
Anything with glass and lenses is going to suffer from this, coatings and design can help reduce this but you’re never going to illiterate it.

Yes. It’s not so much the lens flare that bothers me. It’s the ‘shape’ of the flare when bright sources are at a certain place in front of the lens. It’s very well defined as a funnel type shape and looks unnatural. We get this on the Action 4 as well.

A good lens minimises this significantly.

However, it's not enough to put me off because I've learned from using the 4 to look out for it when pointing at the sun. I have an Action 5 on the way and will be using it on a boat cruise. Lots of indoor shots which it will cope well with. Great value for money imo.

Yeah, those funnel shapes are awful, I was hoping Action 5 would be better. Unfortunately, maybe Action 6.

Have you tried it without the lens cover?

Bashy Posted at 9-20 22:30
Have you tried it without the lens cover?

I forgot about that. I rarely take the front off while videoing.

Not the lens …. It might be the cover!

The photos from the OA4 and OA5 are quite comparable in terms of quality.

Bashy Posted at 9-20 22:30
Have you tried it without the lens cover?

I haven't tried it, the cover is a must, I don't want to ruin the camera. I love the Pocket 3, Mini 4 Pro and I was hoping that the Action 5 would fix the Action 4 flare problem. Unfortunately it didn't work out. I have to continue using a different company's action camera, which is a shame because I wanted everything DJI.

https://youtu.be/qy6y90deHXE?t=948
maybe some other lens cover would help?
I really wanted to buy this camera, but these flares are unacceptable to me.

lens flare just a few Action 4 and action 5 Pro

Maybe DJI will release some other front cover that will fix this issue?

they did not offer in this odel the front cover that is to be used for less flaring the open lens protector

Fishycomics Posted at 9-22 09:08
they did not offer in this odel the front cover that is to be used for less flaring the open lens protector

The open/glassless lens surround was originally suggested for better low light performance but it never made it out of the plastic bag it came in with my OA4, I’m not aware it reduced flaring Fish.  The change is lens build between the 3 & 4 introduced the issue my 3 never exhibited the same issue.  It’s a pain & a shame DJI didn’t revisit during r&d for the 5.

Probably the larger sensor forced a different lens system. Action 3 didn't have such ugly flares. I would buy Action 3, but it has a much worse image and no Gyro and DJI MIC 2 doesn't work.

I hear ya.  It is hte layers of lenses that they use  and how it reflects, I thought the Action 3 had it and was the start. only way I can tell again is to grab and go shoot a shot at low light. the fix for me is to just Ignore it.  Gopro  started their flaring with a red circle/ and   the Xacti camera with a Star trek Beam CCD sensor. funny thing is Pocket three is  by far more annoying at times with three color circles added

Fishycomics Posted at 9-22 11:36
I hear ya.  It is hte layers of lenses that they use  and how it reflects, I thought the Action 3 had it and was the start. only way I can tell again is to grab and go shoot a shot at low light. the fix for me is to just Ignore it.  Gopro  started their flaring with a red circle/ and   the Xacti camera with a Star trek Beam CCD sensor. funny thing is Pocket three is  by far more annoying at times with three color circles added

Well I’m in for 2 OA5s at this point so I’ll do the same as on the 4 try to avoid the causation angle, you got an example of that OP3 flare on the OP3 threads Fish?  Hoping some the early items being flagged get resolved in the next fw or two along with the remote issue.

To be really honest with you

The OA5PRO dont have 40MP
The Gopro 13 dont have 27MP
The iPhone 16 dont have 48MP

To be brutally honest with you, its action camera for video, its not for photo, its not for macro, same with Olympus TG-5,6,7 are just for macro but not for video.

In 15 minutes video below , you will understand the reason all this marketing hype...

BaynhamPhoto Posted at 9-22 11:47
Well I’m in for 2 OA5s at this point so I’ll do the same as on the 4 try to avoid the causation angle, you got an example of that OP3 flare on the OP3 threads Fish?  Hoping some the early items being flagged get resolved in the next fw or two along with the remote issue.

I hear yar 1 or 1000 cameras   it all about  taking the time to set up shots  maybe a different lens protector who knows

Nando Diver Posted at 9-22 12:00
To be really honest with you

The OA5PRO dont have 40MP

Yup and why I run a full frame for my photography this isn’t news to anyone into either field but makes good viewing numbers for Tony.  Any camera is a tool, you use the best one  for the job in hand smartphones & point & shoots enable capturing memories not so much true studio work or creating 5m plus panos.  The bigger issue is poor reviewing missing key information in favour of the emperor’s new clothes as not to be placed on the no further free kit list, how many ‘official’ reviewers even covered the drop in bitrate on the new camera and it’s potential impact, specifically bitrate lower than 100mbs let alone additional features stated like webcam that many report as not functional.

Most cameras will have lens flares if you’re shooting into the sun or sun slightly left/right camera hoods help but sometimes just hooding with your hand can do the job. Usually more expensive cameras are equipped with much higher dynamic range that helps temper lens flare. There may be third party hoods that might help but I think the A5 camera will not be a lot better than an iPhone when it comes to photo quality. You can also take numerous photos stack them for better quality but I’m not sure this is what A5 is for.

DJI_user_PL3 Posted at 9-21 02:04
I haven't tried it, the cover is a must, I don't want to ruin the camera. I love the Pocket 3, Mini 4 Pro and I was hoping that the Action 5 would fix the Action 4 flare problem. Unfortunately it didn't work out. I have to continue using a different company's action camera, which is a shame because I wanted everything DJI.

I meant just to see if theres any difference

Bashy Posted at 9-22 21:07
I meant just to see if theres any difference

I took the front off  when I first got the Action 4 in front of a light bulb and the trumpet’ went. So it could well be the glass on the cover rather than the lens itself.  In my recent Florida videos, I cut out the bits where that ‘trumpet cone’ appeared in pans. It  makes the camera a bit awkward when moving it  around in sunlight, but now I always look for it and stop when I see it.

Flares are indeed pretty normal in lenses, but the well defined funnel shape that you get on the Action looks very unnatural. Maybe some kind of anti reflection coating could be applied to a new 'pro' lens cover?  Don't think that I get that flare when I use those 'screw fit' ND filters because the lens cover supplied is removed.

Iancraig10 Posted at 9-22 23:00
I took the front off  when I first got the Action 4 and the ‘ugly trumpet’ went. So it could well be the glass on the cover rather than the lens itself.  In my recent Florida videos, I cut out the bits where that ‘trumpet cone’ appeared in pans. It  makes the camera a bit awkward when moving it  around in sunlight, but now I always look for it and stop when I see it.

Flares are indeed pretty normal in lenses, but the well defined funnel shape that you get on the Action looks very unnatural. Maybe some kind of anti reflection coating could be applied to a new 'pro' lens cover?  Don't think that I get that flare when I use those 'screw fit' ND filters because the lens cover supplied is removed.

If that screw in filter holds true then it looks like buying more freewell for me but maybe you could prove that out when your OA5 arrives good sir.

The cover might be producing flare, not the lens.

I just shone a torch into the Action 4 lens in order to get as much ‘nasty’ flare as possible and then took the cover off. The ‘nasty’ flare went and the torch light just bloomed a bit. Looked quite nice actually.

I lost that open hood that they supplied with the camera, but if one comes with the 5, I think I might use that because I don’t ride bikes and jump off cliffs with my camera! So the lens is actually OK. It might be the cover.

DJI, it would help to have an optical coating on the lens cover.

Many people say that removing the cover doesn't help, so I don't know what to think about it. Maybe one of you could do a comparison? Then there would be hope that some other cover would fix the problem.

DJI_user_PL3 Posted at 9-23 02:29
Many people say that removing the cover doesn't help, so I don't know what to think about it. Maybe one of you could do a comparison? Then there would be hope that some other cover would fix the problem.

It did on mine just now. I had to use a torch because it’s cloudy. Maybe sun is different? So bright that the flare is worse? I couldn't get the flare using the sunlight today but I will try it when we actually get some good weather!!

I must admit, I normally see that 'trumpet' flare in bright sun when it's in front of the camera. It's not actually the flare that I object to, it's the way that it's so well defined as the shape it is!! If it was 'round' it wouldn't be so bad looking.

Iancraig10 Posted at 9-23 02:26
The cover is producing flare, not the lens. The lens flare looks quite nice but the cover looks bad.

I just shone a torch into the Action 4 lens in order to get as much ‘nasty’ flare as possible and then took the cover off. The ‘nasty’ flare went and the torch light just bloomed a bit. Looked quite nice actually.

You don’t get that non glassed cover/surround/hood  with the 5 but I may try some similar tests once the sun shines it’s been a few bland grey days so far since the cameras arrived.  I don’t like the idea of not having the lens covered so plan A stands until a better solution can be found or a screw in filter reduces it, I’d settle for flaring just not the current pipe we see.

Maybe you can check it out at night in the light of the lamps? There are also trumpets in Action 4 and Action 5. I have to have a cover on my sports camera because that's what it's for, for example, when it's raining. For good conditions I have the Pocket 3,

BaynhamPhoto Posted at 9-23 02:50
You don’t get that non glassed cover/surround/hood  with the 5 but I may try some similar tests once the sun shines it’s been a few bland grey days so far since the cameras arrived.  I don’t like the idea of not having the lens covered so plan A stands until a better solution can be found or a screw in filter reduces it, I’d settle for flaring just not the current pipe we see.

That’s a shame. Just a bit of protection in case you bump it or put the camera face down. I was hoping that they included the mini hood. Mine arrives today I think.

It’s been pretty grey here so I can’t properly cause the trumpet flare on the 4 but I definitely get it in the sun. I can partially cause it with a torch.

I see that some defense of the lens flare is that is it a common occurrence when shooting with certain lighting conditions. But I am simply comparing the Action 4/5 flare to other action cams. Look at this comparison to the Ace Pro. The flare is just horribly obtrusive. In that video, the camera only passes the light for a second, but if filming with sunny conditions, that flare could be visible for a significant portion of the clip. That happened to me with the Action4. I had it mounted to a car and drove in a scenic area with the sun off to the side, and almost the entire clip had that long ugly trumpet flare making the footage look amateurish and unusable. Very disappointed DJI didn't fix this for the Action 5. I would appreciate a DJI rep response if possible.

Screenshot from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD8b3LEx8IA&t=68s

I'm also very disappointed that despite many threads about Action 4 flares, it hasn't been fixed in Action 5. I really like DJI and have a few devices, but I have to have a different company's action camera

Put a light on and BAM its there a frame grab, but this phot is    flared
each piece of glass or maybe its plastic in these lenses causing it

That flare looks nice Fish, as it does in most lenses. What isn’t being understood is the fact that no one is objecting to flares per se, because ‘all lenses flare’ and we all know that. It’s the SHAPE of the flare that people object to when the sun is in frame.

Being an action cam, I guess bike riders and motor bike people can’t video themselves riding off into the sunset without a trumpet appearing in frame. Kind of an exit with a trumpet fanfare. Or maybe they could do a sailor's salute to shade it while they ride off?

DJI are pretending that a trumpet shape is normal. It’s not! Even on a cheap lens. My Ace Pro and GoPro don't do that and DJI ought to have done something about it in the Action 5.

Telling us how normal lens flare is, is talking down to us as if we didn't know that. Let's start a campaign, lose the trumpet in the 6!

the  war worlds flare I call it  agree is even on the Pocket 3, Economy lens,   I am sure one day there will be a resolution  agree.

I'm looking for a solution and unfortunately I haven't found anything. Maybe someone has managed to do something - some additional protective glass that will minimize these ugly flares?

155 degree lens is hte  issue if it was a 90 degree to 120 degree we have less flaring