The Action 4 is out, without preamble, without warning. I am one of the stupid fools who bought the Action 3 Adventure pack a little more than a month ago, for 460€, believing that there wouldn't be a new release this year, because of the total silence, and because there was a big marketing push in the spring, with Youtubers falling over themselves praising the Action 3. From what I can tell, all the issues that I've discovered in the past month, that were not mentioned in these glowing reviews, and that really compromise the usability of the camera for me, have been addressed in the Action 4 -- no doubt in part because of feedback from us users.


So where is our reward, or at the very least, our upgrade path? I feel duped and exploited. It is just a few days too late for me to return my Action 3. Used to be, companies would tease the release of an update a few months ahead of time, and then they would significantly discount the previous model ahead of the release, as an incentive and a signal. Who wants a bargain, who wants to wait (and pay a premium) for the new one -- we get to choose, in the know. Those of us who could wait a bit and needed the new features (leaked also, of course) would save our hard-earned cash for those. But now, these companies seem to be focussed insead on selling as much of last year's product as they can, after which they suddenly drop the new one. Sure, this generates more profits in the short run. But also, you've just eliminated a lot of customers who would have bought the new model if they'd known about it AND you've made them mad.

I own both a DJI gimbal and the Action 3. I am disgusted by this strategy. I'm not one of those rich kids who get a new iPhone every year or two, just for kicks. When I buy a camera, I need to be able to use it for at least four or five years, knowing it will serve me well. But the Action 3 has issues that show it is half-baked. Absence of gyro data, over-sharpening that can't be turned off, horrible shadows and atrocious low-light performance, one 10-bit color profile that only works in daylight (and automatic settings) and another with a non-standard flat color profile that is not actually that useful when you try to grade it, because you lose all the shadow detail anyway, since you have to underexpose by a stop so as not to clip your highlights. The worst part is the noise reduction and sharpening that can't be turned off, and which, I'd bet, is what a lot of us mistook for a focussing issue. If you take a raw still, you get an idea of what the sensor is capable of (and what the limitations are). But I'd rather have the noise than the bland rubbery texture of the processed video footage. This may be a 4k camera, but even at 1080p you can still see the artifacts. I haven't even mentioned the contortions I have to go through for the Action 3 to connect to the Mimo app on my phone.


The Action 3 is really, in retrospect, a prototype for the Action 4. The interface is lovely, it's sturdy, it's well thought-out. The video, mostly, sucks. It's usable under ideal lighting conditions, that's about it, and that's  largely due to the software trying very hard to pretend there's a  better sensor in there than there actually is. Another way to pretend is by only using 60 fps (or so). Then it looks pretty good too. But my output is mostly in 24 fps, and try as I might, I haven't found a way to combine the frame information from 48 fps into an acceptable 1/24 second frame. (Davinci Resolve does seem to take into consideration the additional frame info during noise reduction, but that's about it.)


I can tell from yesterday's barrage of Youtube videos announcing the Action 4 that some of the issues are probably still there, but the main ones have been significantly improved, to the point where my suspicions about how bad the Action 3 actually is, have been confirmed. It's not just me. It's the camera.


So I would really wish that loyal DJI customers, especially those who, deliberately kept in ignorance, purchased their Action 3 only weeks before the release of the Action 4, would be offered a generous trade-in/upgrade path, or at the very least would be blessed with a firmware update that includes DLOG-M, gyro data and custom noise/sharpening settings. But neither of those will ever happen, I'm just dreaming.


Recently I posted a critical review of a SmallRig add-on for the DJI RS3 Mini on Amazon. SmallRig read it and took it upon themselves to contact me and offer me a refund. I know, it's a different order of magnitude. But that's customer service that I notice. I'd like to see DJI reach out.


That's my two cents (which is all I have left after buying this thing).

Well written.  Unfortunately, DJI does this all the time with their products.  For example Mavic 3 and then 3 Pro, Air 2 and then Air 2S.  I'm only speculating but with Air 3 just released I bet we see an Air 3S or Pro within 5-6 months.

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Hello there! Thank you for reaching out, and please know that we respect and value all of our customers feedback and opinions. We regard it seriously as well. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused, and I will definitely forward this to the relevant team to be reviewed.

I just bought an Osmo Action 3 5 weeks ago.  This happens a lot. I probably should have looked into rumors for the Action 4 and saw when it was gonna get released.  With that said it doesn't look to me to be that big of an upgrade.

BrianKushner Posted at 8-3 21:05
I just bought an Osmo Action 3 5 weeks ago.  This happens a lot. I probably should have looked into rumors for the Action 4 and saw when it was gonna get released.  With that said it doesn't look to me to be that big of an upgrade.

It looks like it might be better in lower lighting.

BrianKushner Posted at 8-3 21:05
I just bought an Osmo Action 3 5 weeks ago.  This happens a lot. I probably should have looked into rumors for the Action 4 and saw when it was gonna get released.  With that said it doesn't look to me to be that big of an upgrade.

There are crucial differences in software for anyone interested in maximizing image quality, that could be addressed with a firmware update, but now probably won't in order to differentiate the models. Of course I don't know whether these have been implemented usefully in the Action 4, but they're in the specs. The principal video image degradation in the Action 3 occurs through default sharpening on one hand, most evident in the HDR mode, and pixel artifacts and a weird flattening of details when using stabilization, most evident in the Cinestyle mode. Moreover, the Cinelike "curve" is non-standard, so there's no way of grading starting from a neutral color space conversion. So the features that Action 3 users have been asking for, all of which have now been implemented in the Action 4, are: manual sharpening and noise reduction settings, include gyro info in file, and a standard 10 bit color profile.

None of these are hardware dependent. It is now obvious that DJI is perfectly capable of implementing these features in the Action. As you say, hardware-wise the Action 4 is not that different. So why don't they let us have them?

I wrote directly to product support and got a reply with a lot of empty words. So I'm going to be selling all my DJI gear and never deal with them again. I'm done.

Okay, I guess I did reply but the interface got stuck. Now I can't delete the extra posts, I apologize. Kind of like trying to use the Mimo app. Good riddance, DJI.

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osmonauta Posted at 8-4 01:31
So why don’t they let you have it? Of course they do. As I mentioned in another thread, all you have to do is buy a new camera for 70 bucks more. That’s why.
https://forum.dji.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=295142&pid=3099812

I spent the past month banging my head against the image quality issues of the Action 3, of which the first two weeks I thought, it was somehow my fault and I need to dig deeper. It takes a while to figure out the features and limitations of any new camera, especially these days, where they come with ludicrous default settings for people who can't tell the difference. And by the time the Action 4 came out, I realized the Action 3 was fundamentally flawed (for anyone who cares about things like over-sharpened footage and color grading) without at least some firmware tweaks. And if there were a trade-in/upgrade path (as with Apple, say, bad as the deals are) I'd lump the loss, chalk it up to experience and do that. But for a company just to tell me in my face (as they basically did in email correspondence), too bad, we're sorry, but do remain our loyal customer anyway, we're always here to listen, takes the cake. So it's not $70 but another 430€ I'd need to spend for the camera they should have delivered in the first place. Sure, DJI is no different from, say, Sony in that respect. But I can still be angry. Angry customers and consumer-rights organizations pushed for better warranties, product safety, return policies and right-to-repair. I really did my homework and tried to make the right investment and look at what I thought were not just unbiased but in-depth reviews, but part of the problem is also the Youtube hype-culture. But this built-in hyper-accelerated obsolescence of cynically half-baked content creation products (which I remember from certain software release cycles) has to be combated. And the way to do that is to withdraw brand loyalty from companies that engage in it. Period.

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osmonauta Posted at 8-4 03:08
I did not say it is 70 bucks more. I said “buy a new camera for 70 bucks more”.

There is a 2-week return window at DJI or 30 days with Amazon. If you are not happy with the image quality you can return it for repair or replacement. If you are still not happy after a few exchanges you can get a partial refund or replacement based on manufacturer’s discretion.

Thank you for your thoughts. I think you both misunderstand my position and make my point. First off, I am not a professional photographer. Second, which I didn't want to get into because it doesn't affect the principle, the Action 3 was purchased for someone in my family who is creating content with me and needs something with that form factor and ease of use. Believing it, from my extensive research, to be the best alternative on the market at the end of June 2023, I bought the Action 3 and spent the next three weeks trying to configure it so that my partner could use it with ease and record the best possible images that I could edit and grade in post. I am not expecting professional image quality here, but I have explained in exhaustive detail what needs improvement, and I don't think that's unreasonable or undoable. I personally wouldn't have bought the Action 3, period, although once we had it, I appreciated how it could complement my other (also modest) equipment.

Returns: It's really a grey area, how much you're allowed to use a piece of equipment and still be able to return it, at least here in Europe. I actually bought it from Coolblue, who have a very flexible 30-day return policy (they will take anything back, but may deduct money if there is, e.g., cosmetic damage).

How you make my point: At the end of June, an upcoming update should have been public knowledge. Certainly new car models (that you mention) are announced or deliberately leaked and the previous year's model is discounted ahead of that.  I'm old enough to remember when companies hinted and bragged about their upcoming product improvements instead of hiding them to make a few more bucks. And then I would have had the choice of waiting or not. But the media blackout (similar to what Sony just pulled with the 6700) led me to the reasonable assumption that there would not be an update this year. As it is, I already waited since about April for any hint of a new release of either the Action or the Pocket.

How you make my point: a "partial refund or replacement based on manufacturer's discretion" would be an offer I'd consider, but DJI is obviously not interested. And yes, I will be selling my mint-condition Action 3 Adventure Combo and my Ronin RS3 Mini (assuming there is even a way to change the mandatory electronic product registration to another owner, which I'm currently inquiring about), but not to buy the Action 4 or anything else from DJI. This is my point; if they had dealt with it just a bit more elegantly, they might have a slew of loyal customers lining up to upgrade, rather than a few thousand who bought the thing within the past two months or so and feel ripped off.

I don't know what your Retina display has to do with it. I film and edit in 4k in any case. But yes, image quality is very subjective; obviously, there are many users who are happy with their Osmo Action. And I was willing to put up with it if there was no alternative. The affront is that DJI could have offered (or even just announced) a software update and then I wouldn't moan about the sensor, because that's fair. But sending me a badly written We're sorry, no dice, but we care and we listen message, that takes the cake.

Bad position to be in but hope you can get a fair price for your OA3.

Take comfort in the fact that the OA4 is being compared to last years GPH11 and while most agree low-light has improved, many of the other features are comparable, better or worse.
This will no doubt change when the GPH12 comes out... which many people will buy despite hearing all the negatives that they have been plagued with for so many years.

m326 Posted at 8-4 06:54
Bad position to be in but hope you can get a fair price for your OA3.

Take comfort in the fact that the OA4 is being compared to last years GPH11 and while most agree low-light has improved, many of the other features are comparable, better or worse.

Thank you.

Everything is much easier. They made a mistake with the matrix in OA3 and released the same camera, but with a different matrix. Well, the software has been improved a little more.

And to compete with GP12 we will see OA5 soon

I think that when the release period of the OA4 ends we can expect a firmware update in the OA3 to compensate for the excess noise reduction and the lack of sharpness by adding control over those parameters in the configuration menu as they just did in the OA4 .

DavideSevilla Posted at 8-4 11:21
I think that when the release period of the OA4 ends we can expect a firmware update in the OA3 to compensate for the excess noise reduction and the lack of sharpness by adding control over those parameters in the configuration menu as they just did in the OA4 .

I really hope so. But then why not indicate that in my dialogue with customer support. It wouldn't be such a state secret if they were working on it, but rater a positive gesture. For this reason and because, if the software were the same, there wouldn't be that much difference between the models, I don't believe it.

thank you, nice write up, Yes this can happen for sure to anyone, and hope you  do  get one if you decide on a sell. good luck

Fishycomics Posted at 8-7 03:35
thank you, nice write up, Yes this can happen for sure to anyone, and hope you  do  get one if you decide on a sell. good luck

Thanks, yours too about trading in. I've concluded that the sensor on the Action3 is just so incredibly noisy (there are so many errors at the pixel level, when looking at the footage closely... not even sure it's noise, it just seems to be hit and miss, whether the pixel shows up in place or 3 pixels over; so the whole image, at a pixel level, kind of boils, which is why small detail looks worse that it would if it were just a bit soft -- and it's even worse in Cinelike) that giving us control over the settings would be pointless. Then again, the footage I've seen online from the Action4 "out of the box" has the same unpleasant artifacts (point it at some gravel...). The only time on an action camera (DJI or GoPro) where it's not looking over-processed, that I've been able to find on the web, is GoPro11 at 5k, scaled to 4k in post. But I'm not going to buy one just to find out.

Now I've been told you can't re-register any DJI devices (gimbal, action camera ... I knew about drones, but don't use those) to a new owner when you sell them. It shouldn't matter in terms of functionality (they claim). since the new owner can create their own account for the apps. But it's still outrageous.

Platypus67 Posted at 8-7 06:46
Thanks, yours too about trading in. I've concluded that the sensor on the Action3 is just so incredibly noisy (there are so many errors at the pixel level, when looking at the footage closely... not even sure it's noise, it just seems to be hit and miss, whether the pixel shows up in place or 3 pixels over; so the whole image, at a pixel level, kind of boils, which is why small detail looks worse that it would if it were just a bit soft -- and it's even worse in Cinelike) that giving us control over the settings would be pointless. Then again, the footage I've seen online from the Action4 "out of the box" has the same unpleasant artifacts (point it at some gravel...). The only time on an action camera (DJI or GoPro) where it's not looking over-processed, that I've been able to find on the web, is GoPro11 at 5k, scaled to 4k in post. But I'm not going to buy one just to find out.

Now I've been told you can't re-register any DJI devices (gimbal, action camera ... I knew about drones, but don't use those) to a new owner when you sell them. It shouldn't matter in terms of functionality (they claim). since the new owner can create their own account for the apps. But it's still outrageous.

I been with  these budget cameras for years. the thing  I love about the Action camera, has one of the best stabilsations if asked, that for example a Sony you now need catylist browser to get the added smoothness and with a cost for additional program use. I saw a shot given personally the night shot was so grainy, it felt like an old Aiptek at nigh, and saying  its kills the Action 3.  Well i will be sitting on the side lines ..  idid not pay full funds for my  Action 3, I am not going to invest yet for one till much later let this all ride out, is the Action 3  matured, seems like it is by the Action 4 LOL  no pun intended

same here...
bought a week before action 4 was out. the last one in the store...

My experience with 3 (three) Osmo Action 3, the way I lost them and the answer I got from technical assistance.
My activity is Kitesurfing. I bought official wrist holder and chest harness. Lost the first one after a small wave and the second one just pop out from its magnetic holder while riding.
Those cameras (in my mind) are supposed to be useful in sports. I think if you lose two of them it's a matter of design, not necessarily your fault.

Now I go with harness and 2 (two) leashes, in case it pops out from its holder and in case it breaks its leash.
I don't do big jumps or full speed, just regular riding at 10-15knots.... ....
I stupidly bought a third Osmo Action 3 because I already had all the accessories for it. But it won't be a fourth time for sure, specially after the answer I got from technical service (see photo attached).

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osmonauta Posted at 9-20 01:53
“… I think if you lose two of them it's a matter of design…”
I think if you keep losing things (not to mention 2 already),  that's definitely user error. The user Skysailor puts his camera on the wing of his plane and I belive he hasn't lost one yet.

I accept the criticism. But what do you think I did wrong?

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In addition to that...
I trust the magnetic for many action scenarios, but not for something where it is stressed with real mechanical force. If it might get struck by something, I attach it with a cage with gopro fork and an additional tether to be safe (small steel cables sometimes). I used to mount my camera to my longboard and had it inside a waterproof case just to safeguard it. The cam had a 1/4" thread and I considered the gopro fork more reassuring... ;)
I don't do kitesurfing but either a contact with a wave or some heavy blows might be too much for the magnetic mount. And  the water pressure from a direct wave will surely be too much for the cam without the diving case... It is much more than 15m waterproof

DJ DJ Posted at 9-20 11:21
In addition to that...
I trust the magnetic for many action scenarios, but not for something where it is stressed with real mechanical force. If it might get struck by something, I attach it with a cage with gopro fork and an additional tether to be safe (small steel cables sometimes). I used to mount my camera to my longboard and had it inside a waterproof case just to safeguard it. The cam had a 1/4" thread and I considered the gopro fork more reassuring... ;)
I don't do kitesurfing but either a contact with a wave or some heavy blows might be too much for the magnetic mount. And  the water pressure from a direct wave will surely be too much for the cam without the diving case... It is much more than 15m waterproof

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That sucks. But you do not realy get a lot more in oa4. But oa3 is a great cam. So enjoy. I do.

hurtighansen1 Posted at 10-1 21:17
That sucks. But you do not realy get a lot more in oa4. But oa3 is a great cam. So enjoy. I do.

Thank you for your kind comment. Having calmed down somewhat, I realized I would lose too much value if I sold it now, and I can work around the limitations somewhat. Rather save for another camera in the future and use what I got. During the daytime, using it as intended, image quality is adequate on the OA3, sometimes even surprisingly good, if you don't pixel peep.

Platypus67 Posted at 10-1 22:50
Thank you for your kind comment. Having calmed down somewhat, I realized I would lose too much value if I sold it now, and I can work around the limitations somewhat. Rather save for another camera in the future and use what I got. During the daytime, using it as intended, image quality is adequate on the OA3, sometimes even surprisingly good, if you don't pixel peep.

I bought OA3 when OA4 came out, I don't regret buying the OA3.

I trust DJI that they will eventually give us another firmware update.
All the best to you, keep enjoying your amazing camera!

Vojtech Papacek Posted at 10-7 07:42
I bought OA3 when OA4 came out, I don't regret buying the OA3.

I trust DJI that they will eventually give us another firmware update.

OA3 is closing support update

no more it seen its day

BrianKushner Posted at 8-3 21:05
I just bought an Osmo Action 3 5 weeks ago.  This happens a lot. I probably should have looked into rumors for the Action 4 and saw when it was gonna get released.  With that said it doesn't look to me to be that big of an upgrade.

It isn’t much of an upgrade and I am very happy with my 2 Action 3’s. But I agree DJI are now ripping its loyal customers off more and more. Not Cricket old Chap

Robox Posted at 10-7 09:01
OA3 is closing support update

Well, crap....

(to say the least...)

DJI screwed up the matrix badly, so they quickly released a replacement OA4

I bought a DJI Osmo action 3 three days back, and the image quality on it was horrible, both in video and photos. Completely out of focus. I thought it was an issue with firmware, but there is no firmware update. I put a lot of money into this, and I can't really do anything right now but wait for a reply from them.... This is very disappointing from DJI.  

djiuser_4XKwYni8YDh5 Posted at 4-4 06:49
I bought a DJI Osmo action 3 three days back, and the image quality on it was horrible, both in video and photos. Completely out of focus. I thought it was an issue with firmware, but there is no firmware update. I put a lot of money into this, and I can't really do anything right now but wait for a reply from them.... This is very disappointing from DJI.

There are a ton of videos on YouTobe explaining how to fix this. Takes about 5 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=osmo+action+3+focus+fix

I did a lot of research before buying an Action 3.

I was originally saving up to buy a GoPro but decided to stay with DJI since I had a lot of good experience with their drones. I went back and forth on between the 3 and 4 with a brief stint of considering the 2. In the end, after watching a ton of comparison videos, I decided that the 3 was the best for my use case.

I'm very happy with my decision.