Hello, I shoot short videos in nature, and action cameras are very useful for me. Larger cameras might provide better image quality, but they lack the convenience, practicality, and underwater usability of the Osmo Action 4. That's why I want to continue using these cameras.

My issue is understanding how to achieve better focus with these cameras. Specifically, close-up shots tend to appear blurry. Close-ups are important for me, especially for thumbnails, as I need to place the main subject prominently in the center of the frame. If I move too far away, the subject appears smaller, which can reduce the click-through rate.

Do you have any tips or information on how to capture the sharpest possible close-up shots?

For example, in the screenshot below, the banana on the rocks appears slightly blurry. I need a sharper image, but I can't edit the thumbnail in Photoshop since YouTube selects thumbnails directly from the video for Shorts.

banana

Look for the minimum focus distance in the specs and make sure your subject is at least that distance away from the front lens.
https://www.dji.com/nl/osmo-action-4/specs

(Focus Range: 0.4 m to ∞, so that is 40cm)

These are  fixed focus cameras, and as above, the minimum focus distance is not ideal for closeups. You could try fitting a diopter or close-up lens. That will get you closer, but at the same time you will lose the ability to focus on more distant objects. They can work quite well, but you will need to experiment. There will be some degradation of image quality too, unfortunately, but only you can decide if it meets your needs.

Hi there, apologize for the inconvenience caused. It is recommended to have the Focus Range at minimum 0.4 m. Please try capturing the photo again in distance of 0.4 m and do update us the outcome. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our online service, you could also visit : https://www.dji.com/support?site=brandsite&from=nav.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-13 23:53
Look for the minimum focus distance in the specs and make sure your subject is at least that distance away from the front lens.
https://www.dji.com/nl/osmo-action-4/specs

Thank you for your response. Based on your answer and the product specifications, I believe that even if I slow down the camera a lot or try different angles, shots taken closer than 40 cm will still be blurry.

It's good to know this for sure.

Maybe I’ll attach a small 40 cm string to the bottom of the camera and use it to measure the exact distance for accurate shots.

Natural Sounds and Sights Posted at 3-14 00:12
These are  fixed focus cameras, and as above, the minimum focus distance is not ideal for closeups. You could try fitting a diopter or close-up lens. That will get you closer, but at the same time you will lose the ability to focus on more distant objects. They can work quite well, but you will need to experiment. There will be some degradation of image quality too, unfortunately, but only you can decide if it meets your needs.

Thank you for your response. Actually, most of my general shots are taken from more than 40 cm away, but I need a 2-second close-up shot of the target subject for the thumbnail. This can make a big difference in attracting viewers to the video.

I’ll get some macro lenses for trial and error. Sometimes, when there’s a slight fire in the background, the blur on the sides might not be a big issue.

So, there’s no harm in trying. Thanks!

DJI Natalia Posted at 3-14 00:40
Hi there, apologize for the inconvenience caused. It is recommended to have the Focus Range at minimum 0.4 m. Please try capturing the photo again in distance of 0.4 m and do update us the outcome. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our online service, you could also visit : https://www.dji.com/support?site=brandsite&from=nav.

Thank you for your response. When shooting from a distance, the video is incredibly clear—almost like glass, it's perfect.

I upgraded from the DJI Osmo Action 1 to the Osmo Action 4 and recorded in H.265 10-bit. This was very demanding on my computer, making editing nearly impossible. However, after processing the videos as proxies, I found that editing became much faster.

As a result, the quality of my footage seems to have improved significantly. Thanks again!

ganos Posted at 3-14 03:37
Thank you for your response. Based on your answer and the product specifications, I believe that even if I slow down the camera a lot or try different angles, shots taken closer than 40 cm will still be blurry.

It's good to know this for sure.

This has nothing to do with slowing down.
The minimum focus distance is 40cm.
Remember : it's an action camera, so it is optimized for infinite focus because it was built to capture action like skiing etc.

As other partners said, have you checked the minimum focus distance of the Osmo Action 4?

Montfrooij Posted at 3-14 04:31
This has nothing to do with slowing down.
The minimum focus distance is 40cm.
Remember : it's an action camera, so it is optimized for infinite focus because it was built to capture action like skiing etc.

Thank you for your response. I’m aware of the functions of these cameras, which is why I bought two Osmo Action 4 cameras—one for standard shooting (which, after color grading, can compete with professional cameras in terms of quality), and the other for pushing the limits with different angles when needed.

So, I’m trying to upgrade the second camera as much as possible for more experimental shots. One thing I’ve noticed so far is that when switching to RockSteady+ mode, the image becomes slightly more zoomed in, which is beneficial for capturing thumbnail shots. If the image quality loss isn’t too noticeable, I might also zoom in during editing. That’s why I take 4-5 different shots for key moments and choose the best one during editing.

ganos Posted at 3-14 05:37
Thank you for your response. I’m aware of the functions of these cameras, which is why I bought two Osmo Action 4 cameras—one for standard shooting (which, after color grading, can compete with professional cameras in terms of quality), and the other for pushing the limits with different angles when needed.

So, I’m trying to upgrade the second camera as much as possible for more experimental shots. One thing I’ve noticed so far is that when switching to RockSteady+ mode, the image becomes slightly more zoomed in, which is beneficial for capturing thumbnail shots. If the image quality loss isn’t too noticeable, I might also zoom in during editing. That’s why I take 4-5 different shots for key moments and choose the best one during editing.

Yeah, that is the best way I would say.

Fozando Posted at 3-14 04:50
As other partners said, have you checked the minimum focus distance of the Osmo Action 4?

There doesn’t seem to be any issue with the minimum focus distance; the camera works as expected according to its specifications.

While shooting, I was just trying too hard to get a sharp image from a closer distance, which is why I felt the need to start this discussion. The image quality on the camera screen isn’t very clear under direct sunlight, and I don’t want to bother with connecting it to my phone.

For now, the solutions I’ve found for close-up shots are:

1-)RockSteady+ mode

2-)Using vertical 9:16 shooting mode to minimize image loss when zooming in. Previously, I used to shoot in a standard 16:9 format and then crop out a 9:16 frame from it. Since this 9:16 frame was a cropped version of the original 16:9 footage, any additional zooming resulted in significant image loss. Now, by shooting with the camera held vertically, I reduce image loss when zooming in.

3-)Testing a macro lens. Ideally, I want a lens that can be attached directly over the existing camera glass without removing it. If I have to unscrew the original lens cover, the waterproofing will be compromised. That’s why I’m looking for a macro lens that can be mounted on top of the existing glass.

Actually, I just thought of something—if I can shoot the same scene twice in the same format for just 2-3 seconds, I might get a better result.

One shot could be with a macro lens to highlight the target object, while the second shot could be in normal mode (though, since this would be a close-up, the target might be slightly blurry below 40 cm).

I’m wondering if I can later overlay the sharp macro shot from the first video onto the blurred target in the second video.
That way, both the close-up and distant parts could appear sharp at the same time.

ganos Posted at 3-14 03:53
Thank you for your response. When shooting from a distance, the video is incredibly clear—almost like glass, it's perfect.

I upgraded from the DJI Osmo Action 1 to the Osmo Action 4 and recorded in H.265 10-bit. This was very demanding on my computer, making editing nearly impossible. However, after processing the videos as proxies, I found that editing became much faster.

Hi there, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on our service. Your input is invaluable in helping us enhance our customer relationships and improve our customer service for DJI users like you. We're thrilled to have the opportunity to serve you. Thank you for choosing DJI - we're committed to delivering the best experience possible for our customers.