Is the DJI Action 2 Still Worth Buying in 2024?
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- Опубликовано: 16 июн 2024
- In the world of action cameras, the DJI Action 2 is already a seasoned option compared to the many new models released by the likes of DJI, GoPro, Insta360 and more. But does the Action 2 still offer features and benefits over newer action cameras, and is it still worth buying today?
In this review, I'll talk about the many specifications and features of the Action 2, and the various different situations I've used it in - including behind the scenes videos, top-down shots for product reviews and unboxings, and more. That said, as no camera is perfect, I'll also talk about the different conditions under which I wouldn't recommend using the Action 2, and where I've noticed it struggle in my experience using it heavily since I purchased it. I'll also discuss the price and different options of the camera, and offer my final thoughts.
Overall, the action camera space is flooded and frequently filled by new models every 3 to 6 months. But even with all of the many new options out there, I truly think the Action 2 still represents a unique offering in the action camera space, and has a variety of features that other action cameras still don't offer even today. If you're in the market for a specific type of action camera that excels in a specific range of situations, the Action 2 still might be the camera for you.
If you like content around action cameras, feel free to leave a like and subscribe as there will be more videos on the way! Also, let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.
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DJI Action 2 Dual-Screen Combo w/ Case: amzn.to/3EZkjYn
DJI Action 2 Power Module: amzn.to/46ez2e6
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Ulanzi Magnetic Adapter Mount: amzn.to/3Q8eH4B
0:00 - Intro
0:15 - Specs and features
2:15 - What I use this for (image quality, form factor, stabilization)
5:44 - What you shouldn't use this for (overheating, low light, battery life)
9:37 - Price
10:22 - Summary
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Наука
I am having a renewed sense of affection for my Action 2, that had been sitting on the shelf for a while. Perfect chin mount motorcycle camera.
The form factor is really useful in so many situations.
thank you much for this video, my man
No problem!
I just bought one last week and it's my first time owning one. I'm loving it!
Congrats on the purchase! It's a great little camera.
Thanks mate, very informative review !! May I know, does the Magnetic Lanyard hold up properly when *both* the Camera Unit and Power Module are attached ? Is it reasonably secure for non-strenuous activity like walking around ? Thank you
No problem, Raymond! Yes, I've walked around with it for hours in that exact setup, and the magnet still holds it tight/secure.
Awesome review 💯
Thanks Lionel!
Thanks Andrew , one of the best reviews ever, I’m just wondering how’s the audio quality like?!
Thanks, I appreciate that! The audio's not too bad - the samples in the Wedding BTS with the speaker icon in the corner are from the Action 2. Good enough for scratch audio or a quick comment, but not a replacement for a proper mic.
Outstanding review!
Thanks Scott!
I had my eyes on this one for recording behind the scenes at events while I'm shooting, but I'm not sure anymore due to the low light performance. It's a shame I really want one lowkey like this that I don't need a strap around my chest for :/
I think it holds up okay enough in a lot of low light situations (e.g. the examples I discussed). But you'll definitely see some noise in dark, dimly lit spaces.
Its an easy fix just wear a tight fitting athletic shirt and it wont have any jitters
Very informative
Thanks!
Keep up the good work buddy you doing great ❤️🕉️
Thanks I appreciate that, will do!
Tnx man.
Thats my concern the over heating.
Now ever since i watched ur review i am convinced mow in buying.
Mostly im using it as walk through on my chest.
1080 and 2.7.
So over heating is not a problem.
Right?
No problem, yeah I've never had it overheat in 1080p or 2.7K, and I doubt it would especially if you're using the protective cage.
For me its totally worth it. I do mountain biking and the smaller camera the better for me so usually i don't attach the battery module and just record till the camera runs out of battery so then i just take a small break and let the camera charge and transfer all the videos to the sd card. I record at 2.7k at 30fps since for mountain biking you dont need 4k and lower framerate makes it look like you are going quicker.
Great points, it's still in a league of its own when it comes to a lot of different shooting situations.
what it the angle of view of the action 2? i also want to use it for BTS/POV shot on my photoshoots
It's a 155 degree field of view.
Hey, thanks for the video. Can I also record 9:16 for Instagram? Is it possible with the msgnet to mount the camera in portrait format?
Might get interesting with the magnet, but if you disable Orientation Lock and rotate it, you'll get a 9:16 image, so it's "possible".
i'm looking a camera to videograph off roading stuff... i notice that this is v2 while their latest is v4 and looks more like a gopro. i really wish they just stuck with this cube shape lol it looks so cool, cute and unique
Yeah Im also surprised they only stuck with this design for one version. The form factor is one of my favorite aspects about the Action 2.
Some questions, I want to use it more for action when it's happening. You say the battery lasts about 70 min of the module alone when filming. Does the camera stay on when you don't record en once you see something you want to record you press play. How long is the standby mode battery life then?
There is a Sleep Mode you can activate that will keep the camera on (but sleeping, screen off, etc.) for 60 minutes, and then auto power off. There's also a Screen Off When Locked setting to preserve battery. Haven't measured the battery performance while in sleep mode.
Thanks, I think I might buy one, any idea how it would work on timelapse mode? I really like dji products
No problem! Haven't tried the Timelapse mode yet, but I'd expect it would handle it well.
How long would you say the battery last on 1080p at 60frm?
Without the power module, probably around 45-60 mins, but with it I'd expect 1.5 to 2 hours.
Would this be a good starter? I want to get an action camera to shoot when travelling and some underwater as well as some surfing. I don't want to go crazy on budget because eim no professional in any activity. But I would like to have enough quality video to build something in the future
I think it'd be a great choice for that purpose.
Can the Action 2 shoot at 4k/60 + Rock Steady with horizon leveling in Linear mode? I cant stand fish eye, so linear mode is important. Id love the Go3, but not having 4k was a really bummer.
No sure what you mean by Linear mode, but yes, the stabilized modes work with 4K 60fps as well.
Linear mode = no fisheye
@@WalkVentures4K Gotcha, there is the Standard Dewarp mode which is probably pretty close to eliminating the fisheye effect with wide FOV lenses.
Is it worth for indoor shooting? How is low light video quality??
It's fine for shooting indoors, see my comments around 6:57 for how it handles low light.
@@andrewsaraceni i ordered now. Some says it has heating problem. Any advice???
@@Tamil_Songs_Channel Congrats! If the unit you got doesn't come with the Protective Case, make sure you get it afterwards and use it. It makes a big difference with overheating.
@@andrewsaraceni I don't think so. Do u have a Amazon link to buy ?
@@Tamil_Songs_Channel Sure, it's this one: amzn.to/3ObHTGt
Andrew. How’s everything going?! really good ~ see ya. :))
Hi Eugene, going well! Busy wedding, concert, etc. season. Hope all is well for you too.
Will this work as a webcam, connected via bluetooth to a pc and used with OBS for streaming?
It works as a webcam via USB-C, not sure about Bluetooth though - that might only work for app connectivity.
Where do you get the neck strap from?
It comes with it.
This year I have sold 2 GoPro’s and bought 2 of these. Should have done it years ago. Why did I do it? Because they work! I have used them every day since purchase and they just work faultlessly.
Great point, I've been surprised by how simple and reliable they've been too.
Did they ever fix the overheating issues on these ?
The protective case helps with it significantly. e.g. I've never had any overheating occur in 4K 24p. 4K 60p and 120p will still end up overheating eventually at a certain duration.
Action cameras are so cool .
I been thinking of getting one but ,i really dont know i wanna get one for taking video of the cats
that come when im not around and birds
im worried it might break or get stolen by crows lol
haha I mean they are small enough to be... Strap it down or mount it to a tripod though, and you may be fine. 😉
I love my action 4
@@A1Bokeh Action 4 is a great camera, especially IQ-wise.
Just ordered one
Congrats on the purchase!
Got it for 180 dollars
Looking to change my cams (both my gopros now have red light of death - so no more gopro for me) - this looks good but the low light looks awful - I think the 4 will be my best bet.
The newer Actions (3 and 4) definitely have improved on the low light side. But the Action 2 is still plenty capable in a lot more situations than people would think.
I'm confused how the protective case can aid with overheating. When my phone is in a case, it's gets way hotter and I sometimes take it out to keep it cooler
I think the case is made of a heat-resistant material and when the camera detects it's in use, adjusts software features that allows for extended recording length - it makes a big difference, in this case.
Does the bluetooth connect with the DJI Wireless Mic 2?
Don't think so - the Mic 2 only supports the Action 4 as of now. The original DJI Mic works fine via USB-C though.
do tell about the memory card ... which is the best memory card for this camera !!! 🙂🙂🙂
SanDisk's Extreme microSDXC cards have worked really well for me: amzn.to/3RCHX3V
SanDisk extreme pro 256,gb😊
well im thinking about buying one. i only want to vlog my summer vacations and take pics at the same time. i also want the camera to have a mic on it so i can watch the videoes i took again, but dont want to buy a big expensive camera.. would you recommend it ?
im not looking for the best camera quality, just for fun
@@bybet It's a great choice for simple situations like that. Basically my go-to for capturing anything without thinking about capturing it.
@@andrewsaraceni ive seen that they have two diff dji action cameras. one where there is no screen and one with screen? which one of them would u recommend. i promise last question!!
@@bybet They all should have screens including the Action 2. Some are larger than others. You can get an extra screen module or battery/SD card module for the 2 though.
@@andrewsaraceni oh,,, i just read that the one that doesnt have a screen is a battery ish. the one under the camera. sorry english isnt my first language
Absolutely not. I've seen too many defective units with charging issues, and AC2 still won't connect to a MacM1 via UVC. I used ours for 1 x 20min 1080p shoot and the battery almost lasted for that. So sad. If anyone can encourage us that you've connected via UVC to a mac (Ventura/Sonoma), that would be encouraging.
Does it has horizon lock?
Yes, there's an Orientation Lock function.
Is it good for bike riding ?? How to mount on handle ??
Should work well for something like that. It does come with mounting hardware, but there's several third-party options that are great too.
@@andrewsaraceni I m confused with insta 360 ace pro , insta360 x3 , dji action 2 , dji osmo action 3 , DJI osmo pocket 2... compact cheapest....main Focus on bike ride...kindly share the battery back up and stabilization of I ride on bike with DJI action 2
@@arintraparial1999 I cover all of that in the review, starting around 2:15.
Hello! I bought one on EBay and when I powered it up it was Chinese or Japanese? Any way to change the laugauge ?
Yes, if you go into Settings (the gear icon) and scroll down until you see the globe/Language setting, that'll let you change it.
@@andrewsaraceni ok thanks
Hi. Problem with overheating resolve or still have in 2024?
In 4K 60p or 120p it would still occur eventually. I mainly use 24p in 1080p and 4K, and it doesn't overheat for me (with the protective case on).
How many minutes can record without extra battery (2nd display)? How many GB in top modul (camera modul)
@@kazantip9103 You get up to 70 minutes (max) in 1080p Power Reserve, but practically more like 30-60 mins depending on the resolution/frame rate. 32GB of storage is built in.
I had a question can i use this action camera in rain to make motovlogs
Good question - yes the Action 2 is waterproof up to a certain degree/depth of liquid, so it should be fine in the rain.
How does file transfer work? My Insta360 Go 3 constantly disconnects from wifi and USB so it's a huge pain to pull videos off.
I generally use the micro SD card from the power module and transfer that way, but the connection is stable from USB-C.
@@andrewsaraceniNice, thanks! Can it film 1080p/30 non-stop without overheating?
@@astifcaulkinyeras No problem, yes it handles the 1080p modes (and 4K 24p and 30p) consistently without overheating for me.
I am thinking about gifting this to my tween daughter, but I am worried about the overheating and just the fact that it gets really hot. Is this really a problem?
So long as you get the protective case, and you/she won't be shooting 4K 60p or 4K 120p continuously, I would say it shouldn't be an issue.
They should've maintained the magnetic system. The newer ones are just like another gopro
I"m also surprised they moved away from it, it's one of the best parts about the Action 2 that keeps the main unit small.
I still vlog with this camera
It's definitely still works/holds up for a lot of people.
I just bought this June 1st 2024. I was able to record 4k 120 indoors for 10 minutes. Video on my channel.
Interesting, that's actually much better than DJI's own reported times for 4K 120p.
Yours looks different, it's like more black and more rounded... Is that possible?
I don't think they ever changed the design, material, etc. on it. But maybe it ages/wears differently over time depending on the environment.
Very nice italian surname, Saraceni... They were a nightmare at some point in Italy's history, before Italy was a nation
👀 Thanks, and that's interesting, I can certainly say I played no part in that nightmare. haha
I am really confused between the Action 2 and the Insta360 Ace Pro. Can't figure out why I should get the Ace Pro. Perhaps it's obvious but I am missing it. If anyone has any inputs, I would appreciate it.
I would say the Insta360 Ace Pro competes more with the DJI Action 4, in terms of price/features. You'll save a lot of money going with the Action 2 (and, if you prefer its smaller form factor).
@@andrewsaraceni Would you mind listing out which features would I get more in an Action 4/Ace Pro? Like I said, perhaps, it's obvious but I am missing it. Of course, there is the form factor and the battery, but is there any difference in usage and video quality?
@@andrewsaraceniYour examples of use cases in this video definitely help. Can't these be done using the Ace Pro, for example?
@@mihirgovilkar I haven't used the Ace Pro, so I can't really say. But most similar action cameras can handle the same types of situations - some are just better than others in different areas (e.g. low light, battery life, etc.).
I got mine in Sept of 2022. Have never really used the front touchscreen, and even after updating, had/still have issues using it mounted horizontally. I use it on my motorcycle, and more recently I started using it driving. So much so, that I just bought another one second hand on ebay. The eBay one includes a lot of accessories I had considered, including the BT remote control than can control and setup up to 8 Action 2's. My plan is to leave a power bank in my back seat and fill up the 256GB memory card, probably on 1080p, having it records hands-free from the BT controller. It would record quite a bit of driving before I had to transfer or delete. Interested if anyone else is using these as dash cams. You could literally put these all around your car, wired to powerbanks or through your 12v, and operate them all from the one bluetooth controller.
That's a really interesting use case I never considered, but it would probably make for a great dash cam.
I've had this camera since it's release and it's been sitting for over a year now. Horrible lowlight capabilities make me wish I never purchased it.
Do you really think this one is still worth it? I found a second screen combo for 220€ and dji action 1 for 185€. I am planning to use it for vlogging. Any recommendations on which one to get?😅 thank you
I would definitely take the the Action 2 over the 1, for a few reasons.
Don't buy, they overheat all of the time, can't really use it outside. The touchscreen interface very unreliable and you could accidentally switch something or a setting and not realize it. Many times it does not want to connect your computer with latest OS. Hard to remove the micro SD card, tweezer fingers. Overall score is one star. The big plus was the magnetic connection, but if camera is not reliable, what's the point. BTW, I've had this for two years now, Purchase 06/09/22.
I’m quite confused
honestly, I’ll be buying my first action camera
I’m confused between go pro 10, dji action 3 and Dji action 2
My utilisation would be small treks, beach & water activities and sometimes snorkeling.
And yes Timelapses as well.
Please help me out🙏
It really depends on what you're looking for, but they'll share a lot of similarities. The Action 2 will be the smallest/lightest and most affordable of the bunch. The Hero 10 and Action 3 will probably offer similar benefits but be a bit bigger, and cost a bit more. The Action 3 is the newest of the bunch.
imo, you're better off with action 3. i have the action 2 and indeed, it's small and compact however, it's highly dependent on the power module. The battery life on just the unit itself is horrendous plus, buying extra power unit is more expensive
Just get the action 4 combo with extra batteries and charging case.
Is the DJI Action 2 Still Worth Buying in 2023? = NO not in Denmark it is still overheating :-(
Even with the protective case installed?
yes unfortunately, I have now bought insta360 go and DJI action 4 instead of having something that is not stable :-) but I am also VERY happy about that new cams 😀@@andrewsaraceni
I guest not, because this camera is only capable to create footage not more, I have a plan to buy dji osmo action 4.. it is more better for me to vlog fishing video
The newer Action cameras (3, 4) are great, but the Action 2 still holds its own. All depends on what you want to use it for.
That low light performance seems pretty awful.
That is something I am thinking about as well, I´m about to upgrade from my Action 1. But what action cam would be better? The Action 4 seems only marginally better...
I wouldn't say "awful", but it's about what you'd expect of a small, smartphone-sized sensor - i.e. not comparable to a good DSLR/mirrorless camera.
@@andrewsaraceni for sure! And I only use my action cam as a vlogging complement to my mirrorless and I also have i Sony ZV-1. But in some situations that weather proofing and wide field of view is really nice :)
action 4 is $299 right now. action 2 refurb is $203@@MartinFransson
@@delasse3178 thanks! Not here in Sweden, though 🙂 However I just bought an Action 3 on sale. Found out the Action 2 can't handle below 0 temperatures.