Are you looking for the best top rated DJI Osmo Action camera alternatives in 2019? We've got you covered in today's post! Read on for our comparison and review of less expensive alternatives to the DJI's Osmo Action camera for those who need to budget alternative action camera.
TOP PICK QUICK LINKS: #1) AKASO V50 Pro #2) APEMAN TRAWO #3) Wimius L1
Youād be forgiven for thinking that DJI had limited itself to the skies with their awesome range of drones, but theyāre actually making quite an impact on land with their Osmo Action Camera. The Osmo Action is truly spectacular, but it doesnāt come cheap. Thankfully, there are some great alternatives out there if you want a quality Osmo-esque action camera at a more budget-friendly price. In this article, Iāve pitted four of the best cheap DJI Osmo Action alternatives against it to see how they measure up.
š What to look for in a cheap action camera
- Design – How does usability measure up, and how good-looking is it?
- Specification – How do the features compare to the more expensive DJI Osmo Action? What are we sacrificing for the smaller price tag (and does it really matter)?
- Image Quality – How do still photos and video stand up against the Osmo Action?
These are the questions I asked myself when searching for the best DJI Osmo Action alternatives, so that I could narrow your search to 4 great options below.
#1) AKASO V50 Pro vs DJI Osmo Action
If you want to record 4K footage without paying a premium for the privilege, I recommend the AKASO V50 Pro. For little over $100, you get a solid action camera with enough functionality to suit most videographers.
- SUPERB IMAGE QUALITY: Featuring 4K/30fps and 20MP image, your AKASO V50 Pro action camera can...
- ELECTRONIC IMAGE STABILIZATION: Built-in Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) with 6-axis gyroscope...
- OPTIONAL VIEW ANGLE: You can adjust the view angle of this action camera according to your needs...
It doesnāt take a genius to figure out where AKASO got their design inspiration from. With the exception of the shape of the lens, the V50 Pro looks exactly like a GoPro (even the packaging is the same). The key design difference between the Osmo Action and the V50 Pro is that the latter isnāt waterproof so youāll need to use casing if you plan to take it off dry land.
The V50 Pro comes with a basic remote control which can be used to take photos and begin video recording, but you canāt do much else with it. Thereās no front screen to live-view your footage as there is on the Osmo, but it has Wi-Fi so you can link it to your smartphone to keep an eye on your framing while you film. Stabilization is pretty decent for a cheaper camera, and the 6-axis gyroscope will minimize shakiness which is ideal for recording action sports like mountain biking.
The 4K video is impressive for such a low price, and although you can only shoot at up to 30fps at this resolution you can increase that to 120fps at 720P resolution. The Osmo Action is capable of an incredible 240fps at Full HD resolution so is clearly superior, but if you only plan on using your action camera as a hobbyist itās unlikely youād need that level of quality anyway.
š¬ How are the reviews of the AKASO V50 Pro?
There are over 1500 reviews of the AKASO V50 Pro and the overwhelming majority are positive. Like any electronic device, you've got your occasional bad apples, but customers say that AKASO have been quick to replace items in those scenarios. We're fans of the AKASO brand over here at Travel is Life and have actually included them in other travel buyer guides in the past. Many of the positive reviews boast about the AKASO V50 Pro's high quality video and image stabilization, as well as it's support of external mics. Some of the negative reviews were because the users had problems with the software glitching, however, we are unable to know if those users upgraded their firmware before returning the device, which often fixes those type of software issues.
#2) APEMAN TRAWO vs DJI Osmo Action
The APEMAN TRAWO costs less than $100 and has great reviews, making it a solid contender for the best cheap DJI Osmo Action alternative.
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The TRAWO is very easy to use, and even though itās not touchscreen, the side buttons make it easy to navigate through menus. The 2-inch IPS retina display is crisp, clear, and offers a more stable response time than traditional LCD screens. But, thereās no display on the front, so you canāt monitor settings or check your framing while shooting face-to-camera. The APEMAN app is intuitive to use and full of features though, so you can still get plenty of control when youāre remote shooting.
This action cam needs casing to be waterproof, but itās capable of shooting to depths of 40 meters. APEMANās diversified scene modes include an underwater mode which has a green filter to better suit underwater filming. So, if you like to snorkel or scuba dive, this option could suit you better than the Osmo. This action cam comes with two 1350mAh batteries, which are the largest capacity on the market. Each one is capable of recording at 4K for 90 minutes or 120 minutes at 1080P or less, which makes this camera an excellent option if you like to head out for full days of shooting.
š¬ How are the reviews of the APEMAN TRAWO?
The quality of 4K video and timelapse footage may not stand up to the Osmo, but it comes pretty close, according to reviews. Slo-mo shooting does fall a little short of DJIās offering, but you can still achieve 120fps at 720P which isnāt bad for less than $100. The main downfall with the APEMAN is the image quality of its stills. Users find that they lose finer detail in their images and that scenes can look sort of waxy.
#3) Wimius L1 Action Camera vs DJI Osmo Action
The cheapest DJI Osmo Action alternative worth considering is the Wimius Sports Action Camera.
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To be frank, the design isnāt the sexiest on the market and it certainly looks cheaper than the other options on our list. But, itās compact, rugged and perfectly capable of doing what it needs to do. The 2-inch IPS screen stands up to the other budget options on this list, and the menu is quick and easy to navigate.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this budget camera is the huge array of accessories that comes with it. There are 19 pieces supplied with the camera, including two rechargeable batteries, several mounts for various uses, waterproof casing, and a carry bag.
The L1 is waterproof up to 30 meters which beats Osmoās 11-meter depth capability. But, the Osmo doesnāt require casing to work underwater, so which option you prefer will depend on your personal usage. Audio capture is definitely lacking in comparison to the Osmo, so if you plan to vlog this probably isnāt the best option for you.
š¬ How are the reviews of the Wimius L1 Action Camera?
The Wimius shoots 4K at 24fps, but as many of its reviewers note, itās not capable of ātrue 4Kā. This means that the camera uses software to increase the resolution rather than actually shooting at 4K, so film buffs are likely to be disappointed by the video quality. The 20MP stills are decent and will absolutely suffice for day to day usage. But, as Iām sure your common sense has already told you, youāre not going to get professional-standard quality at such a low price.
#4) GoPro Hero 7 Black vs DJI Osmo Action
Ok, so the GoPro Hero 7 Black is only around a dollar cheaper (if not on promotion), but GoPro leads the action cam market so itās the clear competitor for the Osmo Action.
- HyperSmooth: Get gimbalālike stabilizationāwithout the gimbal. HERO7 Black corrects for camera...
- TimeWarp: Capture super stabilized time lapse videos while you move about a scene. Increase the...
- Live streaming in 720p: Share while youāre there. Live stream in 720p on social, get HyperSmooth...
DJI takes the crown for usability, and the front screen is particularly useful for vloggers. The color display has a slight lag but it lets you see your scene as you shoot which is a great bonus if composition is important for your project. The two cameras are evenly matched in weight but in my opinion the Hero 7 Black looks better and has GoProās signature polished design.
Thereās very little in it when it comes to the specs of these two action cams. Both feature 4K/60fps maximum resolution, voice control, and 8x slo-mo speeds. GoPro is lacking the impressive variable shutter speed that DJI offers in manual mode, which some advanced videographers might miss.
š¬ How are the reviews of the GoPro Hero 7 Black?
In terms of image quality, several reviewers who compared both models have said that GoPro offers beautifully bright and saturated imagery that packs more of a punch than the DJI. However this could also be a result of how the users adjusted their settings. Others said that the Hero 7 Black also handles motion better in 4K mode and its timewarp mode is also superior in terms of smoothness.
To summarize, the Hero 7 Black is pretty evenly matched with the Osmo Action, so which camera you go for will come down to how you plan to use it. And whether you want to save a dollar, of course.
š Final Thoughts: Which DJI Osmo Action alternative is best?
Iāve been a big fan of DJI for quite some time now, so when I saw they were branching out into the action camera market I was excited. And, the Osmo Action did not disappoint. Itās my favorite action camera on the market and for me, it outperforms every other option at a similar price point.
But, if you want a 4K action cam without the hefty price tag, there are some fantastic options out there. Overall, I would recommend the AKASO V50 Pro as the best cheap DJI Osmo Action alternative. It packs in some impressively premium features for a very reasonable price and is a solid option for vloggers and action sports enthusiasts.
Which action camera do you use? Are there any other great cheap options that Iāve missed? Let me know in the comments.
Love DJI products but need cheaper alternatives? Also check out our buyer guide on Best (And Cheaper) DJI Osmo Pocket Alternatives.
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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