DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 12: Key Strengths
Naila Syifa
Updated September 2024
DJI's newest action camera model, the Osmo Action 5 Pro, has been launched with a range of impressive features that challenge the market-leading GoPro Hero 12. Both retailing at the same price tag, which one offers the better value for money?
Key Takeaways
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro's key strengths lie in the 20m waterproofing, altitude and underwater depth, and 1/1.3" CMOS for superior low-light imaging. The GoPro Hero 12, on the other hand, boasts a higher 5.3K resolution, an 8:7 aspect ratio, and broader compatibility with Bluetooth headsets.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
Rugged Action Camera
✓ 4K Video + 40 MP Photo
✓ 1/1.3” CMOS Sensor
✓ Dual OLED Touchscreen
✓ Air Pressure and Water Pressure Gauge
GoPro Hero 12 Black
Professional Action Camera
✓ 5.3K Video + 27 MP Photo
✓ 8:7 Aspect Ratio
✓ Timecode Sync & 10-bit Log
✓ Bluetooth Audio Support
#1 Price
GoPro Hero 12
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 12 share the same price tag of US$349, making both models a direct competitor.
GoPro Hero 12 was actually priced at US$399 when it was first launched in 2023, but the release of the newer GoPro Hero 13 has led to a price drop for it.
Read also: GoPro Hero 12 vs 13
#2 Design & Display
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 12 are compact and rugged action cameras that are designed to withstand the elements. The Osmo Action 5 Pro is perhaps better at handling extreme conditions due to its superior waterproofing capabilities of 20m compared to the Hero 12's 10m waterproofing.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also offers a superior OLED display, featuring a 1.46" OLED touchscreen on the front and a 2.5" OLED touchscreen on the rear, which boasts 1000 nits peak brightness for easy viewing under direct sunlight.
In comparison, the GoPro Hero 12 uses smaller and less bright LCD displays, with a 1.4" front-facing non-touch display and a 2.27" rear-facing touchscreen.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro has another design advantage with its magnetic mounting system. The camera includes a Quick-Release Adapter Mount, which attaches to the camera magnetically for easy attachment and detachment from accessories.
Meanwhile, the GoPro Hero 12 relies on its built-in mounting fingers and a 1/4-20 tripod thread, which may not be as convenient for quick attachment and detachment, but are highly secure and compatible with a wide range of accessories.
#3 Video & Photo
GoPro Hero 12
The maximum video and photo resolution for the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is 4K and 40 MP, while the GoPro Hero 12 offers 5.3K video and 27 MP photos. That means, while the GoPro Hero 12 has a slightly higher video resolution, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro can capture higher-quality photos.
Both cameras support 10-bit color, HDR, and have a similar field of view – 155° for DJI and 156° for GoPro. However, the GoPro Hero 12 stands out with a unique 8:7 aspect ratio, which allows for more flexible cropping during editing compared to the more traditional 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio available on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro.
One aspect that the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro demonstrates clear superiority is its low-light performance. Thanks to a large 1/1.3” CMOS sensor and a 4nm high-performance chip, the Osmo Action 5 Pro delivers better image quality in low light conditions compared to the GoPro Hero 12 with a smaller 1/1.9" CMOS sensor.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also offers a higher frame rate for slow-motion videos. It uses 4x frame interpolation to turn 1080p/240 fps footage to 1080p/960 fps for 32x super slow-motion capture. Meanwhile, the Hero 12 is limited to 8x slow motion, though at a higher 2.7K resolution.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also supports HLG color mode that the GoPro Hero 12 doesn't support. HLG mode captures footage with a wide dynamic range and color gamut, which can be displayed on HLG-compatible devices.
#4 Audio
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro with DJI Mic 2
Both cameras offer a three-microphone array with wind noise reduction, stereo audio support, and external microphone connectivity.
However, the GoPro Hero 12 has a slight advantage with its compatibility with a range of Bluetooth headsets, including Apple AirPods, Samsung Galaxy Buds, Jabra Elite, Bose QuietComfort, and more.
Meanwhile, DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro supports DJI Mic 2 for Bluetooth wireless audio recording. It is more limited in compatibility, but the DJI OsmoAudio connectivity ecosystem allows for a dual DJI Mic 2 connection and a high 48 kHz digital sampling rate. There is also a Built-in Mic Audio Backup feature to record a secondary audio track to prevent any audio loss from the external microphone connection.
#5 Features
GoPro Hero 12
Both the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 12 offer voice control, a built-in timecode function, live streaming, and webcam support.
However, when it comes to additional features beyond the primary video and photo capabilities, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro seems to have more. It comes with 47 GB internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot, whereas the GoPro Hero 12 relies solely on a microSD card for storage.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also has a built-in air pressure and water pressure gauge, which can record and display altitude and underwater depth data, then embed that data into the recorded videos using the DJI Mimo app.
Other sports data like speed or distance can also be overlaid on the videos using the DJI Mimo app, but the camera doesn't natively record those metrics, so a compatible external device like DJI GPS Bluetooth Remote Controller, Apple Watch, or Garmin devices are required.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also offers a subject tracking feature, which keeps a moving subject centered in the frame. However, this is different from subject tracking typically found in a gimbal camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. Subject tracking on the Osmo Action 5 Pro only tracks the subject within the frame instead of physically panning or tilting to follow it.
Read also: DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Osmo Pocket 3
#6 Battery Life
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is powered by a large 1950mAh battery, which is rated for up to 240 minutes of runtime at 180p/24 fps resolution.
At a similar 1080p/30 fps setting, the GoPro Hero 12 can only last up to 155 minutes on a single charge. This is because the Hero 12 has a smaller 1720mAh Enduro battery.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 12
Final Thoughts
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
While the Osmo Action 5 Pro offers superior waterproofing, bright OLED displays, low-light performance, and additional features like the built-in air pressure and water pressure gauge, the GoPro Hero 12 counters with a slightly higher video resolution, a unique 8:7 aspect ratio, and broader compatibility with Bluetooth headsets.
Depending on the user's priorities, such as video quality, audio capabilities, or the need for advanced data tracking, one camera may be more suitable than the other. Ultimately, both the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and the GoPro Hero 12 are capable and feature-rich action cameras that provide excellent value for their respective price points.
If you would like to read more about Action Camera, check out our other relevant guides here:
DJI Osmo Action 4 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 3 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs DJI Osmo Pocket 3
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 13
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 Ace Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 X4
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 X3
Author
Naila Syifa
Content Manager at Synced. She crafts insightful content on the latest trends in technology, consumer electronics, and smart home gadgets.
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