On the face of it, there are not many differences – surprisingly, the sensor is the same on the 5 as it is on the 4, 1/1.3” CMOS, but it is the next gen sensor. Max resolution is the same as the 4, 4K (16:9), 3840×2160 @100/120fps. The real differences start to come into play with the battery life, there is a noticeable upgrade on the battery life, almost doubling the time of the 4. That said, these batteries will be compatible with the 4 so one can argue you could just use those for the 4 as well. I think the real winner in the specifications is the integrated storage of the Action 5, offering 47GB internal storage with no need for a SD card and the new features of SuperNight and subject tracking. This gives you a mode to use when riding at night if you are not someone who wants to edit, colour grade or use manual settings for a nighttime ride. The subject tracking is great to use if you are wanting to film yourself or a specific subject but you are a one person filming band. I did not use the tracking much but what little I did use, it was a fun clever feature and I was surprised by how well it worked.

What does the Action 5 offer over the 4 then? The sensor, whilst the same size as the 4, is a newer generation lending to a small but noticeable increase in low light capabilities. The dynamic range is improved in some areas, light conditions dependent. I would say the Action 5 in Auto out of the camera, the colour grading and HDR effect on it is a bit unnatural. I immediately played around with the colour profiles, there is an 8 bit log, 10 bit, HLG 10big and D Log M 10bit. These profiles offer a lot for people wanting to dive deeper and colour grade. For some, colour grading is a minefield and can be scary so if you just want to use the camera as it shoots straight out, it is something to consider. There is also a feature called colour recovery. I think the colour of the DJI in these manual/auto modes does let it down a bit and it is worth playing around with these colour profiles to see what you like the best or works for you.

SuperNight is for low light conditions, such as nighttime filming and it uses AI technology to adapt and react to the footage to try and capture it brighter or cleaner. I have known some people to have success with this mode and it has its uses. I am more of the mindset that I would edit and colour grade manual mode where you would adjust the ISO and shutter speed yourself but it is an incredibly useful mode to have for people who just want a plug and play option.

One of the best features of the Action 5 Pro is the bluetooth connectivity to allow for DJI Mic 2 to connect seamlessly. This is a selling point over the Action 4, which can connect this way but I had consistent issues with the connection being very so slow to pick up – sometimes, after pressing record on the Action 4, the mic would not connect for 10-20 seconds which is a long time and means you have missed what you were trying to record already. The Action 5, it is a second at most, and the mic is connected, recording and ready to go. This is important for moto vlogging and similar.

The Action 5, like the 4, records high quality footage and includes the same stabilisation options of Rocksteady and Rocksteady+ and Horizon Balancing. This camera records fast footage perfectly and is perfect for cinematic footage, POV of riding and anything sports related. I know some people who use it for general filming and vlogging as well, the camera has plenty of capability to be used as an all rounder.

Overall, this is a powerhouse of a camera, similar to the Action 4 and it is not something you will be disappointed with. I would say there is a change in the colour profile/HDR straight out of the camera in auto – it is not as good as the Action 4, so if you do not colour grade your footage, this might need to be taken into consideration depending on your preferences. I also just wonder, if you are an Action 4 owner already, does this camera offer enough to upgrade? My honest answer… it totally depends on your needs and usage for the camera, but it is probably a no. The Action 4 remains a superior camera for less money and for most people, it will be more than enough. The Action 5, if you are vlogging with the DJI Mic 2, need internal storage and features like the SuperNight and subject tracking, then by all means buy the Action 5. Either way, the Action 5 is a great camera and DJI once again show why they are currently dominating. DJI listen to their customers and a prime example of that is this camera was released with a lower bitrate than the 4, reason being it helped further the battery life. Many people complained about this, with some saying it made the footage a bit muddy. DJI responded and released a firmware update meaning you have a high bitrate option. This engagement and listening to the customers is what the makes the brand so good. I just hope they do not fall into the trap of putting out new cameras more frequently lacking big and significant changes to be worthy of upgrading from.’

You can purchase the DJ Action 5 via the DJI Amazon store https://amzn.to/4bbUDXP Words and images by jess (@beastbobber)