What is the BEST Action Camera in 2024?

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Thanks to Westcott, PetaPixel's preferred lighting partner!
This episode we used the Westcott L-60B Cob Light:

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It’s the fall, and that means the new action cameras have arrived! We pit the new GoPro Hero 13 Black against the DJI Action 5 Pro and just announced Insta360 Ace Pro 2. Which model has the best features, image quality, slow motion and much more? We did the testing so you don’t have to.

0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Design and Features
5:13 - Standard Recording Quality
7:10 - Log Recording
8:47 - Low Light
10:09 - Audio
12:54 - Slow Motion
14:18 - Results

[cloudysky]

That wind guard design on Ace Pro 2 sounds awsome. No need for extra audio set-ups, that's a big saving.

[LUITESLIFE]

Did you mix up the footage of the internal mic tests? DJI's sounds so much better than the Insta360? Also you should have another category being reliability, which the Gopro's generally tend to fail at. Or perhaps they've finally made improvements.

[cwinasia]

Battery life and speed of charging, a better UI and more responsive screen when wet moved me over from GP to DJI. My perspective is going to be from a professional’s and I like that the interface is similar to the Pocket and their gimbals which I use for work. I’ve really come to appreciate how DJi builds and sells ( very complete packages) their stuff .

[NotAnotherChannel_Channel]

On audio, man I couldn’t disagree more. The Insta360 was atrocious.

[maciekb]

Stabilisation test, battery test, available packages…. that should be included when considering action cams…

[Featinwe]

Why didn't you discuss image stabilization? it's a paramount feature in an action cam... is IS so similar in each of those cams?

[ZOB]

I picked the DJI because it works well with my other DJI equipment, and the footage is easy to combine with my Osmo Pocket and drones. I shoot in D-Log M across all three of those so having it play nice is an important aspect of the camera.

[oliverdecker]

I love your channel and videos but this one misses the mark a bit because your review is lacking some really important criteria for action cams: stabilisation, min/max temperature reliability, water depth capabilities without housing, etc?

[salamanca]

As always, loved the video. And the insight into Jordan‘s preferred usage of action cameras had me cracking up 🤣

[tennissir]

These guys usually do good reviews. As many others have stated they forgot some of most important criterion for people using action cams - Stabilization, Battery & Overheating.

[KoenMiseur]

Never going back to GoPro after having a lot of corrupted files with my Hero 8 black, DJI all the way!

[kfactr]

DJI has two different sets of ND filters: the push on or screw on. The push are useful for swapping filters during changing lighting conditions, while the screw on are the same as the other brands.

[gordon]

Why not record the entire video on the action cameras? I think for YouTube it would be fine and if not…well that’s the point. You do this regularly with other cameras, but in fairness you were close with all the clips. Exception might be product close ups…use an OSMO Pocket 3. Generally I thought all 3 worked well enough for what would be their intended use and are also ideal for vlogging! Fun btw!

[johnannovisuals]

All 3 are fantastic. We live is such a time where we are privileged to have such great options to choose from.

[richardbuttner]

Is the big GoPro issue finally fixed? The random stopping of recordings?
If the camera just won't run, it isn't worth a single penny.

[artistjoh]

I use GoPro much less these days. I prefer the Pocket for most vlogging, wireless lav mic, nightlapse, and lower light, and I prefer the Olympus TG-6 for getting wet because of the zoom lens, and superb macro, I prefer the Sony RX100 VII for serious photos, and the GoPro for going wide and for hyperlapse. When cameras are small we can carry more than one of them, and use the best one for every creative situation.

[michaelwhiles]

‘And the bedroom’ - how you make me laugh 😎👍

[skinbones]

you are the only one in the world that has better rated the gopro13

[Captn_Slow]

Anyone notice the Insta Ace pro 2 built in mic sounds very muddy in the comparison??

[parallax_aerial_photography]

I'm sorry guys, I normally love your content, but this was the worst action cam comparison video I've ever seen from a prominent channel. There were very few direct side-by-side comparison shots, no stabilization comparison (a VERY important metric for action cams), no underwater colour comparison (again, a VERY important metric for most people choosing an action cam), no direct battery runtime comparison (also relevant), no comparison of the companion apps, and you either mixed up the footage in the microphone comparison or were just straight up tripping because the DJI sounded INFINITELY better than the Insta360 but was put in second place for some reason.

Also, while I recognize that you were only comparing first-party options, most third party (good) ND filters for the Action 5 thread on in place of the clear protector and are much easier to fit and more secure than GoPro's bayonette mount which is fiddly and feels cheap (I own both), and that would have at least been worth a mention. I agree that the press-fit filters are a bad design, I would have expected better from DJI. That said, my filters from Camera Butter are better quality, more durable, and thread on.