DJI Osmo Action 6 Review

Action cameras have spent a decade with the aperture welded open, which is why bright scenes clip and there is no way to slow a shutter for motion blur. The Osmo Action 6 is the first to fit a variable aperture, f/2.0 to f/4.0, and it sits in front of a large 1/1.1 inch sensor co developed with Sony. Together they give this class its first real exposure control and a useful step up in dynamic range and low light.

The spec sheet is otherwise the familiar DJI overachievement. Video runs to 8K at 30 frames and 4K at 120, there is 10-bit D-Log M for anyone who grades, RockSteady stabilisation and horizon lock hold the frame level through anything, and the body is waterproof to 20 metres on its own and 60 with the case. Battery life stretches toward four hours, and the front screen and magnetic mount are the small conveniences that make you actually use it.

At 329 dollars it undercuts the obvious rival while carrying the more interesting sensor, and the variable aperture is the kind of feature that looks like a gimmick until you shoot a bright waterfall and want the blur. The image is still a small sensor image and the autofocus is the fixed simplicity of the category, but as a pound for pound action camera this is the one to beat this year.