Best action cam underwater option in 2024?

[DreiFish]

If you had to buy an action cam today, which would you buy?

 

I just watched about two hours of reviews.. and well, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and DJI Action 5 both seem overall better than the GoPro, but not sure which to pick between them.

 

Interested in using it topside (50%) and underwater (50%), likely with a wet lens. I have the AOI wet lens already. So corner sharpness underwater is one consideration.

[Nando Diver]

I can speak for the Gopro 13 + Gopro labs to maximize the potencial.

Im filming in: 

8:7

4K

150mbps bitrate (gopro labs) 

lock white balance preset (gopro labs) 

WBDV white balance for diving, more RED Gain 4x, when the scene get more blue (gopro labs)  

Davinci resolve

I also have the AOI wide lens.. 

 

Ive being following the insta360 & ace pro 2 discussions in their forums and they dont have a mature and stable firmware, lots of bugs mostly image artifacts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 15 by Nando Diver

[Nando Diver]

The Iphone 16 pro MAX + blackmagic camera app is also something to considerer...

 

This image is from iPhone 15 + divevolk from Guys from my dive center 

 

https://www.instagram.com/filomenasapinto_oficial/

 

Iphone 16 pro max VS 30.000$ red cinema 4K 

 

 

 

Edited December 15 by Nando Diver

[Davide DB]

16 hours ago, DreiFish said:

If you had to buy an action cam today, which would you buy?

 

I just watched about two hours of reviews.. and well, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and DJI Action 5 both seem overall better than the GoPro, but not sure which to pick between them.

 

Interested in using it topside (50%) and underwater (50%), likely with a wet lens. I have the AOI wet lens already. So corner sharpness underwater is one consideration.

 

Hi Andrei,

I try to write a small recap.

Despite the many reviews online, the only reliable images about those new kids, are those posted by our member @Wags. Unfortunately they are images of the DJI Osmo Action 4 only, but I think they will also apply to the 5 and maybe the 6. As you wrote, it seems DJI to be running against time and possible sanctions by the Trump administration.

 

https://waterpixels.net/forums/topic/1889-dji-osmo-action-4/

The Insta seems to be the one that has better SOOC images. But no one who is into underwater imaging would ever dream of posting SSOC video or photos. So 99% of the reviews are nearly meaningless.
The only real problem I see is using these cameras with a wet lens. On average, they all have a larger FOV than the GoPro, and these lenses/mounts, originally designed for the latter, struggle to have sharp edges. Inon has released a new lens/attachment specifically designed to solve this problem.

Of one thing we are sure: Insta and DJI for land shooting are currently light years ahead of Gopro but have shameful user manuals and technical specifications. They have a lot of work to do on this compared to GoPro.

For land shooting I like how other gear form DJI integrates perfectly (all latest DJI wireless mics connects flawlessly with their camera).

 

Ciao

[DreiFish]

Any findings to show that either the Action 5(4) or the Ace Pro 2 (original) play better with the AOI or INON wet lens options? 

 

We'd be using it exclusively for video, not photos as a complement to our housed cameras. Given that size is the main factor, I don't think a housed iPhone is a viable alternative even if it has some image quality advantages. I want something compact and uncomplicated for scenarios where a housed full frame camera is not ideal. 

 

Basically, I don't need/want 10 bit and a lot of post processing if the OOC results are adequate, so it's not a dealbreaker either way between the Ace Pro 2 and the Action 5. I do seem to recall some findings here on Waterpixel that the AOI lens interacts poorly with the Action 5's wides FOV leading to attrocious corners, which would be the main dealbreaker for me going with the Action 5 over the Ace Pro 2. Otherwise, I slightly prefer the DJI from a 10 bit, better battery life, brighter rear screen (at same 2.5" size) perspective. And the integration with the DJI wireless mics is a nice plus for topside. I've owned plenty of DJI drones, so I'm comfortable with their ecosystem and generally hold them in high regard as a manufacturer. 

 

Regarding the GoPro -- my wife has an Hero 8, and part of my reluctance to buy a Hero 13 is that I question whether it would be a meaningful upgrade in image quality given the same sensor basically. The 1/1.3" sensors of the Ace Pro 2 and Action 5 seem more promising from that perspective, and I've never really found the GoPro footage quality to be adequate for my standards. While I definitely appreciate the more developed ecosystem of accessories like the AOI monitor housing for the GoPro line.. none of that can really make up for the image quality limitations.

 

It would be nice if the Action 6 comes out with a 1" sensor. It would bring me back to the days when I first started filming underwater with a Sony RX100 12 years ago 🙂

Edited Monday at 06:53 PM by DreiFish

[Davide DB]

2 hours ago, DreiFish said:

Any findings to show that either the Action 5(4) or the Ace Pro 2 (original) play better with the AOI or INON wet lens options? 

 

This is the new lens/mount for GP13 8:7 & Insta350 Ace Pro from Inon:

 

https://www.inon.jp/news/2024/news613/

 

No video samples that i could find out there.

Ace pro 2 has an underwater filter settings that "adjust" corners. 

Atrocious corners seems to be caused by using the camera with the default widest FOV. See the thread I linked you on Action 4.

Housed iPhone has the worst quality of the quartet. No way to obtain wide angle acceptable results behind a flat port and Geeee colors are awful and unreal.

 

[shokwaav]

13 hours ago, Davide DB said:

Of one thing we are sure: Insta and DJI for land shooting are currently light years ahead of Gopro but have shameful user manuals and technical specifications. They have a lot of work to do on this compared to GoPro.

For land shooting I like how other gear form DJI integrates perfectly (all latest DJI wireless mics connects flawlessly with their camera).

 

 

The number of "pro" settings available via GoPro labs makes the tinkerer in me aiming for best performance much prefer the GoPro.

 

After playing around with the Insta360 1 inch RS Pro for land use, I've sworn off Insta360. They may be suitable for quick clips for social media, but if you want to do any post-processing, there's absolutely zero support.