Firework Test of DJI Action 5 Pro - First-Time User Review

[Charline]

I bought a DJI Action 5 Pro a few days ago. It is my first time ever to try a DJI.

I used many GoPro cameras but encountered more quality problems with my last GoPro 10 Black.

I tried to use the DJI for Canada Day's fireworks. it is supposed to have a great dynamic range. My report is on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/XFysOLTT_9o

I imagine that I could have done better if I know the camera better.

Please share your experience with this camera in low light settings when you film the night sky including the Milky Way and northern lights and of course, city nights and fireworks.

[Shortsighted]

I wish that I could offer you some constructive advise about this piece of kit but I'm entirely ignorant ... of video camera gear.  The last adjustment was certainly the better setting.  An ISO above 1600 in the city would likely show more light pollution based on still photography protocols.  If it is a GoPro camera, wouldn't it be able to send the signal to a phone so that you could mount the camera on a hand-held boom, well above your head, and view your phone's screen to compose by turning, or tipping the boom as required, using image stabilization to control jitter?  Everyone's raised cellphone is a little distracting.  Just watching your video made me think someone bumped into me.  I turned to look ... there's no one here.

[Charline]

My initial settings were based on the instructions from Gemini AI. Apparently Gemini AI did not know much about this camera and it keeps giving me the wrong info.

Chatgpt seems to know better.

I now know that I should have used ISO 100-1600 at least. The noise should be ok since I would not lighten the dark sky.


Also, the shutter speed 1/30 was too low. The camera has a good stablization feature since it is an action camera. But 1/30 was too slow.


Very little color-grading was applied since it is meant to be a test.

[Shortsighted]

When you say ISO 100 - 1600 ... does that mean the device selects the best ISO for the conditions within the set limits?  In other words, does it self-set to 1600 under dark conditions and then decreases sensitivity when more light becomes available?  Also, what does shutter speed mean when recording video?  With film, the latency is 60 cycles/sec dictating frame rate, but how do you capture 1/30 sec exposures when that open-interval is too slow for the brain to see uninterrupted continuity?  What does shutter speed even mean in video format? 

[Charline]

When filming/photographing in Manual Mode, I often use auto ISO in a designated range.


The shutter speed can be set at an appropriate rate.