DJI Osmo Action 6: Variable Aperture Action Camera Promises Better Low Light (But Still No Real Bokeh)
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DJI launches the Osmo Action 6 with the world's first variable aperture in an action camera. But will f/2.0 finally give us that shallow depth of field we've been asking for?
DJI has announced the Osmo Action 6, and it's bringing something genuinely new to the action camera world: a variable aperture. The company is calling it a breakthrough, and technically, they're right—no other action camera can adjust aperture. Whether that matters in practice is another question entirely.
What's Actually New
The headline feature is that f/2.0 to f/4.0 variable aperture lens. In theory, f/2.0 should let in more light for better low-light performance, while f/4.0 gives you a deeper depth of field for landscape shots. DJI also promises a "Starburst mode" that turns city lights into starbursts at smaller apertures—basically the light-streak effect you get from stopping down.
The Action 6 also gets a bigger sensor: a custom 1/1.1-inch square CMOS chip with 2.4μm "fusion large pixels" (which probably means pixel binning, but DJI hasn't clarified). That's up from the Action 5 Pro's 1/1.3-inch sensor, and the square format enables a new "4K Custom mode" where you shoot once and crop for different aspect ratios later—think vertical for TikTok, horizontal for YouTube.
DJI claims 13.5 stops of dynamic range and improved low-light performance with a new "SuperNight" mode that records 4K 60fps in dark conditions.
The Aperture Reality Check
Here's where it gets interesting (or disappointing, depending on your expectations): you can't actually manually lock the aperture at f/2.0.
According to early hands-on reviews, the manual aperture options are f/2.8 or f/4.0. The camera only switches to f/2.0 automatically in low-light situations. So that headline f/2.0 spec is real, but you don't get to choose when to use it. Bit of an odd design choice.
And before anyone gets too excited about bokeh—reviews confirm there's still basically no depth of field, even with that f/2.0 aperture and larger sensor. This is still an action camera with a tiny sensor by "real camera" standards. If you want actual background blur, you're still looking at something like the DJI Pocket 3 with its larger sensor.
The one exception: attach the optional Macro Lens accessory, which reduces minimum focus distance from 35cm to 11cm, and you can apparently get some shallow depth of field on extreme close-ups. But that's a very specific use case.
Lens Accessories Expand Creative Options
DJI is supporting the Action 6 with two notable lens attachments:
Macro Lens ($169 USD / £236.25 CAD): Gets you extremely close to subjects with 4.3 to 29.5-inch focus range. Uses focus peaking in the Mimo app to keep subjects sharp while blurring backgrounds. Splash-resistant but not waterproof, so underwater use is out. Subject tracking is also disabled with this lens attached.
FOV Boost Lens ($85 USD / $118.82 CAD): Expands the Action 6's native 155° field of view to a massive 182° for truly immersive POV shots. Made of convex optical glass and waterproof to 16.4 feet. The camera automatically switches to FOV Boost mode when this lens is attached. This lens was previously available for the Action 4 and Action 5 Pro, so if you already own one, it should work with the Action 6.
Both lenses use the same magnetic mounting system as previous Action cameras, making swapping quick and easy.
Everything Else
Beyond the aperture novelty, the Action 6 brings incremental improvements:
Video: 4K 120fps in 4:3 ratio, 4K 60fps in SuperNight mode
Slow motion: 1080p 240fps with frame interpolation for "32x super slow motion" (essentially digital)
Storage: 50GB built-in
Stabilization: RockSteady 3.0+ and HorizonSteady modes
Battery: 4 hours, charges to 80% in 22 minutes
Waterproof: IP68, 20 meters without case, 60 meters with case
Audio: OsmoAudio ecosystem support for two DJI mic transmitters
The dual OLED screens remain—2.5-inch rear touchscreen and 1.46-inch front screen, both at 800 cd/m² brightness. The camera also supports timecode sync for multi-cam setups, which is a nice touch for more serious productions.
Who Should Care?
If you shoot a lot in low light, the Action 6's improved sensor and f/2.0 capability (when the camera decides to use it) should deliver cleaner footage than the Action 5 Pro. The square sensor's 4K Custom mode is genuinely useful for content creators who post to multiple platforms and don't want to shoot everything twice.
But if you already own an Action 5 Pro? This feels more like a 5.5 update than a true generational leap. The aperture feature is interesting on paper but limited in execution. There's no 8K (not that most people need it), and the overall shooting modes remain largely unchanged.
For those hoping the larger sensor and wider aperture would finally bring proper depth of field to an action camera—well, you'll have to keep waiting. Or buy a Pocket 3.
Pricing and Availability
The DJI Osmo Action 6 is available now for £329/€379. US customers, however, will need to wait—DJI hasn't confirmed US availability yet, likely due to ongoing trade restrictions. Check Amazon or authorized retailers for updates.
Accessories:
Macro Lens: $169 USD / £236.25 CAD
FOV Boost Lens: $85 USD / $118.82 CAD
Waterproof Case: included in combo package
The Action 5 Pro, meanwhile, is still available and likely to see discounts now that the Action 6 is here. For most people, that might actually be the smarter buy.
Bottom line: The Action 6 brings genuine innovation to the action camera category with variable aperture and a larger square sensor. But the execution feels conservative—you can't manually control f/2.0, there's still no meaningful bokeh, and the improvements are mostly incremental. It's a solid camera, just not the revolutionary upgrade some were hoping for.
Maybe the Action 6 Pro will deliver that later this year. Or maybe we'll all just accept that action cameras are for action, not for artsy shallow depth of field shots.
All images courtesy of DJI.
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