The Osmo Action 5 Pro levels your horizon electronically, not with a gimbal. HorizonSteady locks the horizon through a full 360° roll at 1080p or 2.7K (16:9) up to 60fps, and HorizonBalancing corrects tilt within ±45° at up to 4K (16:9) and 60fps. Subject Tracking keeps a person centered at 2.7K or 1080p. Zoom is digital only, up to 2x; there's no optical zoom or telephoto lens.
Stabilization modes
In Video or SuperNight mode, tap the stabilization setting in the upper right corner of the screen:
| Mode | What it does | Supported specs |
|---|---|---|
| Disabled | Widest view, no EIS; records gyro data with Wide FOV | Video and SuperNight |
| RockSteady 3.0 | Smooths shake, keeps natural motion | Video and SuperNight |
| RockSteady 3.0+ | Crops slightly more for stronger smoothing | Video and SuperNight |
| HorizonBalancing | Levels tilt within ±45° | 1080p, 2.7K, 4K (16:9), 60fps or below |
| HorizonSteady | Locks the horizon through 360° | 1080p, 2.7K (16:9), 60fps or below |
DJI says EIS isn't applied in Timelapse or Slow Motion modes. If HorizonSteady is grayed out, drop to 2.7K or 1080p and 60fps or lower, and use 16:9.
Which to use: HorizonSteady for helmets, handlebars, go-karts and anything that rolls. HorizonBalancing when you want 4K and only need small tilts fixed. RockSteady for handheld walking. For post stabilization instead, see Gyroflow and timecode.
Is there a gimbal?
No. "Gimbal" searches usually mean the electronic stabilization above. For mechanical stabilization in a small camera, look at the Osmo Pocket 3. See do you need a gimbal for an action camera.
Subject Tracking
Swipe to Subject Tracking mode. A gray frame appears in the center; when a person is in it, a yellow box shows they're selected. Press record and the box turns green as tracking locks. The camera keeps them centered by moving the crop, so you can hold or mount the camera loosely.
- Specs: 2.7K or 1080p, 16:9 or 9:16, up to 60fps.
- People only. DJI says it's not suitable for pets or other non-human subjects.
- Lost subject: the box turns red. After 10 seconds lost, tracking doesn't resume on its own; re-lock and start a new recording.
- Needs a battery inserted. It won't run on USB power alone.
Best uses per DJI: skiing, snowboarding, cycling and motorcycling, with the camera on a stick or mount pointed at you.
How to zoom
The Action 5 Pro has a fixed 155° prime lens. Digital zoom crops into the image:
- Photo: up to 2x
- Video: up to 2x
- Slow Motion and Timelapse: not available
Set it from the touchscreen in Photo or Video mode. Zooming crops pixels, so 2x at 4K is softer than a true telephoto shot. To change the look without cropping, switch the FOV: tap the RS | Wide icon and choose Standard (Dewarp) to remove the fisheye curve. Or go wider with the FOV Boost Lens; see Action 5 Pro lenses and ND filters.
Quick setup by activity
- Motorcycle or MTB helmet: 2.7K/60, HorizonSteady. See motorcycle mounts.
- Ski selfie stick: Subject Tracking at 2.7K/60, or 4K with HorizonBalancing.
- Walking vlog: 4K/30, RockSteady 3.0+.
More recommendations in Action 5 Pro settings. Shop the Osmo Action 5 Pro.
Related guides
- Best Osmo Action 5 Pro mounts for motorcycle, bike and car
- Best Osmo Action 5 Pro settings (cinematic, low light, timelapse)
- Best SD card for the Osmo Action 5 Pro (and built-in storage)
- Diving and snorkeling with the Osmo Action 5 Pro (case, settings)
- How deep can the Osmo Action 5 Pro go? Waterproof rating explained
- Is the Osmo Action 5 Pro worth it? Specs, weight and who it's for
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