DDPAI Ranger Test - The top predator of 4K action cameras

DDPAI Ranger 4K action camera and bicycle dashboard in one.

Watch my video test, if you like it, subscribe to my channel!

Introduction - DDPAI Ranger

If I say action camera, I think few people will look at them stupidly. Yes, I think everyone already knows what an action camera is. GoPro launched its first camera quite some time ago, and we were amazed to see how the little hand-held camera can take wonderful 1080p footage, whether it can survive being dropped from a plane or submerged in the sea.

However, time passes, competitors appeared, and although GoPro is still one of the leaders in the category of action cameras, their performance is nowhere near unique and inimitable. I say this as I have the DDPAI camera in my hand, which will primarily be a friend of cyclists, motorcyclists or scooter riders.

The DDPAI Ranger is much more than an action camera, as it creates extremely detailed statistics about the journey we take and records not only the route, but also countless other data related to the route.

Well, let's not rush ahead so much, let's see the camera, then the specification and finally the experiences. I think that exceptionally, don't skip the beginning of the article, there will be a lot of interesting information here too!

Unpacking and exterior

Regarding the unpacking, I could probably write the most about the box, and that's not good. I mean, not because there are almost no accessories. A short description, a charging cable and a kind of bracket with which we can attach it to, say, a crash helmet. This is a little bit too much for me, if only because of the camera functions, but I'll get to those later.

However, the box is at least well done, and this can be said about the exterior as well as the interior, that is, you will get an absolutely high-end feeling from the stuff.

The main capabilities are on the side of the box, and the functions in small photos on the back. Basically, knowing the capabilities of the camera, this is not too much information, but it is definitely enough to start salivation.

I usually call such boxes shelf-friendly. I say it now, but nowadays there are fewer and fewer shelves, we buy more and more things online, and before buying we look at a lot of articles. In other words, lately I prefer videos, because reading articles is too tiring. You know, those many letters in a row. Brrr, the cold shook me too.

Well, here's the camera, let's take it in hand, let's shoot it! the first thing you might notice is that it is a little big. But this is deceptive, because it is actually only minimally larger than a traditional action camera, and you can tell by its size and weight.

The big difference is that the DDPAI Raptor's display is not on the back, but on top of the camera. The optics have also moved elsewhere, as if they were on the side of a traditional action camera, but here, in the case of the Ranger, it is the front of the camera. The charging connector, or more precisely the USB Type-C connector, which can also be used for data exchange, is located behind a small door that can be opened.

On the side, there are two inserts with a carbon pattern, which not only serve as decorations, but also as push buttons. At the bottom of the camera, there is a bayonet lock solution that can be used for holding, which also has contacts in the middle. On the manufacturer's side, among the optional accessories, there is a structure called acc charging base, in principle we could use this to provide a continuous power supply to the camera. According to the description, two types of connections are available for this cable dock. We can connect it to the electrical system of our engine, in which case it comes to life when the engine is started or even when the light is switched on. Another, simpler solution is to use a USB connection. This doesn't need to be explained.

I will provide a link to this at the end of the article, but you will also find a link to the motorcycle/bicycle holder.

The DDPAI Ranger looks quite convincing. Of course, I haven't started throwing it to see what kind of impact it can take, but it seems quite robust, I hope it will withstand my trials! It already belongs to the specification, but I'd rather insert here that the camera has IP67 water and dust resistance, which means that I wouldn't recommend it for water sports, but it can be used for skiing, for example. Motorcycles, bicycles and scooters are obvious. Before I forget, in principle it can also be used as a car tachograph, I have not tried this.

Specification

Okay, so let's see what the camera can do on paper, that is, the specification can come!

The DDPAI Ranger naturally has vibration reduction, according to the descriptions, a three-level intelligent stabilizer has been installed. The purpose of this is, of course, to eliminate the vibration caused by bumpy roads from the recording as much as possible.

The stabilization called D-Flow also includes a Horizon Leveling function, which automatically straightens the camera image if you accidentally mount the Ranger on the steering wheel at a slight angle. The quality of the image is also improved by Distortion Correction, i.e. the reduction of the barrel effect, which removes the distortion caused by the wide-angle lens from the recordings.

Above all, the triple intelligent stabilizer, including D-Flow stabilization, distortion correction and horizon leveling, guarantees that the recorded videos will be smooth even on uneven roads. So even if you're on a challenging trail, you can count on your video to be stable, clear and visually appealing, no matter the terrain.

The DDPAI Ranger offers shooting with a wide 1.6° field of view in addition to the F150 aperture. This makes it possible to fully capture the scenery along the road.

Thanks to NightVIS Realbub technology and the AI-IPS chip, the camera can also be filmed after dark. This technology improves low-light recording, allowing nighttime footage to be clear and sharp on video, almost like daytime (well, I'll be curious about that!). Thanks to this, the details of the environment and the important moments of the night adventures will be clearly visible and recorded in high quality.

A long operating time is important for an action camera. The DDPAI Ranger can work for 150 minutes of 1080P@30fps video recording and up to 110 minutes of 4K recording. For this, the manufacturer has installed a large battery with a capacity of 1600 mAh. No, I didn't write it wrong, the camera is actually built in, it can't be replaced, it can't be removed.

If the camera is called an action camera, then it must also have some kind of durability. It's here too, because with the 7H hardness scratch-resistant lens, we'll be able to take perfect shots for a long time. what I haven't told you yet is the size of the display, it's 1,3 inches and has touch-sensitive controls. The camera itself has dimensions of 74 x 48 x 51 millimeters.

Back to stabilization, horizon leveling ensures that your Ranger camera footage is not only stable, but also visually pleasing. Moreover, with added functions such as 3D recording of the route, the built-in 128GB eMMC storage allows you to analyze the routes from the video, which is also useful if you want to improve your cycling or motorcycling skills.

What does it mean exactly? Basically, the DDPAI Ranger stores a lot of data about the trip, and you can download this data in a GPX file.

The data in the GPX file is of course also visible on my display while driving, so you can see your speed, the average speed during the trip, and the maximum speed. You can see the length of the journey, the duration of the trip. You can also see where you are going, since there is a built-in compass, you can see the angle of the uphills or slopes you are traveling on. You can also see the barometric pressure, altitude, outside temperature and acceleration.

Last but not least, there is a built-in GPS, which allows you to see exactly the route you took during the trip.

In other words, the situation is that this camera is not only a camera, but also an extremely accurate data collection device.

I already wrote about the camera's image enhancement functions above, but I did not yet write about the available resolutions and number of frames.

Well, DDPAI Ranger supports 43.3 or 16:9 aspect ratio images and videos. The following resolutions are available for the 16:9 aspect ratio:

• 4K 30 FPS
• 4K 25 FPS (night)
• 2K 60 FPS (Sports)
• 2K 50 FPS (night)
• 1080p 30 FPS (power reserve)

And we get these resolutions at 4:3 aspect ratio:

• 2K 60 FPS (Sports)
• 2K 30 FPS (standard)

In addition to these settings, there is one more left, we can choose between bicycle or motorcycle mode. It's not a very interesting function for me, but maybe for you, the fact that you can share your recordings on various social platforms, then also in real time. Supposedly. I haven't tried this.

Use and experience

Well, using it is simple. You can use the gadget in two ways, in manual or automatic mode.

The automatic mode is more reasonable, you start the bike and the recording starts. All data is recorded by the DDPAI Ranger, plus it makes a time lapse video in 720p resolution. In other words, on the one hand, you will have all the data about the trip, on the other hand, you can also watch the video where you went at a faster speed.

You need the manual mode to make a decent video. To do this, press and hold the button on the left side of the camera for 5 seconds and the recording will start at the set resolution, i.e. up to 4K 30 FPS. If you just press the button briefly, it will make a 5-second video.

In manual mode, pressing the right button brings up the part where you can see the road data. You can press start here on the display. A faster method is to hold down the right button for a long time, in which case the recording will start.

It is important that if you stop, you have the option to press pause, that is, you do not have to stop the recording, but you can also pause it.

These features work well. I don't know how many people there are who would like to know the details of the journey taken in such detail, but for me, for example, it will be very useful for bicycle and scooter tests, because to say the least, I can finally see exactly what e.g. during the test, how much difference in level there was in the road, as well as how steep the particular hill on which I am testing the scooter or bicycle is. In other words, I can compare the factory data in terms of the climbable slope with the reality.

One thing left, the camera.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, I could not find out the sensor type. The factory data includes the angle of view and the aperture (I also wrote them above), but unfortunately there is no other data.

I compared the image of the camera with the image of the DJI Osmo Action camera, which is not very recent but still considered good. It's not bad, but I still prefer the Osmo. The colors are beautiful, the lines are even, the image is perhaps a little oversaturated, the recording is perhaps a little too colorful and smelly. For things further away, the detail also deteriorates, but it's miles from bad!

On the left is the DJO Osmo - on the right is the picture of the Ddpai Ranger

I would have been less satisfied with the night recording if I didn't know that in this field even the expensive "traditional" action cameras do not excel. Compared, for example, to the image of the DJI Osmo Action camera, the result is particularly good, even though I was able to adjust the ISO value with the Osmo as well. In the picture below, for example, I used ISO 3200, which is also visible in the noise. Of course, the image was cut from a video. If I may suggest, watch the test video as well, you can better perceive what I have described here during movement!

On the left is the DJO Osmo - on the right is the picture of the Ddpai Ranger

What can perhaps be mentioned as a shortcoming is that the camera settings lag far behind those of a more expensive action camera. In other words, don't even dream about white balance and ISO settings. On the other hand, as you can see with the adjustable resolutions, there is a setting optimized for night mode, sports, and there is certainly a difference between motorcycle and bicycle modes as well.

The image enhancement functions, but especially the vibration reduction, were convincing, I don't think you can get attached to this. The footage shows that it is as if the camera is floating, there are almost no bumps on the road that would leave a visible mark on the camera image. Really great!

You could go into why there is no external microphone connection, but let's face it, this is a bicycle and motorcycle action camera, the microphone connection would be completely unnecessary, the built-in microphone is enough. I will not record my broadcasts with this camera, it was not designed for this.

Perhaps I can mention the built-in battery as a negative. It hasn't bothered me so far, and if I need it, I'll buy a pair of slippers with a power supply, so it won't bother me even less, because I have a USB phone charger on my electric bike, so the camera will also tick.

Finally, a few words about the phone software.

The program of DDPAI is very simple. It is possible to start recording and route tracking from here, and it is also possible to review the recordings on the camera. Depending on which function we are using, the connection changes from Bluetooth to WiFi, which is a bit annoying, but somewhat understandable. Where the bandwidth of BT is sufficient, it uses it and does not consume much, where WiFi is needed, it uses it and consumes more. So that's fine.

Conclusion

DDPAI Ranger is not perfect, but almost. The built-in battery is not lucky, the image quality is good, but not the best, but the vibration reduction is flawless.

The route tracking and logging functions are flawless. There are no major shortcomings, but if the GPS and the phone app were already here, they could have added navigation, check points, etc. to the DDPAI program on the phone. I think this is a big hit that shouldn't be missed.

That said, the DDPAI Ranger is a crazy good build. It will be the best for motorcyclists and cyclists, but of course it can also be used for other sports.

Don't forget to watch my video test, in which you can also see the quality of the completed videos. Video at the beginning of the article!

If you like the camera, you can order it by clicking on the link below. Use the BG3f9cc3 coupon code here, the price of the camera is HUF 63:

DDPAI Ranger action camera

You can find the accessories here:

Camera holder with power supply

Motorized camera mount

Technical data:

• Brand: DDPAI RANGER
• Weight: 191 g
• Operating time: (4K mode) / 150 minutes (1080P mode) / Continuous use (ACC charging base required)
• Battery: battery: 1600 mAh
• Touch screen: Size: 1,3 inches
• Brightness: 700 nits
• Dimensions: Dimensions: 74 x 48 x 51 mm
• Operating temperature: -20℃-45℃
• Stabilization: D-Flow, horizon equalization, distortion calibration
• Video format: MP4(H.264/AI.265)
• Image size:
  • 4K(16:9): 3840×2160@30fps
  • 2K(16:9): 2560×1440@60fps
  • 2K(4:3): 1920×1440@60fps
  • 2K(4:3): 1920×1440@30fps
  • 1080p(16:9): 1920×1080@30fps
• Video modes: Standard, loop recording, motion timed recording
• Video format: MP4
• Photo format: JPG
• Lens: 150° F1.6
• Storage: eMMC128GB
• Sensor: Six-axis high-precision gyroscope, magnetometer, altimeter, etc.
• Wi-Fi transmitter: 5GHz
• Bluetooth: BLE5.1
• USB: 3.0 Type-C
• Number of microphones: 2

Compatible devices: iOS devices:

Compatible with A11 or higher chips and iOS mobile devices with iOS 11.0 or higher, including iPhone SE 2, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 , iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and newer models.

Android devices:

Compatible with Android mobile devices with the following capabilities, including:

– Android devices with Kirin 980 chip or higher, including Huawei Mate 20, P30 or later models.

– Android devices with Snapdragon 845 and higher chips, including Samsung Galaxy S9, Xiaomi Mi 8 or later models.

– Android devices with Exynos 9810 and higher chips, including Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+, Note9 and newer models. – Android devices with Tensor chips, including the Google Pixel 6.

Comment:

1. Devices that do not meet the above requirements can still use the app to control the camera, however some processor-intensive and AI-based features may not perform optimally.
2. After testing, phones equipped with Qualcomm SDM765 5G chip have weak hardware decoding capabilities and are not supported for use, such as OPPO Reno 3 5G.
3. A mobile phone with a 64-bit system is required to install the application. 32-bit system does not support application installation.