This action cam has problems with water
16.10.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Lorenz Keller
The DJI Osmo Nano has a corrosion problem if the contacts get exposed to moisture. I have had the painful experience that this is almost unavoidable with an action cam.
Compact, flexible to use, and equipped with a clever modular system: the features of the DJI Osmo Nano won me over immediately. I bought the action cam a year ago. Now it is a total loss – according to DJI, it was my own fault and therefore outside the warranty. But let's start from the beginning.
This camera is a good catch at first
Everything started so well: attached to the matching neck mount, the Osmo Nano is a compact camera for documenting my favorite hobby, fishing, from a first-person perspective. Thanks to the «Prerecording» function, I can record 30 or 60 seconds that happened before pressing the shutter button. This way, I capture fish bites without recording hours of footage. In the summer, I used this extensively while fishing for black bass in Galicia.
Towards the end of the vacation, however, the camera suddenly had trouble connecting to the screen dock. By now, it no longer charges properly, and I can no longer load my recordings from the internal memory onto the computer. What on earth is going on?
Suddenly I discover signs of corrosion
The unusual design of this action cam is important for the explanation: the Osmo Nano consists of two parts. The sensor and optics are in a compact bar that is attached to a dock with a screen. The camera module can be used autonomously thanks to its own battery, control button, and memory. However, the connections for charging and data transfer are all built into the dock. If the connection between the two modules no longer works, the entire system is unusable.
The connection between the two elements is ensured by twelve spring contact pins (or pogo pins). This is a problem: these pins are exposed and unprotected – unlike, for example, the USB-C port, which is hidden behind a cover.
I now notice signs of corrosion on the connections at the end of the vacation. This chemical reaction is likely preventing a stable connection between the camera and the screen.
No warranty case because of water damage
I report the warranty case like a regular customer at Galaxus. The camera is sent to the DJI service center. No problem, I think. Three weeks later, I receive a surprising answer: warranty rejected due to water damage. If the device is to be repaired, it will cost me 115 francs. I am astonished and ask for an explanation via the Galaxus customer service.
Because: in my opinion, I used the camera correctly. I used the camera unit for underwater shots in freshwater, as this module is waterproof up to ten meters. The display module, on the other hand, is only water-resistant according to the IPX4 standard, meaning it is protected against splashing water from all sides. I therefore did not use it for underwater shots.
The service center shows no mercy: «DJI expressly points out that the product must be completely dried after contact with water or moisture. In particular, the contact points must be completely dry and free of water and contaminants before charging or reconnecting.»
I did quickly dry the camera module on my shirt each time. Whether the pins were completely dry, I cannot guarantee, of course. In outdoor use, I probably didn't pay enough attention to it. Or did moisture get between the two modules during a rain shower?
Not the only one with the problem
As I discover after a quick search, other users of an Osmo Nano are also complaining about corrosion damage. Corresponding entries can be found on Reddit. The twelve pins seem to be a weak point.
«Ready for Water, Ready for Adventure» writes DJI on the website. Just like me, many fans are disappointed that this advertising is only true to a limited extent. The connections must always be dry before I plug the device together. In the fine print, I also read that the IPX4 certification only applies when the two modules are plugged together. If it rains, I am strictly speaking not allowed to remove the camera from the screen, otherwise the warranty will be void in the event of any water damage.
For me, after this experience, it is clear: as an action cam, the DJI Osmo Nano is purely a fair-weather camera. DJI sees it differently when I confront the manufacturer with questions: «The DJI Nano is fundamentally designed for use in demanding environments.» But the company also writes to me: «However, DJI points out that certain conditions can impair water resistance.»
In Switzerland, only a few cases of corrosion damage have been known so far. Due to the compact design and the necessary mechanical connection, the contact points cannot be completely sealed for design reasons. The camera therefore has a weaker protection class, and the manufacturer addresses this in the usage instructions. «Since the Osmo Nano is only partially waterproof, DJI is a bit less accommodating here», writes DJI.
Did not read the safety guidelines
DJI has covered itself in the manual. However, I have to flip to page 21 of the user manual and take the instructions seriously accordingly. «Let the device dry normally before using it again. Wipe the surface of the camera with a soft and dry cloth.»
The manufacturer is clearer in the seventh point of the safety guidelines: «If the contacts are wet or dirty, clean them with a soft, dry cloth before connecting, otherwise a short circuit or corrosion may occur.» It's a pity I only read that after the damage. But honestly: who reads this leaflet in 20 languages? From a consumer perspective, it would be desirable to write that clearly and in German in the operating instructions.
Especially when you are used to something else with connections. USB-C sockets on smartphones also have to be dry before I can use them again. But: if there is moisture, the system warns me and temporarily switches off the connection. I have held smartphones underwater again and again in recent years and sometimes plugged them into power too early afterwards. A connection has never corroded as a result.
My fault
But sure: the water damage is my fault. I didn't read the instructions carefully enough and didn't dry the contacts well enough. However, with today's knowledge, I would never have bought the device – I need a more robust action cam. I therefore decided against the repair. At least the service center cleaned the contacts a bit and sent the device back to me at no cost. Depending on which direction I plug the two parts together, the Nano even works again.
The manufacturer was lucky, I remain loyal to them and bought a DJI Osmo Action 6. Although it is a bit more expensive and bulkier, it offers the same recording functions and is compatible with the accessories I already bought. Especially important for me: the connections are waterproof and the cam is ready for use in wind and weather.
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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