Launched on September 13, 2023, the GoPro Hero 12 Black can be purchased from GoPro’s official website and Amazon.
It flaunts numerous enhancements including extended battery longevity, superior video stabilization, a novel wide-angle lens accessory, and cutting-edge features designed specifically for content creators.
A standout feature is its ability to capture vertical videos effortlessly, making it a perfect fit for social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
In this detailed review, we will delve deeper into the offerings of the GoPro Hero 12 Black, evaluating its functionality, features, and determining if it justifies an upgrade
- High Dynamic Range Video + Photo: HERO12 Black takes its best-in-class image quality...
- Unbelieveable Image Quality: With 5.3K video that gives you 91% more resolution than...
- Emmy Award- Winning HyperSmooth 6.0 Stabilization: HyperSmooth continues to set the...
GoPro Hero 12 Black: Specification Overview
Below is a specification overview for the GoPro Hero 12 Black:
GoPro Hero 12 Black | Specifications |
---|---|
Dimensions (W x H x D) (mm) | 71.8 W x 50.8 H x 33.6 D (mm) |
Weight (Camera w/Mounting Fingers + Embedded Battery) | 154g (Camera w/Mounting Fingers + Battery) 121g (Without Battery) |
Battery Specs | 1720mAh Enduro Battery |
Waterproof Depth | 10m (33ft) without protective housing 60m (196ft) with protective housing |
System Processor | GP2 |
Image Sensor | 1/1.9" CMOS |
Field of View (FOV) | 156° in 8:7 aspect ratio |
Video Resolutions & Frame Rates | 5.3K (8:7) 30/25/24 FPS 5.3K (16:9) 60/50/30/25/24 FPS 4K (8:7) 60/50/30/25/24 FPS 4K (9:16) 60/50/30/25 FPS 4K (16:9) 120/100/60/50/30/25/24 FPS 2.7K (4:3) 120/100/60/50 FPS 2.7K (16:9) 240/200 FPS 1080 (9:16) 60/50/30/25 FPS 1080P (16:9) 240/200/120/100/60/50/30/25/24 FPS |
Max Photo Resolution | 27.13MP (5568x4872) |
Photo Frame-Grabs from Video | 24.69MP from (8:7) 5.3K Video |
Time Lapse | Includes TimeWarp, Star Trails, Light Painting, and more |
Microphones | 3-Mics |
Audio Mic Input | 3.5mm Audio Mic Input with Media Mod for Hero12 Black or Pro 3.5 Mic Adapter (Sold Separately) |
Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth |
Voice Control | Yes |
MicroSD Card Recommendation | MicroSD card rating V30 or UHS-3 recommended |
Stabilization | Hypersmooth 6.0 |
The name “GoPro” has become synonymous with action cameras over the years. Despite the presence of myriad sports camera brands in the market today, none have managed to match the exceptional range of features that GoPro offers. After conducting an in-depth review of the GoPro Hero 12 Black, a top-tier 5.3K camera, it’s clear that GoPro remains at the forefront of technological advancement in this domain.
Be aware that there may be additional specification details not outlined in this table. For a more exhaustive understanding of the product’s features, keep on reading this article.
If you want to know what SD card to buy and how to choose the right one, check out: How to Choose the Best SD Card for GoPro HERO 12
GoPro Hero 12 Black: Discover the Innovations!
Curious about what makes the GoPro Hero 12 Black distinctive from its earlier models? You’re about to discover a variety of exhilarating enhancements that promise to revolutionize your action camera exploits.
Here are some standout new features:
Advanced Battery Life:
Experience prolonged recording times with the Hero 12 Black’s superior battery, allowing up to 2.5 hours of continuous recording at lower resolutions.
Upgraded Stabilization:
Leveraging GoPro’s Emmy-award-winning technology, the Hero 12 Black debuts HyperSmooth 6.0, delivering unparalleled smoothness in footage. Additionally, it comes with a horizon lock to maintain stability during various spins and movements.
Advanced Editing Suite:
Created with content creators in mind, this camera introduces sophisticated editing tools to refine your content creation process.
Optimized Vertical Capture: Keep up with the latest trends with a specialized vertical capture mode, perfect for platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Also, you can download GoPro Quik software for FREE or choose one of the other editing softwares available for the Hero 12.
Expanded Wide-Angle Video:
Accompanied by the Max Lens 2.0 attachment, embrace the super wide-angle video mode to encompass more of the scene in one frame.
Wireless Audio Connectivity:
The Hero 12 Black introduces enhanced Bluetooth audio compatibility, supporting AirPods and other Bluetooth devices, enabling wireless sound recording and voice control.
Learn more about GoPro Hero 12 improved audio and external microphones and adapters you can use with it.
GoPro Hero 12 Black: A Comprehensive Exploration
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is a multifaceted action camera, exhibiting excellence in design, functionality, and video rendering. It adopts minor but impactful design modifications, presenting a waterproof chassis, dual-screen layout, and versatile mountability.
Fueled by the advanced GP2 processor, it showcases spectacular 5.3K videos at 60 fps and delivers unrivaled stabilization with HyperSmooth 6.0, along with inventive modes such as TimeWarp and SuperPhoto.
Its amplified battery lifespan ensures prolonged adventure capture, and its compatibility with assorted accessories amplifies your shooting versatility. It emerges as the preferred pick for adventure aficionados and content creators, simplifying the capture of mesmerizing moments.
Design
The GoPro Hero 12 Black retains the aesthetic legacy of the Hero 10 and 11, incorporating subtle and strategic enhancements. It preserves the streamlined rectangular contour with a sturdy, rubberized exterior, waterproof up to 10 meters without auxiliary casing. The rear hosts a convenient 2.27-inch touchscreen, while the front displays a useful 1.4-inch color screen.
This frontal display relays crucial details like battery status, recording duration, mode, and also provides a real-time preview of the footage. You also enjoy the liberty to customize the front display to suit your preferences or deactivate it as needed. The design of the Hero 12 Black is meticulously user-centric, integrating three user-friendly buttons: a power/mode button on the left, a shutter button atop, and a settings button to the right.
The latter also facilitates seamless toggling between the front and rear displays. A concealed compartment on the right side houses the USB-C port and a microSD card slot, allowing for enhanced functionality through optional media mods, which incorporate additional connectivity and mounting options.
The incorporation of dual mounting options adds a layer of versatility, aligning with standard GoPro accessories and enabling diverse capture perspectives. The innovative side mount accentuates the vlogging experience, allowing horizontal or vertical attachments for more creative cinematography.
Performance
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is empowered by the GP2 processor, marking a significant advancement in processing prowess over its predecessors. It achieves exquisite video capture in resolutions up to 5.3K at a fluid 60 fps and offers striking 4K capture at a remarkable 120 fps. It equally excels in photography, snapping radiant 23-megapixel stills in both RAW and JPEG formats. The camera is endowed with an array of dynamic modes and features designed to elevate your creative output, including:
HyperSmooth 6.0:
The cutting-edge stabilization technology effectively mitigates camera shake, rendering smooth, professional-grade footage across various stabilization settings and facilitating horizon leveling for optimum video alignment.
- TimeWarp 3.0: This feature enables the creation of captivating timelapse videos, allowing speed customization or automatic speed adjustment based on movement, with the ability to switch to real-time with ease.
- SuperPhoto: This mode auto-enhances your photos by applying HDR, noise reduction, and local tone mapping, ensuring optimal clarity and vibrancy.
- LiveBurst & Night Photo: These modes allow for versatile photo capture, ensuring the best shot is never missed in any lighting condition, with additional settings for more control over your shots.
Video Quality
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is a gateway to unparalleled video quality, delivering stunning resolutions, dynamic range, and vivid colors across various shooting contexts. Here are some of the standout features enhancing your video experience:
- 5.3K & 4K Video: Experience utmost clarity and detail with high-resolution options, making it the preferred choice for quality-conscious users.
- HyperSmooth 6.0 & Horizon Leveling: These features ensure steady and professional-looking videos, offering various levels of stabilization to cater to different shooting preferences.
- SuperPhoto Mode: This mode enriches your photographic experience, delivering detailed and vibrant photos in varied lighting environments.
In essence, whether it’s high-action scenarios or serene landscapes, the GoPro Hero 12 Black is tailored to deliver visually stunning and versatile content creation.
Battery Life
The extended battery life of the GoPro Hero 12 Black is certainly one of its highlighted features. This camera, which is fitted with a detachable 1720mAh Enduro battery, enables longer recording of adventures without the frequent necessity for recharging. At 5.3K60, the camera can continuously record up to 70 minutes, over 95 minutes at 5.3K30, and an impressive 155 minutes at 1080p30, all featuring HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization.
Accessories & Mods
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is intentionally crafted for adaptability and is compatible with numerous accessories and modifications such as the Max Lens Mod 2.0, Volta, Media Mod, The Remote, and others. These additional components broaden the functional spectrum of the camera, allowing enhancements in audio, battery longevity, and shooting perspectives.
The GoPro Hero 12 Black Creator Edition
- All-in-One Creative Solution: The HERO12 Black Creator Edition combines HERO12 Black...
- All-Day Capture + Enduro Battery: The HERO12 Black Creator Edition combines HERO12...
- High Dynamic Range Video + Photo: The HERO12 Black Creator Edition takes its...
The GoPro Hero 12 Black Creator Edition is a supreme creative amalgamation that combines the HERO 12 Black with essential mounting options and accessories, facilitating creators to formulate their narratives immediately upon unboxing. The bundled Volta, Media Mod, and Light Mod create a synergized creative toolkit for professional-quality content production, all in a compact design, enhancing comfort during prolonged use.
This edition with its advanced Enduro battery and the Volta grip boasts a significant total power of 6620mAh, promising over 35% additional runtime and beyond 5 hours of continuous 4K30 recording, apt for encapsulating a day’s worth of moments, particularly excelling in colder climates, maintaining optimum performance during winter expeditions.
The Creator Edition’s superior image quality, with 5.3K video, provides immense resolution improvement compared to 4K and 1080p. Its High Dynamic Range (HDR) functionality in both videos and photos guarantees vivid, lifelike color representation under varied lighting scenarios. The edition comprises numerous accessories, fulfilling every creative requirement.
Max Lens Mod 2.0
- The must-have upgrade for HERO12 Black that transforms it into the ultimate POV...
- Ultra wide-angle digital lens options up to a 177° field of view at stunning 4K60...
- Max HyperSmooth delivers unbreakable video stabilization in all video modes
The Max Lens Mod 2.0 is a crucial enhancement, transforming the HERO 12 Black into a top-tier POV recording apparatus, ideal for meticulous documentation of adventures. It provides extensive wide-angle digital lens options, with a 177° field of view in stunning 4K60 resolution, marking the broadest visual captures in the HERO series.
Media Mod
- Built-in directional mic highlights voice audio and reduces ambient noise
- Tough, weather-resistant construction withstands the elements
- 2 cold-shoe mounts to attach your favorite lights, mics or LCD screens
The Media Mod is a multifunctional accessory, developed to amplify audio and mounting options. It is equipped with a directional mic, minimizing surrounding noise and focusing on voice audio, ensuring sound clarity, making it perfect for external use due to its sturdy, weather-resistant design.
The Remote
- Bluetooth Low Energy improves the battery life of both The Remote and the camera that...
- Large high-resolution screen makes it easy to check camera status
- Large tactile buttons give you easy control of camera functions
The Remote is a practical and user-convenient GoPro accessory, designed with Bluetooth Low Energy technology, optimizing battery longevity and enhancing connection reliability. Its large, high-resolution screen and significant tactile buttons facilitate effortless camera status monitoring and control. Designed to be durable and waterproof, it controls up to five cameras simultaneously from a distance of up to 196ft under optimal conditions.
Volta
- Built-in 4900 mAh battery lets you capture a full day of activities by combining with...
- Integrated camera buttons give you easy one-handed control of your camera: power on...
- Flip-out tripod legs and additional battery power provide a stable shooting platform...
GoPro Volta, with its integrated 4900 mAh battery, triples the camera’s default battery life, facilitating full-day activity captures. It enables smooth one-hand camera control and serves as a remote control with a range of up to 98ft when mounted. It features a weather-resistant construction and retractable mounting fingers for versatile attachment options.
Professional Editing Tools
GoPro unveils advanced editing tools to accommodate both professional videographers and everyday users. The new GoPro Hero 12 Black streamlines the editing process with features like timecode syncing and Bluetooth support for external audio devices. Its vertical video mode and extra-large 8:7 sensor introduce innovative video capturing possibilities, satisfying the needs of professionals and hobbyists alike.
Find the best SD cards for your Hero 12 and learn what SD card speed and size do you need>>>
Is GoPro Hero 12 Black Worth the Upgrade?
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is a hot topic among enthusiasts, leaving many wondering if it’s a worthy upgrade from its predecessors. With its extensive list of advancements like the super wide-angle lens, improved battery life, and vertical video mode, it does make a compelling argument for an upgrade, allowing users to document their experiences with more creativity and convenience. It’s a valuable asset for anyone, whether a thrill-seeker, an established influencer, or a novice content creator, aiming to enhance their videography skills and content.
Find here tips and tricks on how to use GoPro Hero 12>>>
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