When talking about action cameras, it’s no surprise to hear “GoPro” in the discussion – after all, it’s one of the most popular brands in the industry, and its wide selection of rugged action cams, all designed to survive the elements while getting you the footage and photos that you need. In particular, the GoPro HERO line features some of the best equipment that you can get your hands on, and the newest HERO12 Black packs a lot of great features.
Priced starting at £399, the HERO12 Black is GoPro’s newest top-of-the-line flagship action camera and introduces some big upgrades over its predecessor, including twice the runtime courtesy of a more efficient power management system, support for 5.3K and 4K resolution video capture, HDR, Bluetooth audio connectivity, as well as HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization. GoPro CEO and Founder Nicholas Woodman states:
“HERO12 Black resets the bar for immersive life-capture… Our new flagship camera is the culmination of GoPro’s 21 years of experience and our passion for helping you capture and share your life in an immersive, dream-like way that makes you and your audience feel like you’re right there again, reliving your favorite experiences in vivid detail.”
In terms of overall design, the HERO12 Black takes after the rest of GoPro’s action cam lineup with its durable design. Creators looking to bring along equipment in rugged outdoor areas won’t have to worry about the HERO12, as it’s made to withstand its fair share of knocks and tumbles. It’s not indestructible of course, but the HERO12’s design means that it will be a bit more suited to the outdoors compared to bringing along a traditional camera or smartphone, which oftentimes aren’t equipped to take serious falls or bumps.
Additionally, the GoPro HERO12 Black will be safe to bring along in the pool or to the beach thanks to its built-in water resistance. GoPro says that the camera is waterproof for up to 33 feet, meaning that the device will be generally safe from splashes, accidental drops in water, and underwater filming.
In terms of optics, the HERO12 Black features a 1/1.9-inch sensor alongside an extra-large 8:7 aspect ratio. GoPro says that this allows users to film footage in varying aspect ratios such as vertical 9:16 videos, traditional 4:3 and 16:9 footage, and even full-frame 8:7 aspect ratios. Additionally, users can also use the HERO12 Black’s built-in effects which support TimeWarp, Time Lapse, Night Lapse and a number of different Night Effect configurations.
GoPro has also designed the camera to work with wireless audio gear – this means that users will be able to pair the HERO12 Black with headphones such as Apple AirPods, or other supported Bluetooth headphones and earbuds. There’s also a display onboard that lets users check their captured media and lets them configure system settings, a staple of GoPro’s cameras.
As for battery endurance, users will be able to use the HERO12 Black for up to 70 minutes of continuous video recording with 5.3K resolution at 60 frames per second, or 95 minutes at 5.3K with a lower 30fps frame rate, or up to 155 minutes of continuous video recording at a much lower 1080p resolution and 30fps.
As mentioned earlier, the HERO12 Black starts at £399, although users can opt for a slightly more expensive bundle which includes a Max Lens Mod 2.0 – this allows users to take videos and photos in three different field-of-view configurations which include Max Wide, Max SuperView and hyper-immersive Max HyperView with the camera’s 8:7 sensor.
