The GoPro Hero 12 Black is GoPro’s last-gen flagship and remains one of the most popular models available in stores. The Hero 12 can capture 5.3K video at 60fps and shoot 27-megapixel photos, and, with its HyperSmooth 6.0 image stabilization, delivers a level of smoothness when hand-holding that typically requires a gimbal. The camera is waterproof up to 33 feet without an additional housing and robust enough to withstand extreme sports like skiing and mountain biking, as well as water sports like surfing. Plus, its compact size makes it ideal for use with a chest harness or attaching to a bike helmet without adding significant weight to the rider.
An action camera that can handle all of your high-speed footage
At first glance, filming with a 5.3K60 format may appear unusual. However, for those who plan to crop their footage, zoom while capturing, or edit after capture, it is best to capture as much data as possible. With this resolution, you can crop a section of the frame and still render at full 4K. Additionally, this camera’s slow-motion capabilities are impressive. It can also shoot 2.7K at 240 frames per second. This is fast enough to turn BMX stunts, ski jumps, and wave breaks into slow motion.
HyperSmooth 6.0 is GoPro’s electronic stabilization system, the feature that effectively replaces a handheld gimbal for action footage. The camera tracks motion across the frame and digitally crops to keep the horizon level and footage smooth, even when the camera is bouncing on a chest mount. Horizon Lock keeps the horizon level across 360 degrees of camera rotation, so a barrel roll on a snowboard or a flip on a bike still keeps the sky on top.
Battery life jumps to 70 minutes of 5.3K60 recording per charge with the included Enduro battery, roughly twice what older GoPros managed on the same setting. The camera also runs in cold weather down to -14ºF without the battery cutting out, making it useful for ski trips and winter mountain biking.
Bluetooth audio support means a wireless microphone or AirPods, can be paired with the camera for clean voice capture during a vlog, without a wired lav mic running across the body. HDR video and HDR photo modes deliver dynamic range that handles bright sky and shadowed terrain in the same shot.
The new mounting interface adds a 1/4-20 thread on the bottom of the camera, the standard tripod thread that fits any traditional tripod, monopod, or accessory mount. The traditional GoPro fold-out fingers are still there for the chest harness, head strap, or third-party mounts, but the universal thread opens up the camera to professional video accessories and standard photography gear.
The GoPro HERO12 Black normally costs $370, but right now it’s on sale for $269. The bundle includes the HERO12 camera, the Enduro battery, the curved adhesive mount base, the mounting buckle and thumb screw, and the USB-C cable, the full kit needed to start mounting and recording right out of the box.