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GoPro recently unveiled its latest flagship camera, the Hero 12 Black. In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the design, performance, functions, features, and specifications of this new offering from GoPro. The Hero 12 Black might not look drastically different from its predecessor, the Hero Black 11, at first glance, but it comes packed with numerous features that cater to content creators and video professionals. Let’s explore what this camera has to offer.
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GoPro Hero 12 Unboxing
The Hero 12 Black arrives in a premium-looking black box, featuring an image of the product and the company branding on the front panel. Inside the box, you’ll find everything you need to kickstart your filming and photo-taking adventures:
Package Included: Hero 12 Black, USB Cable, Camera Mount, GoPro Enduro Battery, Mount Bracket, Drawstring Bag
You can buy the Max Lens 2.0 Mod with or without the camera.
Specifications
- Up to 5.3K video resolution. Photo resolution: 27MP
- Maximum field of view: 177 degrees
- 3.56cm front, 5.76cm rear displays
- Port: USB-C
- GoPro mounting fingers, 6.35mm tripod jack
- Supports microSD (V30 or UHS-3)
- Battery life: 155 minutes (1080p30), 70 minutes (5.3K60).
- Waterproof to 10m without housing
- Camera only: 7.18 x 5.08 x 3.35cm
- Camera-only weight: 153.9g
Design and Functionality
The Hero 12 Black looks like the Hero Black 11. Both cameras are the same size, which benefits GoPro accessory users. A blue-black finish and 0.635cm 20 tripod thread are notable. GoPro mods that are compatible with the Hero 12 Black include: Media, Max Lens, Light, Display, Max Lens 2 Mods
A tripod thread, vital for DSLR and mirrorless camera enthusiasts using tiny tripods or GorillaPods, is one of this year’s design highlights. As with previous GoPros, the Hero 12 Black is waterproof and can dive 10 meters. It has flip-out feet for action cam mounting.
Display and Navigation
Hero 12 Black has a full-color non-touchscreen display, camera lens, and speaker/microphone on the front. The camera’s shutter button and one of its three pinhole microphones are on top.
A full-color touchscreen on the back acts as a viewfinder and controls camera settings. This touchscreen display makes GoPros more user-friendly. Touching all command icons and menu options simplifies navigation. A mode button is located on the right of the camera when facing forward.
Battery, Memory Card, and Mounting
The left side of the Hero 12 Black has a sealed compartment with a small door for the battery, a memory card slot, and a USB-C port. This design keeps water and dirt out and opens when you pull the unlock tab. With mounting fingers, the camera may attach to any third-party mount or accessory. Extensions for built-in mounting fingers are easy. A tripod mount is also built into the camera base.
Key Features of the Hero 12 Black
5.3K Video
The Hero 12 Black captures astounding 5.3K video, providing superior image quality and higher resolution than 4K by 91%. It also supports recording in 4K, 2.7K, and 1080p.
Up to 8x Slo-Mo
When recording in 4K, you can achieve 4x slow motion or 120 frames per second. At 2.7K, you have the option for 8x slow motion, reaching 240 frames per second.
Stunning Photos and Frame Grabs
The Hero 12 Black boasts a 27MP resolution for exceptional photos. You can also extract frame grabs with a resolution of 24.7MP directly from your videos.
Dual LCD Screens
Enjoy smooth playback on the rear touchscreen and quickly switch to the front for selfies.
Hindsight
The Hindsight feature captures footage up to 30 seconds before recording, ensuring you never miss a moment.
Award-Winning Video Stabilization
The Hero 12 Black features built-in video stabilization, enhancing the quality of recorded videos. HyperSmooth 6.0 technology offers incredibly smooth recordings and has even received an Emmy Award for its software stabilization and in-camera sensor.
Built-In Horizon Lock
Horizon Lock ensures that the camera maintains a level horizon even when the Hero 12 Black rotates 360 degrees, making it an integrated part of HyperSmooth 6.0.
All-New HDR Video
High Dynamic Range Video (HDR) enhances color and detail, and it’s available in 4K60 and 5.3K with the Hero 12 Black.
Widescreen, Vertical, and Full Frame Capturing
Switch between Widescreen and Vertical Capture with ease. You can also utilize Full Frame capture and adjust orientation during editing through the Quik app.
Scheduled and Duration Capture
Scheduled Capture turns on the Hero 12 Black and captures a shot 24 hours before the scheduled time. Duration Capture simplifies recording videos ranging from 15 seconds to three hours.
Interval Photo
Automatically take photos at specific intervals with Interval Photo, allowing you to focus on your activities while the Hero 12 Black captures memorable moments.
Ultra Durable and Waterproof
The Hero 12 Black is waterproof, capable of diving up to 10 meters. Its hydrophobic lens effectively sheds water, ensuring the clarity of underwater shots.
Ultra Wide-Angle Digital Lenses
The Hero 12 Black features exclusive GoPro digital lenses, SuperView, and HyperView, allowing for ultra-wide 16:9 images and videos. The new Max Lens Mod 2.0 supports even wider shots.
10-bit Color
Enhance color depth, gradations, and realism with 10-bit color. Professional creators can use GP-Log encoding with LUT to maximize the dynamic range before color correction.
New TimeCode Sync
Synchronize multiple Hero 12 Black cameras wirelessly via timecode through the Quik app. This feature enables precise match-frame video editing from different angles.
Longer Runtimes
The Hero 12 Black’s improved power management allows for extended continuous recordings at 5.3K60 for 70 minutes. It can record videos lasting over 1.5 hours at 5.3K40 and more than 2.5 hours at 1080p30.
Cold-Weather Enduro Battery
The Enduro rechargeable battery employs advanced technology to enhance performance in cold temperatures.
New Bluetooth Audio Support
Record narration or interviews with Bluetooth earbuds, Apple AirPods, or any wireless mic. The Hero 12 Black also accepts remote voice commands and sends notifications through wireless earbuds.
Hands-On Experience
We recorded outdoor recordings to test the Hero 12 Black’s image quality and resolution. We extensively tested the camera’s upgraded features. The Hero 12 Black was easy to use in our tests. GoPro has simplified simple controls for a better user experience while offering deep menu options for more advanced settings.
Excellent video quality and HDR detail were achieved in various resolutions. The 10-bit color functionality from earlier models worked well with GP-Log to improve color correction and grading. This increased dynamic range and color depth control.
With horizon lock, the Hero 12 Black improves video stabilization. This technique improved our video quality by maintaining a stable point of view.
Conclusion
The Hero 12 Black builds upon the success of the Hero 11 Black and refines it with new and improved features. Notably, the Easy Mode makes this camera novice-friendly, while advanced users will appreciate the advanced technologies and settings. Our experience with the camera was highly positive; it delivered high-quality images and videos without any issues.
We strongly recommend the Hero 12 Black for anyone looking to upgrade from an older camera or acquire their first action camera. It caters to travelers, content creators, and outdoor enthusiasts, ticking all the boxes for an exceptional camera.
Now, you’re well-informed about the outstanding features and capabilities of the GoPro Hero 12 Black. Whether you’re a seasoned content creator or a beginner, this camera is sure to elevate your video and photo-taking experiences.
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