Canon EOS R3vs Hero 12 Black
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
VS
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Sports & Photojournalism Professionals — Canon EOS R3 (2021): The pinnacle of Canon's mirrorless lineup for speed — Eye Control AF and 30fps burst in the most rugged body Canon has ever produced.
Adventure, Sports & Travel Video — Hero 12 Black (2023): GoPro's best all-round action camera — better battery, 10-bit colour, and HyperSmooth 6.0 make it a genuine step forward.
Who should buy what
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
- Professional sports and photojournalism photographers
- Canon users who need the fastest burst and most reliable AF in the system
- R5 users who want a pro-grade grip and faster shooting speed
- Event photographers who need eye-controlled AF and dual card slots
Hero 12 Black (2023)
- Action and sports photographers who want the best stabilisation available
- Travellers who need a rugged waterproof camera for any conditions
- Cyclists, surfers, and skiers wanting helmet or handlebar footage
- Hero 11 owners considering an upgrade — notably better battery life
Quick take: The hero 12 black has the highest resolution at 27mp; the hero 12 black is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Hero 12 Black (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £300 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 1/1.9-inch CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 27.0MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Fixed focus (wide) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 27MP RAW burst |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 154g |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display |
| Mount | Canon RF | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon EOS R3 | Hero 12 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — |
More comparisons with Canon EOS R3
Camera family history