EOS R8vs Hero 12 Black
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?
Full-Frame Entry — EOS R8 (2023): Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless — 4K/60p 10-bit and class-leading Dual Pixel AF at an accessible entry price.
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
EOS R8 (2023)
- Photographers wanting full-frame image quality at the lowest RF price
- EOS RP owners upgrading to better autofocus and modern video specs
- Beginners who want to start on full-frame without overspending
- Travel photographers who want a lightweight full-frame RF body
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; only the hero 12 black is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R8 (2023) | Hero 12 Black (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,099 | £300 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 1/1.9-inch CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 27.0MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | Fixed focus (wide) |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) |
| Burst Rate | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 27MP RAW burst |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) |
| Weight | 461g body only | 154g |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display |
| Mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS R8 | Hero 12 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — |
More comparisons with EOS R8
Camera family history