PowerShot G7X Mark IIvs Hero 12 Black
Canon
PowerShot G7X Mark II (2016)
Starting from £350 new
Best for Travel & Vlogging
View PowerShot G7X Mark II
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?
Travel & Vlogging — PowerShot G7X Mark II (2016): The G7X Mark II is one of the most popular compact cameras ever made — and for good reason. A fast f/1.8-2.8 lens, 20MP 1-inch sensor, flip-up selfie screen, and Micro USB charging combine in one of the most vlog-friendly compact cameras available. No 4K and no EVF are the main compromises, but the G7X II remains outstanding value on the used market.
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
PowerShot G7X Mark II (2016)
- Vloggers and content creators who want a compact, selfie-screen camera
- Travel photographers who want 1-inch quality in a coat pocket
- Casual photographers stepping up from a smartphone
- Used-market buyers wanting G7X quality at a lower price
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 | PowerShot G7X Mark II (2016) | Hero 12 Black (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £300 |
| Sensor | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI CMOS | 1/1.9-inch CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.1MP | 27.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with face detection | Fixed focus (wide) |
| Stabilisation | Optical IS (lens) | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) |
| Burst Rate | 8fps | 27MP RAW burst |
| Battery Life | ~265 shots (CIPA) | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) |
| Weight | 319g (with battery and card) | 154g |
| Dimensions | 105.5 × 60.9 × 42.2mm | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display |
| Screen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen (180°), 1.04M dots | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display |
| Mount | Fixed Canon 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 (equivalent) | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | PowerShot G7X Mark II | Hero 12 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
More comparisons with PowerShot G7X Mark II
Camera family history