PowerShot G7X Mark IIIvs Hero 12 Black
Canon
PowerShot G7X Mark III (2019)
Starting from £749 new
Best for Vlogging, content creation & travel video
View PowerShot G7X Mark III
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?
Vlogging, Content Creation & Travel Video — PowerShot G7X Mark III (2019): The finest vlogging compact available — pocket-sized 4K, a flip screen, mic input, and USB live streaming in one remarkably capable package.
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 III (2019)
- Vloggers and content creators who need 4K video, a flip screen, and a mic input in a pocket-sized camera
- Travellers who want the best possible compact video quality without carrying an interchangeable-lens system
- Live streamers who want USB streaming capability built into a compact camera
- Smartphone upgraders who want significantly better video quality in something nearly as pocketable
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 III (2019) | Hero 12 Black (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £749 | £300 |
| Sensor | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI-CMOS | 1/1.9-inch CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.1MP | 27.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p — no crop in 4K | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF — fast, reliable, with Eye AF | Fixed focus (wide) |
| Stabilisation | Optical IS — lens-based | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (with fixed AF/AE) | 27MP RAW burst |
| Battery Life | ~235 shots (CIPA) | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) |
| Weight | 304g | 154g |
| Dimensions | 105.5 × 60.9 × 41.4mm | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display |
| Screen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen (180° flip for self-facing) | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display |
| Mount | Fixed 24-100mm equivalent f/1.8-2.8 lens | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack, USB live streaming | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | PowerShot G7X Mark III | Hero 12 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — |
More comparisons with PowerShot G7X Mark III