X-E2vs Hero 12 Black
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?
Street & Casual — X-E2 (2013): The X-E2 is where the X-mount system matured. The X-Trans II sensor delivers rich, film-like rendering that still looks beautiful, and the rangefinder-style body is slim and pocketable. Manual aperture ring support, a quality EVF, and Fujifilm's colour science make it a rewarding camera to use. A bargain on the used market for anyone who wants the Fujifilm experience without the modern price tag.
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
X-E2 (2013)
- Street photographers wanting Fujifilm on a budget
- Beginners stepping into the X-mount system
- Compact camera enthusiasts who want film simulations
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 x-e2 is the most affordable; only the hero 12 black is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | X-E2 (2013) | Hero 12 Black (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £150 | £300 |
| Sensor | 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II | 1/1.9-inch CMOS |
| Resolution | 16.3MP | 27.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF | Fixed focus (wide) |
| Stabilisation | None | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) |
| Burst Rate | 7fps | 27MP RAW burst |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) |
| Weight | 350g (body only) | 154g |
| Dimensions | 129.0 × 74.9 × 38.3mm | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.62× magnification | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display |
| Screen | 2.8" fixed LCD, 460k dots | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display |
| Mount | Fujifilm X-mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | X-E2 | Hero 12 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| 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 X-E2
Camera family history