Hero 12 Blackvs Z6 III
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
VS
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
Hybrid Video & Action — Z6 III (2024): Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.
Who should buy what
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
Z6 III (2024)
- Hybrid photographers who want partially-stacked sensor speed with full-frame quality
- Z6 II owners ready for a major AF and video upgrade
- Sports and action shooters who want 6K RAW video and fast burst
- Professionals who want a versatile full-frame Z body for any situation
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 | Hero 12 Black (2023) | Z6 III (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 24.5MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~380 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 760g body only |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Z6 III |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history