Hero 12 Blackvs Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
OM System
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
Starting from £699 new
Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography
View Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
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.
Travel & Lightweight Outdoor Photography — Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019): The lightest weather-sealed MFT camera — compact, travel-friendly, and capable with 7.5-stop IBIS in a body that fits in a jacket pocket.
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
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
- Travel photographers who want a compact, weather-sealed MFT body
- Outdoor photographers upgrading from the E-M10 who want better sealing
- Enthusiasts who want strong IBIS in a lightweight, portable system
- Photographers who want a capable travel camera that won't weigh them down
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) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £699 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history