Hero 12 Blackvs OM-1
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.
Wildlife, Sport, Outdoor — OM-1 (2022): OM System's statement camera — class-leading weather sealing and the best IBIS in the business.
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
OM-1 (2022)
- Wildlife and bird photographers who need fast burst and pro weather sealing
- Outdoor photographers who work in challenging conditions
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) | OM-1 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS stacked BSI |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K 60fps 10-bit |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | 1053-point cross-type phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops (8 stops with sync IS) |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 10fps mechanical, 50fps electronic, 120fps Pro Capture |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | 520 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 599g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 134.8 × 91.6 × 72.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | EVF 0.83× 5.76M-dot |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M-dot |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | 2× SD UHS-II / CFexpress Type B |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 3.1, HDMI, 3.5mm mic/headphone |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | OM-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — |
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