Hero 12 Blackvs OM-3
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
VS
OM System
OM-3 (2024)
Starting from £999 new
Best for Travel, outdoor & adventure photography
View OM-3
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, Outdoor & Adventure Photography — OM-3 (2024): The ideal mid-range OM System camera — weather sealed, class-leading IBIS, and superb computational features in a compact body.
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-3 (2024)
- Outdoor and adventure photographers who need weather sealing and compact size
- Wildlife and bird photographers wanting improved AF over the OM-5
- Travel shooters who want a rugged, lightweight MFT system
- OM-5 or E-M5 III owners wanting better autofocus without going to the OM-1
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-3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £999 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 20.4MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Phase-detect AF — subject recognition (human, animal, bird, vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | IBIS — up to 6.5 stops (7.5 stops with Sync IS lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic with AF |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 414g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 122.3 × 84.6 × 49.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification |
| 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-II slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | OM-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history