Hero 12 Blackvs OM-5
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.
Outdoor & Adventure — OM-5 (2022): The toughest camera at this price — IP53 weather sealing and 7.5-stop IBIS built for adventure photographers.
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-5 (2022)
- Outdoor and adventure photographers who need a compact, weather-sealed body
- Travellers who want MFT's compact size with pro-level weather protection
- E-M5 III owners upgrading to OM System's improved subject detection
- Photographers who want strong IBIS and rugged build without OM-1 pricing
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-5 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £899 |
| 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/60p, 4K/120p Cinema4K |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Phase-detect, 121 all-cross points, subject tracking |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 7.5 stops (Dual IS with compatible lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 30fps electronic, 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 122.3 × 87.6 × 49.7mm |
| 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) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | OM-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Outdoor & Adventure | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history