Hero 12 Blackvs Sigma fp L
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
Sigma
Sigma fp L (2021)
Starting from £1999 new
Best for High-resolution creative & documentary shooters
View Sigma fp L
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.
High-Resolution Creative & Documentary Shooters — Sigma fp L (2021): 61MP and phase-detect AF in the world's smallest full-frame body — the fp L is the most capable iteration of Sigma's extraordinary compact.
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
Sigma fp L (2021)
- Commercial photographers who want 61MP in the world's smallest full-frame body
- Filmmakers using the fp L as a high-resolution cinema camera
- fp owners who need more resolution for large-format printing
- L-mount photographers who want extreme resolution in an ultra-compact form
Quick take: The sigma fp l has the highest resolution at 61mp; the hero 12 black is the most affordable; only the hero 12 black is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Hero 12 Black (2023) | Sigma fp L (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 61MP full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 61.0MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 12-bit Cinema DNG RAW, 4K/24p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Phase-detect AF with face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | None (lens-based only) |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 18fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | 200 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 427g body only |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 112.6 × 69.9 × 45.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | None (optional clip-on EVF available) |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.15" fixed touchscreen |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Leica L-mount |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Single SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Sigma fp L |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history