Hero 12 Blackvs A7C II
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.
Full-Frame Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
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
A7C II (2023)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact body
- Hybrid shooters who need full-frame video and IBIS in a small package
- A7C owners looking for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Portrait and wedding photographers who want a discreet full-frame backup
Quick take: The a7c ii has the highest resolution at 33mp; 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) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | A7C II |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history