Hero 12 Blackvs FX3
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
VS
Sony
FX3 (2021)
Starting from £3799 new
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
View FX3
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.
Professional Video, Documentary & Cinematic Filmmaking — FX3 (2021): The definitive run-and-gun cinema camera — A7S III sensor quality in a body built specifically for video professionals.
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
FX3 (2021)
- Professional videographers and filmmakers who need cinema-quality colour science in a compact body
- Documentary and run-and-gun shooters who need 4K/120p and built-in XLR audio
- Sony A7S III owners who want a purpose-built video body alongside their stills camera
- Gimbal and drone operators who need a compact full-frame cinema camera
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) | FX3 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £3,799 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~640 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 715g body only (with XLR handle) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | None — monitor/external EVF use only |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history