Hero 12 Blackvs Sony FX30
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.
Video Creators & Filmmakers — Sony FX30 (2022): The Cinema Line entry point — S-Cinetone colour science, 4K/120p, and XLR audio in a compact, affordable body that punches far above its price.
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
Sony FX30 (2022)
- Filmmakers and video creators who want a dedicated cinema-style APS-C body
- Content creators who need S-Cinetone and S-Log3 in a compact form factor
- A6700 owners who want cinema-style ergonomics and a full-size HDMI port
- Video professionals who want Sony's colour science without full-frame 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) | Sony FX30 (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £1,799 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 26.1MP APS-C BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 26.1MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K/120p, 4K/60p S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Real-time tracking AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis Active IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 20fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 579g body only |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | None (EVF optional via XLR handle) |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Sony FX30 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Documentary | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Portrait | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history