Hero 12 Blackvs ZV-E1
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
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, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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
ZV-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The hero 12 black has the highest resolution at 27mp; 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) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 154g | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | None — screen only |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history