Decision tools · Compare

HERO13 Black vs A1 II

Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the HERO13 Black is the most affordable.

Different kinds of camera — their specs aren't comparable, so read the rows as facts, not a contest.

16 specs side by side·16 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

HERO13 Black — Professional Content Creators & Adventure Filmmakers: The most capable GoPro ever — interchangeable lenses and GP-Log open up professional possibilities that no previous action camera could touch.

A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.

Who should buy what
HERO13 Black (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Professional filmmakers who want cinematic action footage with lens choice
  • Hero 12 owners who want GP-Log and interchangeable lenses
  • Content creators who need the absolute best GoPro available
  • Those who want anamorphic or macro lens mods for creative video work
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
  • Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
  • Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
  • Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification HERO13 BlackGoPro · 2024A1 IISony · 2024
Price £399Best£5,699
Sensor 1/1.9" CMOS50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS
Resolution 27.0MP50.1MPBest
Video 5.3K 60fps, 4K 120fps, 10-bit GP-Log8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3
Autofocus Fixed focus (ultra-wide); varies with lens modAI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train
Stabilisation HyperSmooth 6.0 (EIS)8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS)
Burst Rate 27MP RAW burst30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest
Battery Life ~80 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery)~530 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 159g (with battery)Best743g (body only)
Dimensions 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front displayEVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available
Screen 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots
Mount Fixed lens (12–39 mm-eq f/2.5)Sony E-mount (full-frame)
Memory Cards 1× microSD (A2 V30)Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots
Connectivity USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPSUSB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
HERO13 Black
A1 II
Travel
5.9/10
6.4/10
Vlogging & Video
7.0/10
6.4/10
Filmmaking
4.1/10
8.2/10
Documentary
5.9/10
8.3/10
Landscape
5.2/10
8.0/10
Underwater
4.8/10
—
Portrait
—
9.0/10
Street
—
6.6/10
Wedding & Events
—
8.7/10
Sports & Action
—
9.3/10
Wildlife
—
9.2/10
Casual
—
5.3/10
Food
—
8.5/10
Macro
—
8.1/10
Architecture
—
8.4/10
Astrophotography
—
7.2/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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