For just over a month we tested the newest member of the renowned action cam family and these are our impressions.
Since the appearance of its first commercial model in 2004, GoPro has not stopped its tireless search to offer the best action camera. Every year it seems to achieve its goal and yet every year it surprises by launching a product that surpasses its predecessor and that has positioned the camera as the top of the market and the favorite of adventure lovers.
Designed for adventurers and content creators alike, this new addition promises to take the experience of capturing exciting moments to a whole new level. We tested it for a month, in the toughest conditions we could find and here are our impressions:
Before I start, I must confess that before the HERO12 Black I didn’t have enough experience to make a judgement on these devices. That has changed a lot.
Opening the box
It’s clear from the start what it’s for. And the slogan used on all sides of the box: “The official camera of fun” dispels any doubts you may have about its use. It’s a practical camera that feels very robust in the hand, has a very attractive design and, at first glance, is intuitive and easy to use.
Once you have the camera in hand, was it easy to use? Very much so. The camera comes by default in “easy mode”; you just have to turn it on and start using it. This might be enough for someone who is just looking to record video or take a couple of photos of their trajinera ride through Xochimilco, but if you are a content creator and/or looking to get the most out of your equipment, the new HERO12 Black will surprise you.
In the box:
The camera I received came with the new Max Lens Mod 2.0 (below I tell you what it is about), the C cable to charge it or transfer content, an adhesive helmet mount, the new rechargeable enduro battery and a 64 GB microSD memory card.
How is the new Hero12 Black different from the previous model?
First, let’s talk about what hasn’t changed. Like the previous model, the HERO12 Black is a rugged, versatile and reliable camera. Waterproof up to 10 meters without the need for an additional housing and ready for action. Here are the improvements of the new Hero12 Black.
Battery Optimization
The new Enduro rechargeable battery features a power management system that enables continuous recording of 70 minutes at 5.3K60 (HERO12 Black’s highest performance setting), over 95 minutes at 5.3K30, and over 155 minutes at 1080p30—all with HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization enabled.
Connectivity
The new HERO12 Black is ready to pair with your headphones via Bluetooth to record audio directly to the camera. This feature is ideal for vlogging, narrating scenes, and issuing voice commands to control your camera remotely.
Vertical Mode
Forget about turning your camera to record your stories. This feature frames your shot vertically so you don’t have to set it up anymore to record your Instagram stories or videos for Tiktok
HDR Video
HDR delivers stunning high dynamic range 5.3K and 4K photos and videos. As well as industry-leading 5.3K resolution and 8x slow motion. 5.3K video offers 91% more resolution than 4K and an incredible 665% more than 1080p. Slow down eight times the speed of slow motion with up to 2.7K resolution. You can also capture 27-megapixel photos and stills at up to 24.7 megapixels. Capture 4K video at up to 120 frames per second to play back in 4x slow motion.
New wide angle
One of the new features of the new Hero12 Black is the interchangeable Max Lens Mod 2.0. This gives you a 36% wider field of view when capturing widescreen videos and 48% wider when capturing vertical videos. This new lens is twice as scratch-resistant as its predecessor and incorporates a durable hydrophobic coating that repels water droplets.
More stable videos
The new HERO12 Black introduced HyperSmooth 6.0, a tool that will help you automatically stabilize the video as you need it. Thanks to this feature, you won’t need any extra accessories, your camera will achieve completely stable shots even if you’re riding a downhill bike or skydiving.
Simplified camera controls
As I mentioned at the beginning, the new HERO12 Black has an “easy mode”, but if what you want is to experiment and get the most out of your camera, it has a very intuitive and easy-to-use interface, so you can configure it for whatever you need.
Automatic upload to the cloud
One thing we loved about the new HERO12 Black for GoPro subscribers is that content is automatically uploaded to the cloud (when connected to Wi-Fi) as soon as you plug it into a power source. Plus, if you’re a subscriber, GoPro will automatically send you a highlight video once the upload is complete, which is a huge plus if you’re not the best editor like me. There’s no limit to the amount of content you can upload to your GoPro cloud account, and all content is stored at 100% original quality.
Test thoroughly
I put the new HERO12 Black through everything I could throw at it during the latest GoPro Media Trip in Los Cabos and I’m still very pleasantly surprised. Whether it was e-biking in the dunes with Cactus Tours; an adventure tour with rappelling, climbing and one of the longest ziplines in Mexico; or snorkeling in the ocean with Cabo Adventures, the camera performed up to the task.
The feature that we used for almost the entire test was the vertical frame recording feature. This feature is extremely practical since most of the content I share is in this format. Another advantage of this feature is that it is very easy to configure, in less than three clicks, and just as easy to return to horizontal video mode if necessary. It is definitely a feature that the camera was missing and a resounding pro if you are considering purchasing an action cam or changing the one you have.
Another feature we loved is the battery life. The new Enduro battery offers up to twice the battery life, ensuring you don’t miss a shot. Of course, the 64GB microSD card that comes with the camera will be insufficient for everything you can record with the battery life. Fortunately, we got a Kingston Canvas Go! Plus microSD card. This card is designed for those adventurers who are always on the go, chasing the perfect moment to capture. With U3 and V30 speed performance, record stunning 4K Ultra-HD video without worrying about slow speeds and dropped frames, or capture fast-action photos that are smooth and consistent.
Shooting underwater? No problem. HERO12 Black can be submerged in water up to 10 meters, and it comes with features to help you operate it at depth. Like a screen lock to prevent or stop recording while you’re handling it. You can also save different settings and quickly select them from the front screen while underwater.
One thing to note: the camera does not float on its own, so I recommend you get something that will help you float the camera and help you see it. We have The Handler, a floating hand grip with a flashy end that will help you find your camera if you drop it.
Finally, for those who are really into photography and who were begging (we’re told) for a ¼ 20 input, they can finally have one, since the new HERO12 Black incorporates one in the base. Thanks to this, you can use your tripod or any accessory that is secured to the camera using this system.
One moment!
If all this weren’t enough, GoPro announced the launch of its Quikdesktop app, which will be available exclusively to GoPro subscribers at no additional cost. It will be available soon for the iOS operating system and for Windows in the summer of 2024.
Are all these new features enough reason to buy it?
From my point of view, yes. At first, I found the camera intimidating. However, once you start using it, you quickly wonder what the hell you were doing without it before? It’s very handy, versatile and, surprise, the box is right, definitely fun.
