GoPro Hero 12 Black Review: Is It Worth The Upgrade?
GoPro has been synonymous with action cameras for years, setting the standard for capturing thrilling adventures and stunning moments. The latest iteration, the GoPro Hero 12 Black, promises to build on its legacy with a collection of new features and improvements. But does it live up to the hype? This comprehensive review delves into the GoPro Hero 12 Black’s design, features, performance, and battery life to help you decide if it’s the right action camera for you.
GoPro Hero 12 Black Price: A Competitive Edge?
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is priced at Rs. 45,000 for the basic kit in India, making it a more accessible option compared to its predecessor, the Hero 11 Black, which was initially launched at Rs. 51,500. This price reduction could be a major factor for those upgrading from older GoPro models. For those who own the Hero 11 Black, however, the decision to upgrade might require more consideration.
The GoPro Hero 12 Black Creator Edition, priced at Rs. 65,000, also benefits from a price reduction compared to the Hero 11 Black Creator Edition (Rs. 71,500). This bundle includes the Media Mod, Light Mod, and the Volta Battery grip, making it ideal for vloggers and those seeking a more comprehensive setup.
In terms of competitiveness, the Hero 12 Black stands strong against rivals such as the DJI Osmo Action 4, showcasing a well-rounded price point for its features and capabilities.
GoPro Hero 12 Black Design: Familiar Form, Refined Style
GoPro has kept the overall design language consistent since the major revamp offered by the Hero 9 Black. The Hero 12 Black maintains familiar elements, including a removable lens protector, a large 2.27-inch touchscreen display at the rear, and a 1.4-inch color display at the front. Both displays are incredibly bright, even under direct sunlight, and offer adjustable brightness settings.
While the body remains predominantly black, with its signature rubberized coating, GoPro has introduced a subtle touch of blue specks throughout. The new Hero 12 Black lettering on the side clearly differentiates it from previous models.
The notable design change in the Hero 12 Black is the addition of a 1/4-20 tripod thread at the bottom, nestled between the mounting fingers. This provides more mounting flexibility for diverse tripod setups.
The Hero 12 Black feels sturdy and rugged, thanks to its design, which has been tested in challenging environments. The lens features a hydrophobic coating, effectively repelling water droplets, ensuring a clear view even in wet conditions.
While the familiar battery flap design, introduced with the Hero 9 Black, remains, its access for battery and memory card remains somewhat cumbersome.
The Max Lens Mod 2.0, introduced with the Hero 12 Black, offers an expanded field of view (FoV) of 177 degrees, significantly wider than its predecessor. This specialized lens easily attaches to the camera, providing a secure fit, but it does protrude slightly. Activating the Max Lens Mod 2.0 option unlocks the full potential of this wide-angle lens.
GoPro Hero 12 Black Features: Innovation At Your Fingertips
The GoPro Hero 12 Black packs an array of advanced features that enhance its versatility and performance.
Beyond Resolution and Frame Rate:
Beyond the standard range of resolutions, frame rates, and FoVs, the Hero 12 Black introduces several exciting additions, including HDR video recording, Night Effects in 8:7 ratio, and a dedicated vertical capture mode for social media optimization.
Bluetooth Audio Recording: Breakthrough Convenience
One of the standout features of the Hero 12 Black is the Bluetooth audio recording, a game changer for those who want to incorporate audio directly from their Bluetooth earphones or headsets. This feature opens possibilities for recording audio from various devices, such as helmet intercoms, and hands-free operation with voice commands.
HDR Video: Elevating Image Quality
The GoPro Hero 12 Black leverages its impressive HDR processing capabilities for video recording, achieving stunning visual results. Available in 5.3K and 4K resolutions, HDR video enhances color vibrancy, deepens shadows and blacks, resulting in more vivid and immersive footage. You can choose between 16:9 or 8:7 aspect ratios for different shooting styles.
Night Effects in 8:7: Capturing The Magic of Night
Building on the success of the Night Effects feature introduced in the Hero 11 Black, the Hero 12 Black now allows for capturing captivating TimeWarp videos in 8:7 aspect ratio, even in 5.3K resolution. The Night Effects settings like Light Painting, Star Trails, and Vehicle Light Trails produce breathtaking night shots. Furthermore, the camera automatically captures a still image from the last few seconds of the video, ensuring you don’t miss those stunning moments.
Vertical Capture: Social Media Ready
The GoPro Hero 12 Black caters to the increasingly vertical content landscape, introducing the Vertical Capture mode. This 9:16 ratio mode is available in 4K and 1080p resolutions, specifically designed for platforms like Instagram and TikTok. While it offers flexibility, it doesn’t support HDR, offering more basic quality compared to 8:7 footage cropped for vertical content.
GP-Log and 10-bit Color: Professional Control
For videographers seeking advanced post-editing options, the Hero 12 Black offers GP-Log with LUTs (look-up tables) for greater color control during post-production. Coupled with 10-bit color, this feature provides exceptional flexibility for color grading and fine-tuning video footage.
Timecode Sync: Multi-Camera Seamlessness
The Timecode Sync feature, a valuable addition for professionals using multiple GoPro cameras, streamlines video editing. By synchronizing timecode across multiple cameras, the Hero 12 Black enables seamless editing in software like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere.
Interval Photo: Hands-Free Capturing
The Interval Photo mode offers a way to capture photos in specific intervals, ranging from 5 to 120 seconds, offering hands-free documentation during various activities. This mode can be particularly useful for timelapses or tracking slow-motion events.
HyperSmooth 6.0: Unmatched Stabilization
GoPro’s commitment to superior stabilization shines through in the Hero 12 Black. Built on the impressive foundation of the Hero 11 Black, the new model takes stabilization to an even higher level, offering the best stabilization among action cameras. The AutoBoost feature, introduced last year, automatically enhances stabilization based on speed and motion, demonstrating a fourfold improvement over its previous version.
GoPro Hero 12 Black Battery Life: More Time for Action
GoPro claims that the Hero 12 Black achieves double the battery life compared to its predecessor. While this claim is based on specific conditions, the improvements are noticeable.
In real-world testing, the Hero 12 Black delivered about 25 minutes of continuous recording at 5.3K and 60fps with HyperSmooth 6.0 enabled and Voice Control disabled. With an initial 85% battery charge, the camera shut down after 25 minutes due to overheating. Rebooting the camera revealed a remaining battery charge of 44%.
Therefore, under more favorable conditions, such as indoors with minimal wind and a relatively cool ambient temperature (32 degrees Celsius), the Hero 12 Black can be expected to last around 40-50 minutes. A full charge should potentially offer 50-60 minutes of recording in ideal conditions with a stable temperature (25 degrees Celsius or lower).
GoPro Hero 12 Black: Is It Worth The Upgrade?
Whether the GoPro Hero 12 Black is worth the upgrade depends on your individual needs and priorities. If you own the Hero 11 Black, the new model offers compelling features like HDR video, Bluetooth wireless audio recording, and improved battery life, that might tempt you to upgrade.
For those upgrading from Hero 10 Black or earlier models, the Hero 12 Black’s lower price point, new features, and enhanced performance should make it a compelling choice.
The Bluetooth wireless audio recording capability is a game changer for many users, simplifying audio recording and enabling hands-free operation. The Hero 12 Black offers a significant boost in software features over its predecessor, while also delivering a noticeable improvement in battery life. This combination of price reduction, new features, and performance enhancements makes the GoPro Hero 12 Black a highly competitive and potentially valuable upgrade for most action camera enthusiasts.
