Justin reviews the latest GoPro HERO12 Black camera

I’ve been using GoPros since the HERO3 came out over 15 years ago. Wow just typing that made me feel old…

Almost every year GoPro releases an updated Hero camera with improvements ranging from minor tweaks to ‘game changing’ new features such as the stabilisation of the HERO8. This year’s HERO12 update is mostly incremental over the HERO11, but the various improvements are very welcome especially if you find yourself strapping on a chesty most weekends at the local trailhead.

Now if you’re reading this I can assume you fit one of two buckets. You either have an older model GoPro and are thinking of upgrading, or you have never owned a GoPro and are looking to buy your first action camera.

Regardless of which group you are in, the new GoPro HERO12 is without a doubt the best GoPro ever made and is the standard by which all other action cameras are measured. With that being said, is it the right camera for you?

What’s new for the GoPro HERO12 Black?

• ‘HDR’ mode for more dynamic range in videos
• Native Vertical Video 9:16 (IG Reels, Tiktok etc)
• New GP-Log video option for pro video editing
• Hypersmooth 6.0
• Wireless Bluetooth Audio
• No GPS functionality
• Improved battery run time – Up to two times longer
• 1/4″-20 Tripod mount thread (wooo!)
• Ultra-wide 177° field of view with optional new Max Lens Mod 2.0

Camera tech specs

• Sensor type 1/1.9 (6.3 x 5.5mm) CMOS with native 8:7 aspect ratio
• 5.3K at up to 60 FPS, 4K at up to 120 FPS and 2.7K at up to 240 FPS
• GP2 Processor
• 10-bit video
• 24.7MP still photos from video
• 27MP photos, including RAW + JPEG
• Waterproof up to 10m (33ft)
• Same overall body design as HERO11 (actually all the way back to HERO9)
• GoPro Quik App for editing and wireless control

Ergonomics

The HERO12 essentially has the same overall shape as the HERO9, 10, and 11 which I think is a good move by GoPro. It’s compact enough to go almost anywhere but still big enough to have a rear touchscreen that you can actually see and operate. It is also rugged and waterproof to 10m doing away with the need for any external housings. Well, unless you’re lake jumping!

The HERO12 has a front-facing screen so you can frame your shot when looking from the front. There is nothing worse than ripping a section of trail only to watch it back later and see all sky, or all handlebars.

One big improvement to the design of the HERO12 is the inclusion of a 1/4″ threaded tripod socket on the bottom, along with the standard two-prong mount that has become the industry standard for action cameras. This allows for more compatibility and mounting options than ever before, which is huge for videographers and content creators, but not a big gain if your camera stays permanently attached to your chesty harness.

The two button system (mode and record), removable battery SD card door and a USB-C port all remain the same as previous Hero cameras. It does have a fancy new speckled blue finish instead of the plain dark grey look of the HERO11.

Video and image quality

It can be easy to forget just how far this category of camera has come in the short time they have been around. The ability to capture 4K footage at 120 FPS (frames per second) was almost unheard of in any consumer camera a few years ago, let alone from something you could strap to your pet!

The image quality capable with this camera is absolutely stunning, especially in bright lighting conditions. Up to 5.3K resolution and the new HDR mode provide beautifully detailed video with vivid colours and more dynamic range than ever before.

One thing to note is that the image sensor in the HERO12 is an 8:7 ratio, making it close to square. And why exactly is this important?

The most common video format is 16:9 widescreen, so having this extra sensor area capturing footage at the top and bottom allows GoPro to digitally squash it all together which is what creates the Superview, and Hyperview settings. These settings fit more into the 16:9 frame which is generally one of the most important things for POV mountain biking shots.

HyperSmooth 6.0

It’s not actually the image quality itself that has made this series of action cameras so useful for documenting our adventures, it is the stabilisation. We all remember having to sit through almost unwatchable footage from early action cameras, and given the choice I would choose less resolution for better stabilisation every time! Thankfully in 2023 we don’t have to make that choice.

The Hero 12 features HyperSmooth 6.0 which GoPro states can analyse footage up to four times faster than the HyperSmooth 5.0 that was in the Hero 11. You can switch it on and off as needed, plus there is an auto-boost mode that will adjust the amount of stabilisation based on the motion of the footage. This means even smoother POV footage on the jankiest of trails. The stabilisation is taken a step further when using the new Max Lens Mod 2.0, but more on that later.

Settings and GP-Log

GoPro has implemented a clever feature in the menu that allows you to choose from either simple or advanced settings. Simple mode will still give you great quality footage but you will have less options to choose from, basically just press record and have fun. The advanced mode unlocks all of the settings and options so you can tweak until you find your ideal setup.

One of the new advanced settings is the GP-Log log colour setting. While the standard and HDR colour profiles will be perfect for most users, the GP-Log setting allows advanced and professional users greater flexibility to grade the colours during the editing process. This can be very helpful when matching footage to other cameras or just trying to get the most out of the HERO12 in tricky lighting.

Photos

Most people that buy an action camera do so for video, but there are times when a still photo is needed and the HERO12 does a fine job.

With 27 megapixels of resolution and the ability to shoot in both RAW and JPEG, the quality of the photo output is quite good especially in brighter conditions. The burst mode even takes up to 30 frames in one second which is perfect for when a mate is lining up to hit a new jump for the first time.

One new feature we have found particularly useful is the interval photo feature. This allows you to strap the camera on and have it capture a high quality RAW photo every few seconds while doing whatever awesome thing you are doing. I have used this many times while snowboarding but on older HERO cameras you were limited to JPEGs and had to use the time-lapse setting which took a little longer to set up. Wil also regularly uses this feature while out on the trail for bike reviews.

If all else fails you can also take a 24 megapixel screen grab from your video footage, though the output will be limited to JPEG.

Max Lens Mod 2.0

The Max Lens Mod is an additional accessory lens that allows for an even wider field of view (FOV) than the standard lens on the Hero 12. I have personally used the Max Lens Mod 1.0 on the HERO9 and HERO11 and honestly did not find it very compelling. The FOV wasn’t that much wider and it limited video resolution to 2.7k without providing a big increase in stability. I think it ended up in a drawer somewhere.

I’m excited to say that the Max Lens Mod 2.0 is a huge upgrade over the 1.0 and I would actually consider it a must-have accessory.

Firstly it provides a much wider FOV (177°) than even the widest setting on the Hero 12 with the standard lens, and it does so at up to 4K resolution and 60 FPS. Stabilisation is also greatly improved when using the Max Lens Mod 2.0. GoPro calls it Max HyperSmooth and it provides an almost drone-like level of smoothness to videos and even time-lapses.

With the Max Lens Mod 2.0 fitted, you can get some amazing shots in a vertical format that are ideal for using on social media.

The physical design looks similar to the previous version but it is actually smaller, lighter and GoPro claims it is 2x more scratch resistant. This is great because it isn’t a cheap accessory at $169.95 AUD, and the domed lens is a bit exposed. Thankfully it comes with a protective rubber case and is still fully waterproof.

Swapping from the standard lens to Max Lens Mode 2.0 is as simple as a half turn, but you also need to enable the Max Lens Mod Setting in the main menu so that the camera can properly format the wider view. This is quick and easy to do, but it would be great if this was automatic in future versions.

The HERO12 is backward compatible with the Max Lens Mod 1.0 if you already have one but you will be limited to 2.7K and the FOV won’t be as wide. Likewise using the Hero 11 with the new Max Lens Mod 2.0 is possible but you won’t get the benefits of the newer version.

Vertical video

The Hero 12 is the first GoPro to feature native vertical video capture (9:16) so you can record content for Reels, Shorts and TikTok without having to mount the camera sideways and rotate the footage in post production. This is a very welcome inclusion making it quick and easy to share a few highlights of your day on social media rather than a full YouTube video in horizontal 16:9.

The Max Lens Mod 2.0 really shines when capturing vertical video for mountain biking, allowing you to capture the trail, the bike and a bit of scenery from a standard chesty mount.

It’s worth noting that vertical video capture is limited to 4K at 50 FPS and the standard 8-bit colour profile but we haven’t found that to be too limiting.

GoPro Quik App

Sharing your latest adventure rather than letting it gather dust on your hard drive is one of the biggest hurdles for all of us action camera users. GoPro’s Quik app certainly helps break down that barrier by allowing you import footage wirelessly by tapping a button, and it can even create an automatic highlight video edit for you.

Taking things a step further is the included video editing tools which are easy to use but also quite effective for phone based video production.

With the additional GoPro annual subscription ($69.95 AUD) you actually get unlimited cloud backups of your footage as well. I subscribed a few years ago as it includes broken camera replacement, discounts on accessories and also new cameras. Since I am pretty rough on gear and do this professionally, I have found the annual fee to be great value. I was able to get a HERO9 replaced that I broke while chasing Wil around the trails and have also saved much more than the annual fee on accessories. 

Accessories

Speaking of accessories, if you have owned a few previous GoPros like me you probably already have a nice collection of mounts, selfie sticks and floaties. It’s great that all of these are still compatible with the new Hero 12. Given that some other brands have changed their mounts over the years, which requires you to shell out for adapters or brand new accessories with each upgrade.

My most used accessories are:

• 3-in-1 Selfie Stick – Heaps of adjustment, works as a tripod and folds small enough to fit in a waist pack
• GoPro Chesty Mount – Easy to use and reasonably priced
• Dual Battery Charger – Charge two batteries at once by USB-C
• Enduro Batteries – Standard with the HERO12, they have white on the ends. Last longer than the older blue batteries especially in cold conditions
• Media Mod – Better audio from built in mic and also allows me to plug in wireless mics
• Grab Bag of Mounts – Can never have enough of these!

What we like about the GoPro HERO12

• Improved Interface – The new menu interface for choosing video settings is visually cleaner and easier to use especially out on the trail
• Longer Battery Runtime – I have run out of GoPro batteries too many times, we noticed a huge improvement especially in 25p frame rates, which is perfect for POV action footage
• Vertical Capture – Can’t say it enough, would have loved to see this years ago
• Max Lens Mod 2.0 – Bridges the gap between a 360° camera and a traditional action camera getting much more into the frame without as much distortion as the regular Hyperview setting
• Quik App – Easy to set up a new camera, download footage and even control the camera

Room for Improvement

• Low Light – Although it is the best we have seen from GoPro, when running out of light deep in the trees the stabilisation can struggle, and image quality can get mushy. These conditions are asking a lot from a tiny camera, but hey we can still wish for more right?
• Touch Screen – Sometimes it takes a couple of taps to select something and swiping doesn’t feel quite as smooth as a phone
• Audio Quality – While this new HERO12 supports Bluetooth headphones, which is cool, the audio capture still isn’t amazing. Likewise in windy conditions riding footage can end up with mostly unusable audio, the Media Mod can help with this but ideally better in-camera audio would be great

Should you buy the new HERO12?

If you don’t have an action camera yet and the HERO12 fits your budget, then go for it. This is absolutely the best GoPro ever made.

Likewise if you are using something like a HERO6 or older, and you are having trouble getting your footage to look as good as your favourite YouTubers, then the HERO12 will definitely help get you there.

Is it worth upgrading if you already have a GoPro from the last few years? Well, that depends. If you only use it a few times a year and just for fun, then probably not.

But if you’re making content regularly and like the idea of native vertical video for use on social media, or you just want a camera that provides the best POV footage possible, then you probably already know the answer.