Another year, another new GoPro finally arrives that just might help you “become a pro.” The GoPro Hero 12 Black just launched globally, but I’ve been carrying it with me for almost a week now. GoPro has arranged a fun little event for some media in India, allowing them to test the features of the Hero 12 Black. As usual, the older Hero 11 Black will continue to be available in India, but at a discounted price. The new Hero 12 Black is priced at Rs. The base kit is priced at Rs 45,000 while the Creator Edition is priced at Rs 45,000. 65,000.
While a full review will take longer, here are my first impressions of GoPro’s new action camera.
Compared with the Hero 11 Black, the GoPro Hero 12 Black doesn’t have much new, especially when it comes to hardware. It uses the same GP2 processor, 1/1.9-inch image sensor, supports a taller 8:7 aspect ratio, and offers some of the same features as the Hero 11 Black. In terms of design, it looks basically the same as its predecessor, but now has a blue speckle on the body. It’s also the same size as the Hero 11 Black, which means any accessory for the Hero 11 Black will fit on the Hero 12 Black.
Blue spots appear on GoPro Hero 12 Black body
The GoPro Hero 12 Black continues to offer water resistance up to 10 meters, but requires an additional case. It has a 2.27-inch touch display on the back and a smaller 1.4-inch color non-touch screen on the front. The lens cover is removable and now supports Max Lens Mod 2.0. You’ll also find mounting fingers on the bottom, however, now with a universal tripod thread mount between the two collapsible feet.
GoPro Hero 12 Black with tripod thread
On the right, the Hero 12 Black’s battery cover is less accessible, and opening and closing is still a hassle. Come on GoPro, I think we all deserve a better designed clamshell by now, don’t we? Below, you’ll find a USB Type-C port and a microSD card slot.
On the top of the camera, you can see the record button and microphone. There’s a mode button on the left, and another microphone and mounting feet on the bottom. Like the Hero 11 Black, the new GoPro Hero 12 Black also comes with an enduro battery for longer battery life. However, GoPro now claims that the new Hero 12 Black has twice the battery life of the old model, thanks to more efficient hardware and software optimizations. I’ll have to verify this claim, but I did manage to record 30 minutes of video in 4K 8:7 for 7-8 hours of continuous recording during my initial use of it.
GoPro Hero 12 Black with Max Lens 2.0 module
Speaking of video recording, the GoPro Hero 12 Black now offers an HDR video mode. HDR video is available at up to 5.3K resolution, but only when shooting in 16:9 mode. HDR video is limited to 4K at 24fps or 30fps at an 8:7 aspect ratio. Meanwhile, slow-motion video is limited to 2.7K at 240 fps. You can also use many other video recording options, including time-lapse, night video and star trails, now supporting 8:7 recording.
I’ll be testing all of these in my full review. Photos are captured at 27-megapixel resolution, while you can also export 24.7-megapixel still photos from video. There is also a vertical capture mode that supports GP-Log and TimeWarp 3.0 with LUTS.
GoPro Hero 12 Black HDR example image (wide-angle 8:7)
In addition to the new HDR video mode, the GoPro Hero 12 Black also comes with a highly anticipated feature that allows you to record audio using any Bluetooth headset/earphones. In my opinion, this is a great feature. You can now connect your AirPods or any Bluetooth headphones and record audio wirelessly. The Hero 12 Black can record audio through Bluetooth headphones and the built-in microphone.
The GoPro Hero 12 Black now features HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization along with the auto-enhance option introduced in the Hero 11 Black. GoPro is known for having some of the best stability in the industry, and the new Hero 12 Black lives up to that. The new action camera inherits most of the features from the Hero 11 Black, but with improvements.
I’ll be spending more time with the GoPro Hero 12 Black and trying new features like HDR video, Bluetooth recording, and more. Is it worth upgrading from the Hero 11 Black? I think we’ll find out in the full review.
Disclosure: GoPro sponsored the reporter’s flight and hotel to Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu.
Svlook
