GoPro’s new Hero12 Black action camera has improved features for pro and casual users

GoPro has unveiled its latest Hero12 Black action camera which boasts a range of improvements that make shooting your videos even easier and the quality of those videos even higher.

The new action camera has up to twice the battery life, can shoot 5.3K and 4K HDR video and has new audio capture features along with features that will satisfy professional and casual users.

GoPro has managed to improve the new Hero12 Black significantly from last year’s Hero11 Black.

Another exciting addition to the Hero12 Black is the Max Lens Mod 2.0 which can offer the widest 177-degree field of view and 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
There are three field of view settings – Max Wide, Max SuperView and the new Max HyperView which every bit of the larger 8:7 sensor which offers 36 per cent wider than regular widescreen video and 48 per cent taller that vertical video.

These new modes when capturing your videos take in the entire vista and makes the viewer feel like they are there.

“Hero12 Black resets the bar for immersive life-capture,” says GoPro CEO and Founder Nicholas Woodman.

“Our new flagship camera is the culmination of GoPro’s 21 years of experience and our passion for helping you capture and share your life in an immersive, dream-like way that makes you and your audience feel like you’re right there again, reliving your favourite experiences in vivid detail.”

On the audio side, the GoPro Hero12 Black has wireless audio support for Apple’s AirPods and other Bluetooth audio devices including earphones and microphones.

This means you can use the built-in microphones on Bluetooth earphones connected to the GoPro Hero12 Black to capture audio when vlogging and narrating a scene as well as issue voice commands to control the camera.

Pro users will be pleased to hear the new Hero12 Black offers GP-Log with available LUTs (look-up table) for easier colour grading in post.

Also onboard is wireless timecode sync when using multiple GoPro cameras in your shoot for easier multi-camera editing in Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere and other editing platforms.

But for casual users the GoPro still offers a handy compact size, a new easy to navigate user interface and your choice of multiple modes and options within each of those modes so you can get your video and pictures just right.

The new GoPro now offers 9:16 Vertical Capture Mode so your videos and images can slot right into popular social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.

Users will be impressed with the longer battery life which offers twice the runtime on a single charge with up 70 minutes of continuous recording at 5.3K6 0 (the highest performance setting), more than 95 minutes at 5.3K 30 and more than 155 minutes of continuous recording at 1080p 30, all with HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilisation on.

And this added battery life is not from a new battery chemistry but from the new power efficiencies of the camera.

The Hero12 Black can now shoot HDR photos and videos at 5.3K and 4K and the HyperSmooth 6.0 and Horizon Lock keeps your videos rock steady.

The GoPro Hero12 Black has its usual mounting fingers that can be used with the many GoPro mounting accessories, but it has now also added a tripod mounting thread so it can be attached to regular camera accessories.

And of course the camera is waterproof to a depth of more than 10 metres with no additional housing.

GoPro has also updated the Quik app but also released the Quik desktop which will be offered to Mac users at launch and to Windows users in the coming months.

Quik desktop lets you use your computer to make faster and easier edits on a bigger screen.

GoPro is also planning to release a 48-inch extension pole that can collapse down to just 10 inches along with waterproof Bluetooth shutter remote. They will be available in October.

The GoPro Hero12 Black will be priced at $649.95 with the Max Mod Lens costing $169.95 or $139.95 for GoPro subscribers.

Pre-orders have kicked off ahead of a September 13 release.

GoPro is also offering the Hero12 Black Creator Edition for $949.95 which includes lighting, microphone and mounting mods.

Stay tuned to Tech Guide for our complete review of the GoPro Hero12 Black.