DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 12 Black

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Overview of the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI's flagship action camera: 4K120fps video and SuperNight mode
The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is overall a great action camera, that captures high quality footage in low light situations. It is very capable, rugged, usable in very cold weather and underwater without a diving case down to 66ft / 20m. It is the successor to the DJI Osmo Action 4 which was already a very popular choice.
  • Pros
  • SuperNight mode
  • Waterproof 66ft / 20m without case
  • Freeze-proof
  • Built-in storage
  • Cons
  • Still only 4K video

Overview of the GoPro Hero 12 Black

GoPro Hero 12 Black☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★GoPro Hero 12 Black
GoPro's 2023 camera: 5.3K video, HDR video, great stabilization
The Hero 12 is GoPro's 2023 flagship action camera. It is an incremental improvement over the Hero 11 and introduces HDR video but does not feature GPS like models before and after it. HDR video can really improve results when filming with big lighting changes and will avoid your footage being overexposed.
  • Pros
  • Performance similar to newer model
  • HDR video introduction
  • Cons
  • No integrated GPS

Comparison of the Action 5 Pro vs the Hero 12

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Video performance

The Action 5 Pro and the Hero 12 both offer HDR video. Both cameras feature slomo video. The two cameras have image stabilization.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
GoPro Hero 12 Black
4K video at 120fps
Max resolution
5.3K video at 60fps
4K 60fps
HDR video
5.3K 30fps
8x at 1080p
Maximum slow motion
8x at 1080p
RockSteady 3.0+
Stabilization
HyperSmooth 6.0
Why it matters: A high resolution will give you crisp footage but also allow you to reframe your video without losing too much quality. A higher framerate (fps) will result in smoother video and is important when filming action scenes or fast moving subjects. Image stabilization is a crucial feature for an action camera, as it removes camera shake, vibrations, rotation and other movements that deteriorate your final footage.

Battery life

The Action 5 Pro offers a slightly better battery capacity. Both cameras have removable batteries.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
GoPro Hero 12 Black
1950mAh
Battery capacity
1720mAh
Removable
Removable battery
Removable
240min at 1080p
Battery life
150min at 1080p
Why battery life matters: Nothing worse than running out of battery just before capturing the best footage of the day! A long battery life is reassuring and convenient when shooting footage outdoors where options to charge are limited. Even the use of a power bank can be tedious or simply impossible like when filming watersports. Having removable batteries allows battery swapping on the go which further extends your runtime.

Storage

Only the Action 5 Pro features built-in storage. Both the Action 5 Pro and the Hero 12 support SD cards. Both support up to 1TB.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
GoPro Hero 12 Black
64GB (47GB available)
Built-in storage
No built-in storage
microSD
Storage format
microSD
1TB
Maximun storage supported
1TB
Why storage matters: High quality footage can quickly take up lots of space and insufficient storage can soon be frustrating. Having a large amount of storage and the possiblity to extend it or swap SD cards while on a outing will ensure you will always be able to capture the footage you want. However, smaller, wearable action cameras often rely on built-in storage because of their small size.

Weight and size

The Action 5 Pro is a slightly smaller camera. Both the Action 5 Pro and the Hero 12 have similar weights.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
GoPro Hero 12 Black
2.78in x 1.74in x 1.29in / 70.5mm x 44.2mm x 32.8mm
Dimensions
2.83in x 2in x 1.32in / 71.8mm x 50.8mm x 33.6mm
5.15oz / 146g
Weight
5.43oz / 154g
Why size and weight matter: Weight is important for action cameras because we often mount them on helmets, or hold them at the end of a selfie stick while moving. Therefore a heavier camera can be difficult or uncomfortable to film with. Weight is even more crucial for certain sports like road cycling or running.

Waterproofing and usage conditions

The Action 5 Pro is a lot more waterproof. Both the Action 5 Pro and the Hero 12 are waterproof to 197ft / 60m with a diving case. The Action 5 Pro is far better for extreme cold. The Action 5 Pro beats the Hero 12 in high heat conditions.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
GoPro Hero 12 Black
66ft / 20m
Waterproof
33ft / 10m
197ft / 60m
Waterproof with diving case
197ft / 60m
-4°F / -20°C
Min operating temperature
14°F / -10°C
113°F / 45°C
Max operating temperature
95°F / 35°C
Why it matters: Most action cameras are waterproof for accidental splashing or use above water, but if you plan on Snorkeling or Scuba Diving, we recommend choosing a camera which offers a diving case and always using it for underwater footage. If you plan on filming Snowboarding, Skiing or other wintersports in extremely cold conditions, you should pick a camera that is rated for those temperatures, most cameras are only rated down to 14°F / -10°C. Many action cameras are prone to overheating, even in ordinary conditions, so if you plan on filming in hot environments, you should choose a camera that can function at high temperatures.

Camera and sensor technology

The Action 5 Pro features a much higher resolution. The field of view of the Action 5 Pro is a little better than the Hero 12's. Both cameras feature 120Mbps bit rate video.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
GoPro Hero 12 Black
40MP
Pixels
27.6MP
155°
Field of view
148°
120Mbps
Video bite rate
120Mbps
Why it matters: A higher amount of pixels will offer better quality footage and higher resolution photos. A higher field of view means that the camera captures over a wider angle and therefore more action can be seen in the final footage. Some cameras require accessories to enable the maximum FOV. A higher bitrate at a similar resolution will offer higher quality video.

Camera settings

The Action 5 Pro's 100-51200 ISO range is far superior to Hero 12's. The Action 5 Pro's +/-4 exposure compensation is far superior.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
GoPro Hero 12 Black
100-51200
ISO range
100-6400
+/-4
Exposure Compensation
+/-2
Why these settings matter: The ISO range and exposure compensation settings will mostly allow you to tweak your action camera for low light situations.

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro versus GoPro Hero 12 Black specifications

NameDJI Osmo Action 5 ProGoPro Hero 12 Black
Year of release20242023
Width2.78in / 70.5mm2.83in / 71.8mm
Height1.74in / 44.2mm2in / 50.8mm
Depth1.29in / 32.8mm1.32in / 33.6mm
Weight5.15oz / 146g5.43oz / 154g
Waterproof66ft / 20m33ft / 10m
Waterproof with diving case197ft / 60m197ft / 60m
Min operating temperature-4°F / -20°C14°F / -10°C
Max operating temperature113°F / 45°C95°F / 35°C
Battery capacity1950mAh1720mAh
Removable batteryYesYes
Battery life240min at 1080p150min at 1080p
Charging time53min3h (5W)
Built-in storage64GB (47GB available)-
Storage formatmicroSDmicroSD
Storage rating requiredV30 or UHS-3V30 or UHS-3
Maximun storage supported1TB1TB
Rear screen size-2.27in
Front screen size-1.4in
Field of view155°148°
Sensor1/1.3"1/1.9" CMOS
Pixels40MP27.6MP
ApertureF2.8F2.5
Focal length-12-39mm
ISO range100-51200100-6400
Video zoom-2x
Color Depth10bit10bit
Video bite rate120Mbps120Mbps
Exposure Compensation+/-4+/-2
360-degree videoNoNo
5.3K video-60fps
4K video120fps60fps
2.7K video120fps120fps
1080p video240fps240fps
Slow motion at 4K44x
Maximum slow motion8x at 1080p8x at 1080p
HDR video4K 60fps5.3K 30fps
StabilizationRockSteady 3.0+HyperSmooth 6.0
Horizon lockYesYes
Video formatH.264 (MP4)H.265 (HEVC)
Live streamingNo1080p30 (HyperSmooth) or 1080p60
Webcam mode-1080p30
Timelapse modeYesYes
Starlapse modeYesYes
Timeshift modeYesYes
Loop recording modeYesYes
Subject trackingYes-
Photo burst modeYesYes
RAW format supportedYesYes
Microphones33
Stereo audioYesYes
Noise reductionYesYes
Audio formataacwav
Audio inputDual DJI Microphone Direct ConnectionMedia Mod (H9B/H10B/H11B)
Pro 3.5mm Mic Adapter
Audio bluetooth supportDJI Mic 2-
Wifi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
BluetoothBLE 5.1BLE 4.2
USBType-C USBUSB-C
GPS integratedNoNo
GPS pairingGPS remote-
Pressure gaugeYes-
Voice commandsYesYes