GoPro Hero 12 Black vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

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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

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

Comparison of the Hero 12 vs the Action 5 Pro

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Video performance

The Hero 12 and the Action 5 Pro both offer HDR video. Both cameras feature slomo video. The two cameras have image stabilization.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
5.3K video at 60fps
Max resolution
4K video at 120fps
5.3K 30fps
HDR video
4K 60fps
8x at 1080p
Maximum slow motion
8x at 1080p
HyperSmooth 6.0
Stabilization
RockSteady 3.0+
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.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
1720mAh
Battery capacity
1950mAh
Removable
Removable battery
Removable
150min at 1080p
Battery life
240min 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 Hero 12 and the Action 5 Pro support SD cards. Both support up to 1TB.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
No built-in storage
Built-in storage
64GB (47GB available)
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 Hero 12 and the Action 5 Pro have similar weights.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
2.83in x 2in x 1.32in / 71.8mm x 50.8mm x 33.6mm
Dimensions
2.78in x 1.74in x 1.29in / 70.5mm x 44.2mm x 32.8mm
5.43oz / 154g
Weight
5.15oz / 146g
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 Hero 12 and the Action 5 Pro 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.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
33ft / 10m
Waterproof
66ft / 20m
197ft / 60m
Waterproof with diving case
197ft / 60m
14°F / -10°C
Min operating temperature
-4°F / -20°C
95°F / 35°C
Max operating temperature
113°F / 45°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.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
27.6MP
Pixels
40MP
148°
Field of view
155°
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.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
100-6400
ISO range
100-51200
+/-2
Exposure Compensation
+/-4
Why these settings matter: The ISO range and exposure compensation settings will mostly allow you to tweak your action camera for low light situations.

GoPro Hero 12 Black versus DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro specifications

NameGoPro Hero 12 BlackDJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
Year of release20232024
Width2.83in / 71.8mm2.78in / 70.5mm
Height2in / 50.8mm1.74in / 44.2mm
Depth1.32in / 33.6mm1.29in / 32.8mm
Weight5.43oz / 154g5.15oz / 146g
Waterproof33ft / 10m66ft / 20m
Waterproof with diving case197ft / 60m197ft / 60m
Min operating temperature14°F / -10°C-4°F / -20°C
Max operating temperature95°F / 35°C113°F / 45°C
Battery capacity1720mAh1950mAh
Removable batteryYesYes
Battery life150min at 1080p240min at 1080p
Charging time3h (5W)53min
Built-in storage-64GB (47GB available)
Storage formatmicroSDmicroSD
Storage rating requiredV30 or UHS-3V30 or UHS-3
Maximun storage supported1TB1TB
Rear screen size2.27in-
Front screen size1.4in-
Field of view148°155°
Sensor1/1.9" CMOS1/1.3"
Pixels27.6MP40MP
ApertureF2.5F2.8
Focal length12-39mm-
ISO range100-6400100-51200
Video zoom2x-
Color Depth10bit10bit
Video bite rate120Mbps120Mbps
Exposure Compensation+/-2+/-4
360-degree videoNoNo
5.3K video60fps-
4K video60fps120fps
2.7K video120fps120fps
1080p video240fps240fps
Slow motion at 4K4x4
Maximum slow motion8x at 1080p8x at 1080p
HDR video5.3K 30fps4K 60fps
StabilizationHyperSmooth 6.0RockSteady 3.0+
Horizon lockYesYes
Video formatH.265 (HEVC)H.264 (MP4)
Live streaming1080p30 (HyperSmooth) or 1080p60No
Webcam mode1080p30-
Timelapse modeYesYes
Starlapse modeYesYes
Timeshift modeYesYes
Loop recording modeYesYes
Subject tracking-Yes
Photo burst modeYesYes
RAW format supportedYesYes
Microphones33
Stereo audioYesYes
Noise reductionYesYes
Audio formatwavaac
Audio inputMedia Mod (H9B/H10B/H11B)
Pro 3.5mm Mic Adapter
Dual DJI Microphone Direct Connection
Audio bluetooth support-DJI Mic 2
Wifi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
BluetoothBLE 4.2BLE 5.1
USBUSB-CType-C USB
GPS integratedNoNo
GPS pairing-GPS remote
Pressure gauge-Yes
Voice commandsYesYes