Great news for adventurers: If you’ve been considering purchasing an action camera, now’s the time. The GoPro Hero12 Black is currently 25 percent off at Amazon, matching an all-time low price set over the summer, according to price-tracking service CamelCamelCamel. That’s a hefty discount on the pocket-size camcorder, besting the deal we saw during Black Friday last year.
While the Hero12 Black is no longer the latest version available—the Hero13 Black earns that distinction—it’s still an excellent action camera. It features a rugged design that can survive being submerged in water up to 33 feet without a protective housing (or up to 196 feet with). This makes the Hero12 Black ideal for surfing and other water sports. It’s also sealed against dust and dirt, so sand won’t ruin its high-tech guts.
One of the Hero12 Black’s most impressive features is its HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization, which combats shaky hands by delivering buttery smooth footage. Instead of your video looking bouncy, it’ll come out as if you’d been using a professional Steadicam. Additionally, HyperSmooth supports a Horizon Lock feature; that, as the name implies, keeps the horizon steady in the frame.
You can record video in 5.3K resolution at 60 frames per second, perfect for capturing ultra-detailed footage. You can also opt for YouTube-friendly resolutions of 4K or 1080p, ensuring your video looks great across various platforms and devices. When you’re after a more stylized shot, the Hero12 Black lets you record at 240 fps, giving you that slow motion effect that makes stunts look dramatic. The camera also supports HDR video for improved dynamic range, Star Trails for low-light time-lapses, and TimeWarp for stabilized time-lapse footage while you’re moving.
Other features include a rear 2.27-inch touch display, a removable 1,720-mAh battery, and the ability to snap 27-megapixel photos. If you don’t need the latest features, the GoPro Hero11 Black is down to $239. Meanwhile, Amazon is offering this Hero12 Black Adventure Kit, which includes a hand grip, a head strap, an additional battery, and a carrying case, all for $299.
Brandon Russell is a freelance writer covering gear and technology. He started his journey as a news writer at a small newspaper and later began reviewing smartphones, movies, and video games. In his free time, he enjoys the slower, more intentional experience of using a 35mm film camera and making short videos about movies he grew up watching.
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