GoPro
HERO12 Black
1/1.9-inch action camera with HDR 5.3K60, 4K120, 2.7K240 slow-mo, HyperSmooth 6.0, and 10m waterproof body.
$349
Released Sep 2023
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
HERO12 Black is 1.8 years newer.
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Wins
HERO12 Black
Wins
Z9
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 0)
- AHERO12 Black has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 60 frames)
- AHERO12 Black has lower Weight (154 g vs 1340 g)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
HERO12 Black
72 × 51 × 34 mm
154 g (0.34 lb / 5.43 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
HERO12 Black is 77mm narrower, 99mm shorter, and 57mm thinner than Z9.
HERO12 Black is 1186 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 34mm HERO12 Black · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
HERO12 Black
72 × 51 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
HERO12 Black
72 × 34 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
HERO12 Black: mount data unavailable
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
HERO12 Black
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265 (HEVC)
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 71.8, 50.8, 33.6
Card types
Adds microSD
Weight
154 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF points / zones
493 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
ISO max (native)
25,600 vs 6,400 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓IBIS effectiveness — Both 6 stops
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
HERO12 Black
Pros
- ✓HDR 5.3K and 4K120
- ✓HyperSmooth 6.0
- ✓10m waterproof
- ✓Strong used value
Cons
- –Superseded by HERO13
- –Fixed lens
- –Smaller battery than HERO13
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the HERO12 Black and Z9 at major authorized retailers.
GoPro HERO12 Black
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, HERO12 Black or Z9?
Z9 scores 8.5/10 versus 2.0/10 for HERO12 Black — 45.7MP — excellent for large prints and crops.
What's the resolution difference between the HERO12 Black and Z9?
HERO12 Black is 27.6 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the HERO12 Black and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
HERO12 Black does not have IBIS, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the HERO12 Black or the Z9?
HERO12 Black reaches 15 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the HERO12 Black and Z9?
HERO12 Black weighs 154 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the HERO12 Black is 1186 g lighter.
Do the HERO12 Black and Z9 record 4K video?
HERO12 Black: 4K up to 120p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the HERO12 Black and Z9 weather sealed?
HERO12 Black: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the HERO12 Black and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
HERO12 Black launched at $349 and Z9 at $5,899. The HERO12 Black is $5,550 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of GoPro and Nikon press materials.