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
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
HERO12 Black is 1.9 years newer.
Wins
HERO12 Black
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
1 categories tied
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TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 0)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 60 frames)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 6,400)
- AHERO12 Black has lower Weight (154 g vs 658 g)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 200 Mbps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
HERO12 Black
72 × 51 × 34 mm
154 g (0.34 lb / 5.43 oz)
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
HERO12 Black is 60mm narrower, 46mm shorter, and 46mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV.
HERO12 Black is 504 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 34mm HERO12 Black · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
Alpha 7 IV
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
HERO12 Black: mount data unavailable
Alpha 7 IV
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
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
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 658 g — lower is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only HERO12 Black supports it
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
15 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 580 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
AF points / zones
759 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
RAW buffer depth
828 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 6,400 — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 200 Mbps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
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
Alpha 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the HERO12 Black and Alpha 7 IV at major authorized retailers.
GoPro HERO12 Black
Sony Alpha 7 IV
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, HERO12 Black or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 9.0/10 versus 2.0/10 for HERO12 Black — 33MP — ample resolution for portraits.
What's the resolution difference between the HERO12 Black and Alpha 7 IV?
HERO12 Black is 27.6 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the HERO12 Black and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
HERO12 Black does not have IBIS, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the HERO12 Black or the Alpha 7 IV?
HERO12 Black reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the HERO12 Black and Alpha 7 IV?
HERO12 Black weighs 154 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the HERO12 Black is 504 g lighter.
Do the HERO12 Black and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
HERO12 Black: 4K up to 120p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the HERO12 Black and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
HERO12 Black: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the HERO12 Black and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the HERO12 Black the edge.
How much does each cost?
HERO12 Black launched at $349 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The HERO12 Black is $2,150 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of GoPro and Sony press materials.