Hero 12 Blackvs Leica SL2
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
VS
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Adventure, Sports & Travel Video — Hero 12 Black (2023): GoPro's best all-round action camera — better battery, 10-bit colour, and HyperSmooth 6.0 make it a genuine step forward.
Commercial, Landscape, Video — Leica SL2 (2019): Leica's most capable system camera — excellent for photographers who want L-mount glass access.
Who should buy what
Hero 12 Black (2023)
- Action and sports photographers who want the best stabilisation available
- Travellers who need a rugged waterproof camera for any conditions
- Cyclists, surfers, and skiers wanting helmet or handlebar footage
- Hero 11 owners considering an upgrade — notably better battery life
Leica SL2 (2019)
- Commercial photographers who want Leica quality with modern AF
- Filmmakers who want Leica glass with video capability
Quick take: The leica sl2 has the highest resolution at 47mp; the hero 12 black is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Hero 12 Black (2023) | Leica SL2 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £4,200 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | Full-frame CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 47.3MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 1080p 180fps |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Contrast-detect AF, AI-based scene recognition |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 20fps |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | 370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 835g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 146.0 × 107.0 × 80.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | EVF 0.78× 5.76M-dot |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.10M-dot |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Leica L-Mount |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | 2× SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Leica SL2 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — |
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Camera family history