Hero 12 Blackvs Lumix G9
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.
Wildlife, Sports, Travel — Lumix G9 (2017): The G9 showed that Micro Four Thirds could compete for fast-action stills.
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
Lumix G9 (2017)
- Wildlife photographers who want fast burst and long telephoto reach at lower cost
- MFT system users who prioritise stills over video
Quick take: The hero 12 black has the highest resolution at 27mp; the hero 12 black is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Hero 12 Black (2023) | Lumix G9 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £549 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 20.3MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K 60fps, C4K 24fps |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | 225-point contrast-detect DFD |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops (6.0 stops dual IS) |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | 400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 658g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 136.9 × 97.3 × 91.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | EVF 0.83× 3.68M-dot |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M-dot |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | 2× SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Lumix G9 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history