Hero 12 Blackvs Lumix S1
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
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.
Landscape, Studio & Professional Stills On L-Mount — Lumix S1 (2019): Built like a tank with one of the finest viewfinders ever made — the S1 is the choice for photographers who prioritise build quality and IBIS over AF speed.
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 S1 (2019)
- L-mount system photographers who want a rugged, weather-sealed full-frame body for demanding conditions
- Landscape and studio photographers who value exceptional IBIS and an outstanding EVF
- Video professionals who need V-Log and 4K/60p in a robust, weather-sealed body
- Leica SL users who want a more affordable second body on the same L-mount system
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 S1 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 9fps continuous with AF/AE |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~380 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 898g body only |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Lumix S1 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history