Hero 12 Blackvs S1 II
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
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.
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
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
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
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) | S1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £2,200 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 680g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Leica L-mount |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | S1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Street | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history