Hero 12 Blackvs Lumix S9
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
Lumix
Lumix S9 (2024)
Starting from £1299 new
Best for Travel photographers, content creators & L-mount entry buyers
View Lumix S9
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.
Travel Photographers, Content Creators & L-Mount Entry Buyers — Lumix S9 (2024): The most compact full-frame camera available — a perfect travel and content creation companion with brilliant colour science.
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 S9 (2024)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact package
- Content creators attracted to Real-time LUT and 10-bit video
- Photographers already in the L-mount ecosystem wanting a lightweight second body
- Lumix S5 II users who want something smaller for travel and casual shooting
Quick take: The hero 12 black has the highest resolution at 27mp; the hero 12 black is the most affordable; only the hero 12 black is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Hero 12 Black (2023) | Lumix S9 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £1,299 |
| 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 (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Contrast-detect AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 413g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 124.6 × 73.9 × 52.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | None — rear screen only |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (touch drag AF) |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Leica L mount |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Single SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Lumix S9 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Hero 12 Black
Camera family history