GoPro
HERO12 Black
1/1.9-inch action camera with HDR 5.3K60, 4K120, 2.7K240 slow-mo, HyperSmooth 6.0, and 10m waterproof body.
$349
Launch priceReleased Sep 2023
Panasonic
Lumix G9 II
MFT hybrid with 8-stop IBIS and 75fps stills for wildlife on a budget.
$1,899
Launch priceReleased Sep 2023
Released within a month of each other.
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Wins
HERO12 Black
Wins
Lumix G9 II
2 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BLumix G9 II has higher AF points / zones (779 vs 0)
- BLumix G9 II has higher Burst (electronic) (75 fps vs 15 fps)
- AHERO12 Black has lower Weight (154 g vs 658 g)
- BLumix G9 II has higher ISO max (native) (25,600 vs 6,400)
- BLumix G9 II has higher Max video bit rate (800 Mbps vs 200 Mbps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
HERO12 Black
72 × 34 × 51 mm
154 g (0.34 lb / 5.43 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Lumix G9 II
134 × 102 × 90 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
HERO12 Black is 63mm narrower, 69mm shorter, and 39mm thinner than Lumix G9 II.
HERO12 Black is 504 g lighter than Lumix G9 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 51mm HERO12 Black · 90mm Lumix G9 II
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
HERO12 Black
72 × 34 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Lumix G9 II
134 × 102 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
HERO12 Black
72 × 51 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Lumix G9 II
134 × 90 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Lumix G9 II
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
HERO12 Black: mount data unavailable
Lumix G9 II
✓ more lensesMicro Four Thirds
130+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
HERO12 Black
Codecs
Adds H.265/HEVC
Stabilization modes
Adds HyperSmooth 6.0, 360° Horizon Lock, AutoBoost
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 71.8, 33.6, 50.8
Card types
Adds microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC
Weight
154 g vs 658 g — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 390 shots — higher is better
Resolution
27.6 MP vs 25.2 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Lumix G9 II
AF points / zones
779 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Face, Eye…
Codecs
Adds Apple ProRes 422 HQ, H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134.3, 102.3, 90.1
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II, SD UHS-II
Burst (electronic)
75 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
ISO max (native)
25,600 vs 6,400 — higher is better
Max video bit rate
800 Mbps vs 200 Mbps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
HERO12 Black
Pros
- ✓HDR 5.3K and 4K120
- ✓HyperSmooth 6.0
- ✓10m waterproof
- ✓Strong used value
Cons
- –Superseded by HERO13
- –Fixed lens
- –Smaller battery than HERO13
Lumix G9 II
Pros
- ✓75fps stills mode
- ✓8-stop IBIS
- ✓Compact tele reach
Cons
- –MFT sensor
- –Smaller ecosystem
- –Video not GH-level
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the HERO12 Black and Lumix G9 II at major authorized retailers.
GoPro HERO12 Black
Panasonic Lumix G9 II
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, HERO12 Black or Lumix G9 II?
Lumix G9 II scores 9.5/10 versus 3.0/10 for HERO12 Black — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the HERO12 Black and Lumix G9 II?
HERO12 Black is 27.6 MP and Lumix G9 II is 25.2 MP, so the HERO12 Black captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the HERO12 Black and Lumix G9 II have in-body image stabilization?
HERO12 Black does not have IBIS, while Lumix G9 II has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the HERO12 Black or the Lumix G9 II?
HERO12 Black reaches 15 fps electronic. Lumix G9 II reaches 75 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the HERO12 Black and Lumix G9 II?
HERO12 Black weighs 154 g and Lumix G9 II weighs 658 g, so the HERO12 Black is 504 g lighter.
Do the HERO12 Black and Lumix G9 II record 4K video?
HERO12 Black: 4K up to 120p. Lumix G9 II: 5.8K Open Gate (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the HERO12 Black and Lumix G9 II weather sealed?
HERO12 Black: Yes. Lumix G9 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the HERO12 Black and 390 shots for the Lumix G9 II, giving the HERO12 Black the edge.
How much does each cost?
HERO12 Black launched at $349 and Lumix G9 II at $1,899. The HERO12 Black is $1,550 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way HERO12 Black vs Lumix G9 II vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of GoPro and Panasonic press materials.