Lens distortion correction
Also known as: lens correction, dewarp, fisheye removal
Straightening the curved lines of a wide or fisheye lens, either in the camera or in editing software, so horizons and buildings look straight again.
Updated
What it means
Wide action camera lenses bend straight lines into curves, a fisheye effect that gets stronger toward the edges. Lens distortion correction applies the opposite warp, pulling the edges back so lines that are straight in reality look straight in the video. Cameras do this in Linear mode, and editors offer the same as a filter in post.
Correction always trades field of view for geometry. Stretching the curved edges flat pushes some of the image outside the frame, so a corrected shot shows less of the scene than the original wide shot, and the corners become slightly softer.
How it works in practice
In camera, correction is quick and consistent, and it combines well with horizon leveling. In post, it is flexible: editors and tools like Gyroflow use lens profiles for specific cameras and modes, and let you choose how strongly to correct each clip. Partial correction often looks most natural, keeping some width while taming the bend.
Correction is most useful for shots with architecture, horizons near the frame edge, or people near the edges, and for matching action camera footage to drone or phone clips in a mixed edit, where matching the look matters.
What to watch out for
The wrong lens profile makes things worse. A profile for a different camera or lens mode leaves wavy lines or stretched corners. Always match the profile to the exact camera, resolution and lens mode, and avoid correcting footage that was already shot in Linear.
Correction also enlarges the edges, which magnifies noise, softness and compression artifacts there. Heavy correction on low-light or low-bitrate clips can look worse than the original curve. Sometimes the honest fisheye look suits fast POV better than a perfectly straight frame, so correct where geometry matters and leave the rest alone. Compare a corrected and an uncorrected version side by side before you commit a whole trip to one look.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip does not change lens geometry. If you want straight lines in your highlight, shoot in Linear or correct the clips before upload, and the AI uses them as they are for your highlight.