Lens protector
Also known as: lens guard, tempered glass lens protector, lens cap
An extra layer of glass or a cap over an action camera lens that takes scratches and impacts instead of the camera, cheap to replace when damaged.
Updated
What it means
Action camera lenses face gravel, branches, sand, rocks and crashes. A lens protector adds a sacrificial layer: a tempered glass film over the existing lens cover, a clip-on hard cover, or a silicone cap that goes on between shots. When it gets scratched, you replace the protector instead of the cover or the camera.
Some cameras ship with a removable lens cover that already acts as a protector. Additional protectors are popular for mountain biking, motocross, climbing and travel, where the camera often lands lens first.
Caps protect only when the camera is not recording, while glass protectors stay on during filming and guard the lens at the very moment it is most likely to hit something.
How it works in practice
Apply glass protectors in a clean, dust-free place, ideally after a hot shower when there is little dust in the air. Align carefully, press from the center outward and remove any bubbles. Dust trapped under the glass will show in bright scenes.
Use a silicone cap during transport and in a bag full of keys and tools. Remove it before recording, which sounds obvious but is easy to forget when using quick capture buttons.
Carry a spare protector on long trips, since a scratch in the center ruins every shot until it is replaced.
What to watch out for
Low-quality protectors add haze, softness and flare, especially toward the sun. If footage suddenly looks foggy after fitting one, test without it.
Extra glass can trap moisture between layers, leading to fog inside the protector. Fit it in dry conditions and avoid it for diving unless it is designed for water.
A protector that sits slightly off-center or too thick can show up as dark corners with wide lens modes. Check all corners of the frame after installing, and compare a short clip with and without the protector to be sure it is not softening the image.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip cannot remove scratches or haze from footage, so protecting the lens protects your clips. Upload the clean shots from your session, and the AI builds the best moments into one highlight.