Linear lens
Also known as: Linear mode, Linear FOV, distortion-free lens mode
An action camera lens mode that digitally removes fisheye curvature so horizons and buildings stay straight, in exchange for a narrower field of view.
Updated
What it means
Action cameras use very wide lenses, which naturally bend straight lines into curves near the edges. Linear mode corrects that in camera: it remaps the image so lines that are straight in the real world stay straight in the video. To do this it has to drop some of the outer picture, so the field of view gets narrower than in Wide or SuperView.
The result looks more like a regular camera or a phone. That makes it the go-to mode for vlogging, real estate, travel shots with architecture, and any footage that will be cut together with drone or mirrorless clips.
How it works in practice
Many cameras offer Linear on its own and a Linear plus Horizon Lock or horizon leveling option, which keeps the horizon flat even when the camera rolls. That combination is popular on bike handlebars and car mounts, where a tilted horizon would make viewers feel seasick.
Because the correction removes the bulge at the edges, the sense of speed drops. A trail that feels fast in Wide can look tamer in Linear, so riders sometimes switch: Linear for scenic and talking shots, a wider mode for the fast POV runs. Planning that mix before the trip saves a lot of matching work in the edit.
What to watch out for
Linear is a digital correction, so it slightly softens the corners and needs good light to look its best. In dim conditions the combination of crop and stabilization can show more noise reduction smearing than an uncorrected mode.
Some frame rates or resolutions do not offer Linear at all, and some stabilization levels may change which lens modes are available. If you need straight lines at high frame rates, you can shoot wide and apply lens correction in post instead. That route also lets you choose the amount of correction per clip rather than locking it in on the mountain.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip accepts Linear and wide clips in the same order and does not change their lens look. If you film a trip in several modes, the AI still picks the best moments from all of them and edits one highlight to music.