Naked GoPro
Also known as: stripped GoPro, GoPro naked board, bare camera
A GoPro removed from its housing and stripped to a light circuit board and lens, so it can fly on small FPV drones while still recording high-quality video.
Updated
What it means
A full action camera weighs enough to change how a small FPV drone flies. A naked GoPro removes the case, screens and battery, leaving the electronics, sensor and lens in a light printed shell. Power comes from the drone battery. The result can be a fraction of the weight of the original camera.
Pilots strip GoPros themselves or buy kits and pre-stripped cameras. Lighter setups let cinewhoops and small freestyle drones carry a real action camera for high-quality footage, typically with stabilization turned off and Gyroflow or ReelSteady applied in post.
GoPro has also released lighter, simplified camera variants aimed at this audience, which avoids the risky DIY work.
How it works in practice
Record with in-camera stabilization off and a wide lens, then stabilize in post using the gyro data. Mount the camera on a soft TPU mount to reduce vibration, and add an ND filter for natural motion blur in bright light.
Make sure the power supply is clean and stable, and that the camera has enough airflow while the drone sits on the ground waiting to take off. Many builds start recording automatically when the drone is armed, which avoids forgetting to press record before takeoff.
Lighter weight improves flight time and agility, especially on small drones where every gram counts.
What to watch out for
Stripping a camera voids its warranty and removes its protection from water, dust and crashes. A naked board is fragile and needs careful handling.
Heat is a constant issue. Without the case and a fan, the camera can overheat on the ground. Power it only when ready to fly, since overheating can corrupt the clip being recorded.
Losing gyro metadata or recording with the wrong settings ruins post stabilization. Check settings before every session and test a short flight first. Keep spare boards or cameras if you fly often, since crashes eventually break them.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip does not stabilize footage. Stabilize your naked GoPro clips with a gyro tool first, then upload the exported files, and the AI cuts the best flying into one highlight.