Wide lens
Also known as: Wide mode, Wide FOV
The default action camera lens mode: a very wide view with natural fisheye curve at the edges, a balance between immersion and a usable, uncorrected picture.
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What it means
Wide is the middle setting on most action cameras. It keeps the lens close to how it naturally sees, with roughly a 120 to 150 degree view depending on the model, and leaves the barrel curve at the edges in place. Nothing is stretched like in SuperView, and nothing is straightened like in Linear.
That makes it a safe all-rounder. It captures a lot of the scene, shows speed well, and leaves room for stabilization to crop in without losing the context around the rider. Many people never change from Wide, and it is often the mode with the most frame rate and resolution options available.
How it works in practice
Wide works well for chest mounts, handheld walking shots and helmet POV in tight terrain, where you want to see your hands, the handlebar or the trail ahead. It also suits mixed footage because the curve is moderate and most viewers read it as an action camera look rather than a distortion.
If you plan to correct the image later, Wide gives you the most to work with: a lens correction filter in your editor can straighten lines while you still decide how much of the frame to keep. Recording the full-sensor tall format, where available, adds even more room to reframe for vertical social clips.
What to watch out for
The curve becomes obvious with straight lines near the edges, such as horizons, door frames or a ski lift cable. Keep the horizon in the center third of the frame and level the camera on the mount, because a slight tilt exaggerates the bend.
Wide also makes everything look farther away. A drop that felt huge or a wave that looked heavy can appear small in the footage, which is why filmers move closer or use a follow cam angle to show scale. The field of view that feels immersive on a helmet can underwhelm from a tripod.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip handles Wide footage straight from the camera, so there is no need to correct the lens before uploading. The AI looks for jumps, speed and peak action across all your clips and cuts them into one highlight synced to music.