Using GoPro Linear FOV with .gpr RAW Images

You can’t use Linear FOV with GoPro RAW files, but here’s a workaround that lets you get something very close to it using Lightroom.

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If you want to shoot in GoPro’s RAW photo format (.gpr), you’re limited to shooting in the Wide field of view mode. The Linear field of view, which digitally corrects for the fisheye distortion of the GoPro lens, is only available when you shoot in JPG.

But there are good reasons that many people, myself included, much prefer to shoot in the RAW file format offered in newer cameras like the HERO10 and HERO9 Black.

So here’s a workaround that lets you apply linear FOV, or something very close to it, to GoPro’s RAW photo format.

This method uses Lightroom Classic’s Lens Corrections feature.

It’s pretty straightforward to do, but here’s a quick rundown.

Correcting GoPro Lens Distortion in Lightroom

Open the GPR file in Lightroom’s Develop module, as you normally would. In the set of panels to the right, scroll down to the Lens Corrections panel. Make sure that the Profile tab is checked at the top.

GoPro GPR Linear FOV 1

Check the box next to Enable Profile Corrections. So long as you’re using a fairly recent version of Lightroom, it should have GoPro lens profiles built-in and detect them automatically.

GoPro GPR Linear FOV 3

The adjustments to the FOV are made with the Distortion slider. By default, it will start at 100, which results in a field of view similar to GoPro’s built-in Linear FOV. You can see in this example that the horizon has been mostly, but not completely straightened, and some of the image has been cropped from each side.

Even though it’s not perfectly identical, there’s a big benefit to doing it here rather than using GoPro’s own version: you can have control over how aggressively to apply the distortion correction. Simply drag the slider left for less correction or right for more correction. Like this:

Things Worth Knowing

The distortion correction algorithms that Lightroom uses are similar but not identical to the in-camera algorithms of GoPro’s Linear FOV. But they’re similar enough for most uses, and the added flexibility is a bonus.

This method obviously relies on you using Lightroom Classic. Some other RAW processing apps have similar functionality.

If you need to apply the same distortion correction to multiple photos, perhaps shot in a sequence, you can easily do that with Lightroom’s Sync Settings function to apply the settings to multiple images in one hit.

New Model: GoPro HERO12 Black

Released in September 2023, the HERO12 Black is GoPro's newest model.

GoPro HERO12 Black
  • 5.3K60 / 4K120 / 2.7K240 Video
  • 27MP Photos
  • Waterproof to 33ft/10m
  • HyperSmooth 6.0 Stabilization
  • Shoot 5.3K60 & 4K120 video at up to 120Mbps bitrate
  • HDR video up to 5.3K30
  • Horizon Lock keeps level even during movement
  • Take 27MP photos (5568 x 4872 pixels)
  • 1/1.9" CMOS sensor
  • Waterproof to 33ft / 10m, so you can take it swimming, paddling, surfing, or snorkeling without a separate housing
  • Built-in mount point
  • HyperSmooth 6.0 In-camera Video Stabilization creates smooth video without a gimbal
  • Shoot up to 8x slow motion
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David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my travel photography here. I've been shooting with GoPros for years, starting with the HD HERO, and have owned and used every model since. More »

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