GoPro Field of View, or FOV, brings different perspectives and angles to the footage. Linear, Wide, SuperView – which one to choose?

In this article, you’ll find a detailed explanation for each GoPro Field of View (FOV) setting and how it affects your footage.

GoPro Field of View (FOV) Explained

Wondering how to setup GoPro Field of View? Then read this article or watch the video below to find out more about it, including what it is, how to choose the right FOV and much more!

GUIDE to Best GoPro Field of View (FOV) Settings

Field of view (FOV) is a setting that determines the amount of visible area captured through your camera lens. In video mode, SuperView FOV captures the largest amount of space, while Linear FOV captures the least.

landscape with 3 yellow rectangles outlining the different viewing angles for each GoPro FOV

Typically, FOV (Linear 90° → Wide 130° → Superview 170°) is determined by the amount of space between the lens and image sensor (the further the lens is from the image sensor, the narrower the FOV). On GoPro’s, the field of view is determined digitally by cropping and scaling the widest possible image.

 

GoPro Field of View Comparisons

Superview

The Superview FOV captures the widest possible angle (170°), providing an action-sports look. GoPro recommends Superview for cycling, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, and motocross.

(shoot Superview in 4k, 2.7k, or 1080p)

Wide

The Wide FOV is great for both general use and action. GoPro recommends Wide for family, travel, cycling, mountain biking, motorcycle, motocross, automobile, hiking, drones, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, underwater activities, and water activities.

(shoot Wide in 4k, 2.7k, 1440p, 1080p, or 720p)

Linear

The Linear FOV is great for non-action shots, as it more closely resembles DSLR footage. GoPro recommends Linear FOV for family, travel, and drone use.

(shoot Linear in 2.7k, 1440p, 1080p, or 720p)

 

What is The Field of View of GoPro 11?

The different Fields of View to capture varying amounts of visible areas through your camera lens for GoPro Hero 11:

Linear

Taking into account factors such as Resolution and Frame Rates as well as various camera settings, the Linear mode offers a more focused field of view. Best suited for non-action shots or scenes, Linear provides a closer look, making it an ideal choice for vlogs, travel guides, and even some drone shots.

Linear + Horizon Lock / Horizon Leveling

The HERO11 also features a Linear FOV combined with Horizon Lock / Horizon Leveling. This mode enables the capture of a wide field of view without the fisheye effect commonly associated with HyperView, SuperView, or Wide. Footage remains incredibly smooth and level, even when the camera rotates in any direction.

Wide

The Wide mode is a versatile option, often used for general and action footage. Perfect for capturing scenic views and various experiences on-the-go, Wide mode also excels in underwater videos and fast action scenes. Combining this mode with high frame rate settings can result in stunning cinematic videos. However, Wide FOV can produce slightly distorted images with a fisheye effect, which can be fixed in post-production.

SuperView

SuperView captures the widest angle, making it ideal for action sports videos such as cycling, mountain biking, motorbiking, and more. This mode does exhibit strong distortion but can also be useful for indoor shooting, like house tours or filming in small spaces. When the goal is to keep the subject in the frame or capture as much space as possible in a confined area, SuperView is the go-to choice.

HyperView

HyperView is a Digital Lens exclusive to the HERO 11 Black sensor. It records video using the full 8:7 sensor to capture a super-tall image while delivering the resulting footage in a 16:9 aspect ratio. In essence, it compresses an 8:7 image into a 16:9 image. HyperView is only available in 5.3K/30/24fps and 4K/60fps and works best when the camera is kept level and the subject remains in the center of the shot. It offers the tallest and widest field of view for ultra-immersive 16:9 video.

Note: The HERO11 does not feature a Narrow FOV, unlike other GoPro models.

price for gopro camera hero 11

 

What is The Field of View of a GoPro 10?

The GoPro HERO10 Black offers various field of view (FOV) options, enabling you to capture different perspectives and framing styles in your videos and photos. The available FOV options on the GoPro HERO10 Black are:

SuperView

This is the widest FOV available on the GoPro HERO 10, offering an ultra-wide-angle perspective. It captures the most expansive view possible by using the entire width and height of the image sensor, providing an immersive, fisheye-style visual experience. SuperView is ideal for shooting action sports, landscapes, and any situation where you want to include as much of the scene as possible.

Wide

Wide is the classic GoPro FOV, providing a broad perspective without the extreme fisheye distortion of SuperView. It is suitable for a wide range of activities and scenarios, capturing a large portion of the scene while maintaining a more natural-looking perspective.

Linear

Linear FOV offers a more traditional, less distorted perspective by correcting the fisheye effect commonly associated with action cameras. This option is great for situations where you want a more natural, realistic look in your footage, such as vlogging, interviews, or any scenario where distortion may be distracting or undesirable.

Narrow

The Narrow FOV provides the most zoomed-in perspective, cropping the image to focus on a smaller area. This option is suitable for situations where you want to emphasize specific details or minimize the surrounding environment in your footage.

Linear + Horizon Leveling

This feature, also available in the GoPro HERO 9, 11 and 12, combines the Linear FOV with built-in horizon leveling. This option helps maintain a straight and stable horizon line in your footage, even when the camera is tilted or rotated, making it perfect for situations where you need to keep a consistent, level perspective.

Please note that the availability of these FOV options may vary depending on the resolution and frame rate you choose for your video recording. To change the FOV on your GoPro HERO 10, simply access the camera settings through the touchscreen or the GoPro App, and select the desired FOV from the available options.

price for gopro camera hero 10

 

What is The Field of View of a GoPro 9?

The GoPro HERO9 Black offers a variety of field of view (FOV) options that allow you to capture different perspectives and framing styles in your videos and photos. The available FOV options on the GoPro HERO9 Black are:

SuperView

This is the widest FOV available on the GoPro HERO 9, offering an ultra-wide-angle perspective. It captures the most expansive view possible by using the entire width and height of the image sensor, providing an immersive, fisheye-style visual experience. SuperView is ideal for shooting action sports, landscapes, and any situation where you want to include as much of the scene as possible.

Wide

Wide is the classic GoPro FOV, providing a broad perspective without the extreme fisheye distortion of SuperView. It is suitable for a wide range of activities and scenarios, capturing a large portion of the scene while maintaining a more natural-looking perspective.

Linear

Linear FOV offers a more traditional, less distorted perspective by correcting the fisheye effect commonly associated with action cameras. This option is great for situations where you want a more natural, realistic look in your footage, such as vlogging, interviews, or any scenario where distortion may be distracting or undesirable.

Narrow

The Narrow FOV provides the most zoomed-in perspective, cropping the image to focus on a smaller area. This option is suitable for situations where you want to emphasize specific details or minimize the surrounding environment in your footage.

Linear + Horizon Leveling

This is a new feature introduced in the GoPro HERO9 Black, which combines the Linear FOV with built-in horizon leveling. This option helps maintain a straight and stable horizon line in your footage, even when the camera is tilted or rotated, making it perfect for situations where you need to keep a consistent, level perspective.

Please note, that the availability of these FOV options may vary depending on the resolution and frame rate you choose for your video recording. To change the FOV on your GoPro HERO 9, simply access the camera settings through the touchscreen or the GoPro App, and select the desired FOV from the available options

gopro hero 9

What is the Field of View on GoPro 8?

The GoPro HERO 8 Black offers a variety of field of view (FOV) options that allow you to capture different perspectives and framing styles in your videos and photos. The available FOV options on the GoPro HERO8 Black are:

SuperView

This is the widest FOV available on the GoPro HERO 8, offering an ultra-wide-angle perspective. It captures the most expansive view possible by using the entire width and height of the image sensor, providing an immersive, fisheye-style visual experience. SuperView is ideal for shooting action sports, landscapes, and any situation where you want to include as much of the scene as possible.

Wide

Wide is the classic GoPro FOV, providing a broad perspective without the extreme fisheye distortion of SuperView. It is suitable for a wide range of activities and scenarios, capturing a large portion of the scene while maintaining a more natural-looking perspective.

Linear

Linear FOV offers a more traditional, less distorted perspective by correcting the fisheye effect commonly associated with action cameras. This option is great for situations where you want a more natural, realistic look in your footage, such as vlogging, interviews, or any scenario where distortion may be distracting or undesirable.

Narrow

The Narrow FOV provides the most zoomed-in perspective, cropping the image to focus on a smaller area. This option is suitable for situations where you want to emphasize specific details or minimize the surrounding environment in your footage.

Please note that the availability of these FOV options may vary depending on the resolution and frame rate you choose for your video recording. To change the FOV on your GoPro HERO8, simply access the camera settings through the touchscreen or the GoPro App, and select the desired FOV from the available options.

price for gorpo hero 8 camera

 
 

 FAQ

Why would you want to change the FOV?

Changing the field of view affects not only the viewing angle (determining what makes it into your shot) but the look and feel of your image (action sports look vs. standard DSLR look).

How do you change the FOV on a GoPro?

Fortunately, newer GoPro cameras offer a solution to remove the fisheye effect by adjusting some settings. By selecting the Linear Field of View (FOV), you can easily eliminate the distortion. Read more: How to Remove GoPro Fisheye Lens.

GOPRO PHOTO FOV: How to Change it

Does changing the FOV change the image quality?

Yes and no. When you shoot in Linear FOV (narrow), the camera does some serious cropping. At lower resolutions (720p), this is hardly noticeable, but on larger displays, Linear footage may reveal pixelation and artifacts.

GoPro Hero 12 FOV focal length

  • Min = 12mm 
  • Max = 39mm

GoPro Hero 11 FOV focal length

  • SuperView FOV (16mm)
  • Wide FOV (16mm – 34mm)
  • Linear FOV (19mm – 39mm)
  • Narrow FOV (27mm)

GoPro Hero 10 FOV focal length

  • SuperView FOV (16mm)
  • Wide FOV (16mm – 34mm)
  • Linear FOV (19mm – 39mm)
  • Narrow FOV (27mm)

GoPro Hero 9 FOV focal length

  • SuperView FOV (16mm)
  • Wide FOV (16mm – 34mm)
  • Linear FOV (19mm – 39mm)
  • Narrow FOV (27mm)

GoPro Hero 8 FOV focal length

  • SuperView FOV (16mm)
  • Wide FOV (16mm – 34mm)
  • Linear FOV (19mm – 39mm)
  • Narrow FOV (27mm)

GoPro Hero 7 FOV focal length

  • Wide 16:9 FOV (16mm – 33mm)
  • Wide 4:3 FOV (15mm – 30mm)
  • Linear FOV (24mm – 49mm)

GoPro Hero 6 FOV focal length

  • Wide 16:9 FOV (16mm – 33mm)
  • Wide 4:3 FOV (15mm – 30mm)
  • Linear FOV (24mm – 49mm)

GoPro Hero 5 FOV focal length

  • Wide FOV (14mm)
  • Medium FOV (21mm)
  • Narrow FOV (28mm)

Wrap Up

So, keep the best FOV on your GoPro as per the requirement for your shots. For example, using Superview FOV with higher resolutions like 5, 3K, 4K, 2.7K, or 1080p is highly recommended if you have a recent GoPro camera like the GoPro Hero 11 Black for shots involving activities like cycling, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, and motocross.

What’s next? Check out our in-depth settings tutorial for information on mastering your GoPro.

 

Thanks for reading!

I hope this guide helped you learn all about the GoPro Field of View (FOV) 🙂

 

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