GoPro’s anamorphic lens is fun, fuss-free, and now available to buy

GoPro is now shipping the new Anamorphic Lens Mod for its Hero 13 Black camera, which allows creators to record in a wider field of view without complex editing. The $129.99 anamorphic lens uses an optical squishing technique to shoot in a 21:9 aspect ratio and capture cinematic-style lens flares, with the Hero 13 Black automatically switching to the corresponding camera mode when it detects the lens has been attached.

The anamorphic lens mod was first announced in September last year, alongside a $100 Ultra Wide lens and a $130 Macro lens that launched with the GoPro Hero 13 Black. A $349.99 HB-Series Lens Collection bundle will be available starting next week that contains all three lenses, the ND Filter 4-Pack ($69.99) for motion blur, and a protective case. GoPro says it will also launch a $699.99 bundle “in Q2” that includes both the HB-Series Lens Collection and the $399 Hero 13 Black.

The Verge’s Vjeran Pavic has had some time to play with the anamorphic lens mod. He’s detailed his initial feelings below alongside some example footage he’s captured during testing.

Hey, Vjeran here. The more I’ve used the anamorphic lens mode, the more I understood its appeal. It’s a fun way to modify your GoPro footage and give them a fresh look. I can see it being a very popular way to add a cinematic look to your FPV drone footage or a new perspective to your action sports clips. I’ve used mine for skateboarding, driving clips and walks on the beach with my dog.

The lens is a bit larger than your other attachments and adds a bit of weight to your GoPro, but not to the point where it would bother me. The front glass element is exposed, so be careful not to damage it. I haven’t had any issues, but I was very careful to cover the lens with the included lens cap when storing it away.

I was very glad to see that the lens mod is also compatible with many of GoPro’s filming modes. You can film in 5.3K up to 60fps and 4K up to 120fps for slow motion clips. I, a videography nerd, was also happy to see you can film in GP-Log in 10-bit. There are no real “gotcha” moments here like there were when the first Max Mod came out with the GoPro Hero 11.

There are two things I wish were better. One of those isn’t a mod issue, but an overall GoPro issue. It was never good at lowlight and that’s where the anamorphic lenses are the most fun. And second, I have noticed that it is a bit on the softer side when you have something close to the lens.