Shock Mod ND Filters for GoPro Hero 9-13

Impact protection and glare control, built into the filter

Camera Butter Shock Mod ND filters are built for people who actually use their GoPro for action.

The raised aluminum tabs help keep impacts away from the glass while also acting as a small lens hood to reduce stray light and glare. The filter itself is made from Corning Gorilla Glass, with high-quality optical coatings plus nano coatings that repel water, oil and dirt.

The tabs stay completely outside the GoPro's field of view, even in 8:7 mode.

• Raised tabs help protect the glass from direct impacts
• Built-in lens hood helps reduce stray light and glare
• Corning Gorilla Glass optical element
• Anti-glare treatment on the inside helps reduce internal reflections
• Nano coatings repel water, oil and fingerprints
• Fits GoPro Hero 9 through Hero 13

Originally developed for FPV racing drones

The Shock Mod was originally developed for FPV racing drones, where cameras can be travelling at over 100 km/h and crashes into trees, concrete and the ground are part of the job. We wanted the filter to have a better chance of surviving those impacts.

That same protection makes sense anywhere a GoPro gets used hard, from mountain bikes and motorcycles to motorsports and skiing. 

Protection by design

Most GoPro ND filters put the glass right out in front of the camera. The Shock Mod changes that geometry. Its raised aircraft-aluminum tabs extend beyond the optical surface, giving the frame a chance to take the hit before the glass does.

That protects the filter itself, but there is also a much more expensive piece of glass directly behind it: the GoPro's internal lens. A replaceable filter taking the damage is much better than the camera taking it.

The tabs also work as a lens hood

The raised tabs block some off-axis light before it reaches the filter, acting like a small built-in lens hood. Because the geometry is designed around the GoPro's ultra-wide lens, they remain outside the image even in 8:7 mode.

That matters on an action camera. The camera is constantly moving, and the sun can go from outside the frame to right beside it in an instant. Stray light hitting the filter at those angles can cause flare, reflections and a loss of contrast.  

The hood reduces some of that light physically, while the anti-glare treatment on the inside helps reduce reflections between the filter and the GoPro lens behind it.

Unlike a Circular Polarizer (CPL), the Shock Mod reduces glare without relying on a polarizing filter or requiring manual adjustment. It also avoids the uneven darkening CPL filters can produce on ultra-wide lenses and large areas of sky. Read more about reducing glare in GoPro footage.

Using a GoPro Hero 13? There is another advantage.

The Hero 13 Black introduced automatic lens/filter detection.

Camera Butter Shock Mod ND filters work with it.

Install a compatible Shock Mod and the Hero 13 recognizes the ND filter automatically, allowing GoPro's built-in ND modes to work as intended. The camera can identify the installed density, adjust its settings and tell you when the light would be better suited to a different filter.

Very few third-party GoPro ND filters support the Hero 13 automatic lens-detection system.

Note: GoPro does not include ND64 in its lens-detection system. Our ND64 will therefore appear as ND32 on the camera, while still providing the correct ND64 light reduction.

Not just tough. Premium optics too.

The Shock Mod filter itself is made from Corning Gorilla Glass and uses high-quality optical coatings for accurate density, low colour shift and low reflections.

See our ND filter quality comparison and test results →

We hit one with things

The raised tabs are designed to take impacts before they reach the glass, so we tested that fairly directly.

This is not a standardized laboratory test, and the Shock Mod is not unbreakable. It does show why the filter is shaped the way it is.

Available ND strengths

• ND4 for cloudy or lower-light conditions
• ND8 for softer sunlight
• ND16 for typical sunny conditions
• ND32 for bright sunlight
• ND64 for very bright conditions, snow, water or slower shutter speeds
• Master Pack with ND4, ND8, ND16, ND32 and ND64

The ND8 / ND16 / ND32 Multipack covers a useful range for most daylight shooting.

For a more precise recommendation, use the Camera Butter ND Filter Chooser.  If you already have ND filters, get your camera settings exactly right with ND Meter by Camera Butter.

Compatibility

Compatible with:

• GoPro Hero 9
• GoPro Hero 10
• GoPro Hero 11
• GoPro Hero 11 Mini
• GoPro Hero 12
• GoPro Hero 13 Black, including automatic lens detection
• GoPro Bones
• Media Mod
• Most cage-style mounts
• Mounts that use the standard GoPro fingers
• Most TPU mounts that do not fully surround the lens

Not compatible with:

• GoPro dive case
• Mounts that obscure part of the lens area
• Some TPU mounts with a full lens surround

Installation

1. Remove the original GoPro lens cover by twisting it 90 degrees. Pulling slightly away from the camera while turning can help.
2. Place the Shock Mod ND filter on the camera with the raised tabs horizontal.
3. Push toward the camera and rotate the filter 90 degrees until it sits squarely.
4. On the Hero 13 Black, make sure the Camera Butter logo is at the top so automatic lens detection works correctly.
5. Check that the filter is seated squarely and flush with the camera. If it is crooked or can be removed easily, remove it and reinstall it.

FAQ

How is the Shock Mod different from other GoPro ND filters?
Most GoPro ND filters simply reduce light. The Shock Mod also uses raised aluminum tabs to help protect the glass and act as a small lens hood to reduce stray light and glare. It is made from Corning Gorilla Glass, uses anti-reflective and nano coatings, and supports automatic lens detection on the GoPro Hero 13.

Will the tabs show in my footage?
No. The tabs stay outside the GoPro's field of view, even in 8:7 mode.

Does this replace the GoPro lens?
Not exactly. It replaces the removable front lens cover while installed. The camera's actual lens remains behind it, with the Shock Mod providing an additional layer of protection.

Which ND strength should I use?
It depends on the light, your camera settings and how you are shooting. Use the Camera Butter ND Filter Chooser to find the right filter for your conditions.

Does it work with Hero 13 automatic lens detection?
Yes. Compatible Shock Mod ND filters are recognized by the Hero 13 Black. GoPro does not support ND64 detection, so an ND64 will display as ND32 while still providing the correct six-stop light reduction.