Back-Bone
Back-Bone (Back-Bone Gear Inc., Kanata, Canada) modifies GoPro, Sony RX0, and Insta360 ONE R action cameras into interchangeable-lens systems under its Ribcage brand, selling pre-modified cameras, DIY mod kits, lenses, and filters to professional videographers, VR/360 creators, drone operators, and scientific imaging users via direct e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Back-Bone does
Back-Bone (legal entity: Back-Bone Gear Inc.) is a privately-held Canadian hardware company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kanata, Ontario, that specializes in modifying consumer action cameras so they accept professional interchangeable lenses. Its core technology, marketed under the Ribcage brand, removes the stock lens assembly from cameras including GoPro HERO (Hero5 Black through Hero13 Black), Sony RX0 and RX0 II, Yi 4K/4K+, and Insta360 ONE R (4K and 1-Inch) modules, and replaces it with proprietary modular mounts supporting M12, C-Mount, CS-Mount, Micro Four Thirds (MFT), and various legacy standards (M42, Canon FD, D-Mount, Bolex, vintage SLR). The modifications integrate IR-Cut filters for accurate color reproduction, ND filter sockets, and infrared cold mirror filters for full-spectrum imaging, and are engineered to maintain the host camera's native recording capabilities (e.g., up to 5.3K/60, 27MP stills, HLG HDR, GP-Log on H13PRO; 1-inch Exmor RS sensor with internal 4K on the Ribcage RX0 II).
The company makes money by selling (i) factory-pre-modified cameras (e.g., H13PRO at $849, H7PRO at $499, Ribcage RX0 II at $1,450), (ii) DIY modification kits for self-installation (e.g., the RX0/RX0 II Mod Kit at $399), (iii) branded accessories — lens adapters, IR-Cut, ND, and protective glass filters, aluminum mounting brackets (Sidearm, Sidekick, tripod mounts), Entaniya VR fisheye lenses, replacement parts, and reseller items such as the GoPro Media Mod — and (iv) optional professional installation services for customers who prefer factory fitting. Pricing is openly disclosed in five currencies (USD, CAD, EUR, GBP, AUD) through the back-bone.ca direct-to-consumer storefront, with global international shipping and an authorized dealer network as a secondary channel.
The target customer base is professional and prosumer: cinematographers, VR/360 content creators, drone operators, industrial inspection users, and scientific/full-spectrum imaging specialists who need wide-aperture, telephoto, macro, fisheye, or infrared lens flexibility on a compact action-camera body. Go-to-market is product-led, direct e-commerce, supported by a YouTube video gallery, blog/knowledge base, social media, email newsletter, and Google AdSense. The company has 11-50 employees, no disclosed institutional capital beyond a 2017 Capital Angel Network funding event (amount undisclosed), no parent company, and operates as an independent founder-owned business.
Back-Bone firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Back-Bone
- Legal name
- Back-Bone Gear Inc.
- Website
- https://back-bone.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Back-Bone (Back-Bone Gear Inc., Kanata, Canada) modifies GoPro, Sony RX0, and Insta360 ONE R action cameras into interchangeable-lens systems under its Ribcage brand, selling pre-modified cameras, DIY mod kits, lenses, and filters to professional videographers, VR/360 creators, drone operators, and scientific imaging users via direct e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Back-Bone industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Camera Modifications / Action Camera Accessories
- SIC
- Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Action Cameras & Rugged Cameras (CRACAPAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Lenses & Optical Accessories (Lenses, Filters, Adapters, Teleconverters) (CRACAPAF), Tripods, Mounts & Supports (Tripods, Monopods, Clamps, Action Mounts) (CRACAPAI), Wearable Cameras & Clip-on Tech (CRACAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Back-Bone is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Back-Bone business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Modified Camera Sales: Sale of pre-modified action cameras (GoPro Hero series, Sony RX0/RX0 II) with proprietary Ribcage modifications installed. Customers purchase complete cameras ready for interchangeable lens use. One-time hardware purchase model.
- DIY Mod Kit Sales: Sale of Ribcage mod kits for customer self-installation on compatible cameras. Includes all necessary parts, filters, mounts, and hardware for the modification. One-time purchase model.
- Accessories and Replacement Parts: Sale of complementary products including IR-Cut filters, ND filters, lens adapters, replacement parts, mounting accessories, and camera components.
- Installation Services: Professional camera modification installation services for customers who prefer factory installation over DIY. Offered as an additional service for modified camera purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Modified GoPro Cameras - High-end (Hero12/13 Black) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Modified GoPro Cameras - Mid-range (Hero7 Black) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Modified Sony RX0/RX0 II Cameras |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | DIY Mod Kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mounts and Adapters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Filters and Accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Back-Bone product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Back-Bone modifies compact action cameras (GoPro HERO series, Sony RX0/RX0 II, Yi 4K, and Insta360 ONE R modules) to accept interchangeable professional lenses via its proprietary Ribcage technology, supporting M12, C-Mount, CS-Mount, and Micro Four Thirds standards. The company sells pre-modified cameras, do-it-yourself Ribcage modification kits, lens adapters (including Entaniya VR lenses), filters (IR-cut, ND), replacement parts, and an in-house installation/custom modification service.
Product overview
Back-Bone is a camera modification company that specializes in converting action cameras into professional interchangeable lens systems. The core product portfolio consists of proprietary Ribcage Mod Kits (DIY modification kits) and pre-modified cameras (including Ribcage Modified GoPro cameras from H5PRO to H13PRO, Ribcage RX0/RX0 II modified Sony cameras, and Modified Insta360 ONE R camera modules) that enable use of professional lens standards including M12, C-Mount, CS-Mount, Micro Four Thirds (MFT), and Entaniya VR lenses. The ecosystem extends to a comprehensive range of accessories including lens adapters, IR-Cut and ND filters, protective glass filters, infrared cold mirror filters for full-spectrum imaging, tripod mounts, the Sidekick and Sidearm mounting brackets, and replacement parts. Professional installation services are offered alongside extensive documentation and support resources. The company also sells compatible accessories including GoPro Media Mod and Micro HDMI adapters. Back-Bone's modifications are not waterproof and WiFi/GPS features are typically disabled on slim variants to reduce form factor.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ribcage: Brand name for Back-Bone's camera modification kits and modified cameras, including Ribcage Mod Kits, Ribcage RX0, Ribcage RX0 II, Ribcage H5PRO, H7PRO, H12PRO, H13PRO modified cameras
Products and services
- Ribcage Modified GoPro HERO Cameras
Companies that use Back-Bone
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Back-Bone technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Back-Bone partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Back-Bone competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Metabones: Specializes in high-quality lens mount adapters enabling interchangeable lens use across camera systems (E-mount, EF, MFT, PL). Highly comparable to Back-Bone's adapter-driven value proposition of letting users pair third-party lenses with native camera platforms.
- SmallRig: Manufactures camera cages, mounts, tripod adapters, and modular accessories for action and cinema cameras (including GoPro-specific mounting solutions). Operates in the same accessory ecosystem as Back-Bone with overlapping mounting/bracket product lines.
- Fotodiox: Pro-lens adapter specialist offering M42, C-Mount, CS-Mount, and vintage lens adapters for cinema and DSLR cameras. Directly comparable to Back-Bone's Ribcage adapter family enabling C-Mount, M12, MFT, and other lens standards.
- Wooden Camera: Designs premium professional camera accessories including mounting plates, support rigs, and specialty brackets for cinema and action cameras. Comparable to Back-Bone's Sidekick and Sidearm mount systems for GoPro/Insta360.
- Tilta: Designer and manufacturer of camera rigs, cages, and accessory ecosystems for cinema and hybrid cameras. Overlaps with Back-Bone on action camera cage and mounting hardware, targeting the same creator/filmmaker customer base.
- Freefly Systems: Makes cinema gimbals, camera mounting solutions, and Wave/ALTA stabilized camera platforms. Operates in the same professional action/cinema camera accessory space as Back-Bone, particularly relevant for drone and stabilized shooting integrations.
Broad incumbents
- GoPro: Incumbent manufacturer of the Hero action camera line that Back-Bone modifies. As the dominant platform Back-Bone builds on, GoPro represents both a critical supply dependency and the closest competitive incumbent in the broader action camera space.
- Insta360: Manufacturer of modular action cameras (ONE R) and 360° cameras that Back-Bone modifies with interchangeable lens kits. A platform partner and adjacent incumbent in the consumer/prosumer action camera market.
- DJI: Makes the Osmo Action line of stabilized action cameras competing with GoPro/Insta360, plus FPV drones and cinema cameras (Ronin). A broad incumbent competing for Back-Bone's target creator economy with first-party stabilized imaging solutions.
Emerging players
- Entaniya: Maker of extreme wide-angle (220°-280°) fisheye lenses specifically for VR/360 content creation, sold and integrated by Back-Bone. A niche partner/peer in the VR/360 imaging ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Back-Bone social profiles
Digital presenceBack-Bone financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Back-Bone leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Back-Bone funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Back-Bone M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Back-Bone
What does Back-Bone do?
Back-Bone modifies compact action cameras (GoPro HERO series, Sony RX0/RX0 II, Yi 4K, and Insta360 ONE R modules) to accept interchangeable professional lenses via its proprietary Ribcage technology, supporting M12, C-Mount, CS-Mount, and Micro Four Thirds standards. The company sells pre-modified cameras, do-it-yourself Ribcage modification kits, lens adapters (including Entaniya VR lenses), filters (IR-cut, ND), replacement parts, and an in-house installation/custom modification service.
Is Back-Bone a public or private company?
Back-Bone is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Back-Bone founded?
Back-Bone was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Back-Bone based?
Back-Bone is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Back-Bone make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Modified Camera Sales are the primary driver. The others are DIY Mod Kit Sales, accessories and Replacement Parts and installation Services.
Who are Back-Bone's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Metabones, SmallRig, Fotodiox, Wooden Camera, Tilta and Freefly Systems. Broad incumbents are GoPro, Insta360 and DJI. Entaniya is listed as an emerging player.
Does Back-Bone have an API?
No public API is recorded for Back-Bone.
What industry is Back-Bone in?
Back-Bone's product category is Camera Modifications / Action Camera Accessories. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAPAC, Action Cameras & Rugged Cameras, with a secondary code of CRACAPAF, Lenses & Optical Accessories (Lenses, Filters, Adapters, Teleconverters). Its SIC code is 3861.