General Question field of view

[worir1]

I was just wondering what is the best fov to have when playing orbiter and what is the most realistic for first person?

 

[MaverickSawyer]

For First-Person, about 20*. Personally, though, I tend to use about 25*-30* for better situational awareness.

 

[SolarLiner]

45° angle is the FOV of your eyes. I use sometimes 50 for better VC seeing, but 90% of sim time is spent in 45° FOV.

 

[Izack]

There's no good answer to that. Small field of view makes for somewhat higher frame frequency, and (IMO) makes large vessels and planets look better, whereas large field of view provides better situational awareness, especially in virtual cockpits, and gives a more 'normal' look to some grounded scenes.

 

[RisingFury]

I usually use between 50 to 60°. I'm no fan of the 3D cockpit and usually spend most of my time in glass cockpit view.

 

[csanders]

The best is what feels the most natural.

A higher viewing angle let's you see more around you. A lower angle let's you see further.

The angle that matches reality depends on how big your monitor is, and how far away you sit from it.

---------- Post added at 10:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 PM ----------

I usually use between 50 to 60°. I'm no fan of the 3D cockpit and usually spend most of my time in glass cockpit view.

Me too.

 

[Cras]

Someone posted a formula on here once that determined the best FoV for you montior size and distance you sit from it.

And I figured mine to be 50. So...I use 50 FoV. And I like it.

 

[worir1]

yeah i use 40-50°. So is 90° first person?

 

[ADSWNJ]

I prefer 90º in orbit, to see more of the gorgeous planet effects (in D3D9 mode of course). I also use 90º on deorbit to keep good situational awareness. I'll pull it down to 20º-30º on docking or runway approach.

By the way - I thought human horizontal FOV was close to 180º, not 45º. I.e. you can perceive things almost at right angles either side of your head.

 

[csanders]

By the way - I thought human horizontal FOV was close to 180º, not 45º. I.e. you can perceive things almost at right angles either side of your head.

FOV is a generally misunderstood thingy.

Total human FOV is about 180.

When looking at the screen, imagine it's a window.

If it takes up 10º of your natural FOV, it should be 10º. If it takes 45º, 45º, etc. (Actually it might be 5º to 10º, etc., because the game is going off of a center to side for the º measurement, so it will be half)

Think about that until you "get it", and FOV will make more sense. If you can't "get it" after some thought experiments, ask more. Someone will be glad to help.

You could perhaps get a protractor and hold the "axis" part to your eye, have one point go to the side of the screen, the other to the middle or other side (again, depending if the FOV goes from center point, or side to side), and check the angle. That should be close to the "natural angle."

This angle will likely be smaller than what it's comfortable to "play" with though. I'm often surprised how small the moon looks at a comfortable playing field of view.

 

[Hielor]

Pretty sure Orbiter FOV is top to bottom, not side to side.

 

[asbjos]

Another thread about this is here: http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=27770

The formula you are talking about is in post number four by "tblaxland"

I used this formula and got 32 degrees.

 

[ADSWNJ]

FOV is a generally misunderstood thingy.

Total human FOV is about 180.

When looking at the screen, imagine it's a window.

If it takes up 10º of your natural FOV, it should be 10º. If it takes 45º, 45º, etc. (Actually it might be 5º to 10º, etc., because the game is going off of a center to side for the º measurement, so it will be half)

Think about that until you "get it", and FOV will make more sense.

Got it + makes sense. I need a 5-widescreen panoramic display with 180º FOV then .

 

[worir1]

i suppose that would work

 

[streb2001]

This was discussed on the old forum. I think the formula is:

FOV = 2*arctan(W/2d)

where arctan = inverse tan function, W = width of monitor, d = distance of eyes from monitor.

On my PC I get FOV about 40 degrees.

 

[orb]

This was discussed on the old forum. I think the formula is:

FOV = 2*arctan(W/2d)

There is the correct formula: <PostID: 363563>

 

[streb2001]

Yes, you are right. The camera dialogue help states that FOV is the vertical aperture. This then makes the FOV on my system 23 degrees which looks a bit too "zoomed" for me. Perhaps I am just accustomed to 40 degrees even though it is wrong.

---------- Post added at 01:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------

ed. formula is thus:

FOV = 2*arctan(H/2d)

where arctan = inverse tan function, H = height of monitor, d = distance of eyes from monitor.

 

[pionite]

You can get a quick FOV estimate using the old astronomy technique of holding your clenched fist vertically and at arms length from you to measure the angle subtended vertically by the screen (ie the FOV). See http://www.oneminuteastronomer.com/860/measuring-sky/

 

[worir1]

thanks for the help guys

 

[streb2001]

You can get a quick FOV estimate using the old astronomy technique of holding your clenched fist vertically and at arms length from you to measure the angle subtended vertically by the screen (ie the FOV). See http://www.oneminuteastronomer.com/860/measuring-sky/

Fair enough. Tip of thumb to tip of little finger at arm's length (25 degrees) is about the height of my screen.

Thanks for that!