Camera Field of View (FoV) Guide
Field of View (FoV) and Angle of View (AoV), are deceptively complex. At their most basic, they simply describe what the camera can "see" and seem self-explanatory. However, when analyzing images, comparing cameras or projecting quality, subtleties in these calculations can have a big impact.
In this tutorial, we examine:
- Specifying Field of View And Angle Of View
- Other Field of View Terms
- Calculating Field of View
- FoV Width vs. Coverage Area
- Measuring / Comparing FoV
- Field of View vs. Target Distance
- Field of View Requires Distance Notation
- Field of View vs. Lens Length
- Field of View vs. Imager Size
Specifying ***** ** ****- **** **. ***
***** *** *** ****** ***** **** to *********** ***** ** ****:
- **** (********** ***** ** ****): *** width ** *** ***** ** * specific *****, *.*. ***' **** ** 50' ********. **** ** ********** ****** referred ** ** ***.
- *** (***** ** ****): *** *****, measured ** *******, ** *** ******'* coverage ****.
***** ***** *** ***** **** ***************, but *********** ***** ** ********* ******.
Other ***** **** ******
***** *** *** ***** ***** ********* used ** ******** ****** ***/***:
- ******** ***** ** **** (****): ******** from *** "******" ** "***" ** the *****, **********.
- ******** ***: *** ***** ** **** measured **** ****** ** ****** ** a ******'* *****, *** ******** ****.
***** *** ***** *** ********* ****** in ****** *** **** **************, *** are *** *************** **** **** ** AoV.
Calculating ***** ** ****
*** ***** **** ** *********** * camera’s *** ** ******* (°). *** key ****** **** ** **** ******. The ****** *** ****, *** ******** the *** / **** *** ****** can ***. *** ********* *** *********** lens ****** *** *** ***** ** view **** ******.
*********** ****** *** ** ******** ***** the **** ****** **********. *** ********** allows ***** ** ****** ****** **** real ****** *** ****** *** *** AoV. *** *******, *** ********* ***** compares ***°, ***°, **°, *** **° angles ** ****, ******* *** ********** in *** ******'* ***** ** **** at **** *****.
*** ****, ****** *********** ** **** ********** ******** **** ** *****. **** you ********** **** ******, *** *** calculate ******** *** **** **********.
FoV ** **** *******
*** ** ********* ********* ** ***** the ********** ********* ****, *.*., *** HFoV ** ***' ** **'.
*******, ******* ** *** **** ****** the ***** **** ******** ** ** the ******. *** ********, *** *** HFoV ** ****, *** *** **** is ******* **. *********, ******** *** HFoV *** *** **** ********* ** 400%.
*****, ******* * ***° ** **° angle ** **** ** * ******* lot. ****** **** *** **** ******* by **:
Measuring / ********* ***
*** **** ****** *** ******* ** see ** ********* ******* **** ********* FoVs. **** ** *** ******* *** identical *** *** ******* ** *** same ******, *** ****** **** *** wider *** **** ****** "****" ***** than *** ***** ***. *** *******, the *** ******* ***** *** **** 1080p, *** *** ***** **** "*****" than *** *****, **** ****** ******* of *** *******:
*** ****** ***** *** ******* ****** so ********* ** **** **** **** vastly ********* ****** ** ****. ****** A *** * ****** ~**° ***, while ****** * **** * ***** ~98° ***, ******** * **** ******* area:
******* **** ************ ***** ********* ** differences **** ** ******* **** ***** ******* ****** ****** than ***********. *** *****, ****** **** simply **** *** ********* ******* ** two ********* ***** *** *** ****** that *** *** ** *** ******* are *** ****.
**** ******* ******* ** ******* ** vendor *************, ***** ** **** ****** be ************ ** ** *** **** least **** ** **** ** ** cannot ** *******.
Field ** **** **. ****** ********
*** ******* * ******* ** **** a ******, *** ***** *** ***** is ** **** *****. *** ***** of **** ** ********, *** *** width ** **** / ****** ********* as *** ***** ******* **** *** camera.
**** ** * ************ ***. *** can *** ** ********** ** *** image *****, ** *** ******* ***** further **** *** *******, *** *** width ******:
****'* ** ******** **** **** ************ the **** ********* / *****:
*** ***** ************ *** ************ ******* distance *** ***** ** **** ***** using ******* ****** **********:
FoV ***** ******** ******** ********
******* *** ******* ** ******** ******** or **** **** **** *******, ***** key ******* **** ** **********:
- ***** ** ** ****** *** *****. While ****** ***** ***** ****, ** is * ********* ********** ******* *** must **** ***** ** *** *** a ****** **. ****** ****** *** "FoV ***** ** *" ** **********.
- ** ****** *** *** *****, *** must **** *** *******'* ******** **** the ******. ** ******** ****** ****, say "*** *** ******** ** * **** *** ******."
- **** **** *** ********** *** ******** point **** **** *** ****** *** wants ** *******. ** **********, **** will ** *** ****** *** *** the **** ****** ** **** ******** delivering ********** *******. ** ********* ** the *** ** *** ****, ****** ** * *********.
Field ** **** ** **** ******
*** **** **** * ******* **** length ******** *** ***, ** **** accelerates *** **** *** *** ********* as *** *******’* ******** **** *** camera *********. ***’* ******* *** ******* examples, * *******/********* ****** *** * super ********* **** ** **** **** principle ** ******:
*** * *** / ******* ******, every * **** * ******* ** further **** *** ******, *** *** increases ~* **** (** *** *** is *** ********* ** * ******). In **** ** ****, *** *** is **** **** ** **** ****.
** ********, *** * ***** ********* lens, ***** * **** * ******* is ******* **** *** ******, *** FoV *** **** ******** *** **** or ******* ** * ****. ******* of ****, * ******* *** ** 10 **** ****** ******* **** **** a **** ******* *** **** * super ********* **** *** ****** ******* detail ********. **** ** ***** ******** of *** ******* / *** ******.
******* ** **** ****:
- ** **** ******* **** ******* ** super **** ***** ****** ** *** FoV **** ****** *******, ********* ******* details ****** ***** **** *****.
- ***** ***** ********* ****** ******* * FoV ***** **** ******* ******, ******* depth ** ***** (***) ******* * big ****. **** **** **** ***** deliver *** ********* **** *** ***** be *** ** *****. *** ******** ** ***** ******** *** *******.
Field ** **** ** ****** ****
****** **** **** ******* ***. *******, in ********, *** ************, **** ** typically *** * ***** ****** ** variances ***** ****** ***** **** ** be ******.
** ** ***** ***********, *** ****** the ******, *** ***** *** *** will **, ********** **** ***** *****. This ** ******* **** ** *************** ****** ****** *********** *** ** ************ **** ** our****** **********.
Test **** *********
******** * ******** *******!
* *** ** ****** ***'* ******** it **** ******** *** ******'* ************ height ******** ** *** ***** ******.
***** ******* *** * ****** ***** from *****, *** * ******** * bit **** **** **** ********* **** imager **** ** *** * ***** factor ** *********** ***"** ********* ***** ****** ***** **** to ** ******".***** ** ** **** **** *** variances *** ****** *** *** **** inconsequential, ** ****** ** ******* **** there ** ** ******.
**** *** ******* *** ****** ****** sizes ******** ** *******; *** */*.*" imager ***** ***** ** ***** ******* and *** */*.*" ****** ***** ***** in ** *******. ** ******, **** doesn't ***** *** ****** **** *** manufacturers, *** ***** *** ****** ******. The ***** ******* **** ********* ** mm ** ******* **** ***** **** inconsequential ** ***** ********** ** *** is *.**** *** *** ***** ** 10.16mm, ************, *** ***** *** * real ******.
* ****** ******* ** *** ************ in ****** *** ***** ** ***** a ****** ** ***** **, **'* fairly **************. *** = ****** **** divided ** ******* ******** ****** ********* by ********.
**, ** *** *** ********** ** capture * ****** ******* **** ** entry *** *** **** ** * foot ******** ****** *** *** ******** is ** **** ****, *** *********** looks **** ****...
1/2.8" ******
*.**** ******* ** ****** (* ****) multipled ** ****** (** ****) = 22.71mm ****
1/2.5" ******
**.**** ******* ** ****** (* ****) multipled ** ****** (** ****) = 25.45mm ****
*** ***** ******* *** ******** ** covered **** * ******** ***-**** ********* lens **** *** **** ** **** cameras ********. *** ****** *******, *******, cannot ** ******* ** * ***-**** lens ****** *** *** ******* ** sacrifice *** ** **** *** ****** closer ** *** ******. **** *** viable *******, *** * ********* ** being **** ********* *** **** "******" difference.
*** ***** ******* *** ******** ** covered **** * ******** ***-**** ********* lens **** *** **** ** **** cameras ********. *** ****** *******, *******, cannot ** ******* ** * ***-**** lens ****** *** *** ******* ** sacrifice *** ** **** *** ****** closer ** *** ******.
**** ******* ** **** *** ** edge ****. ** *** *** ****** it ***** ** ********** **** **** as *** ***** **, '"********* ***** imager ***** **** ** ** ******".
**, ** *** *** ********** ** capture * ****** ******* **** ** entry *** *** **** ** * foot ******** ****** *** *** ******** is ** **** ****, *** *********** looks **** ****...
** ****, *** *********** ****** ** done *** ********, ******* ** ***** **** ****** ************ ***** ****** ********. *** *******, that's *** ** **** **,***+ ****** models ** *** ********** ** *** don't **** ** *** *** ****** calculations, *** **** **** **** ***** and *** ** ** ****** ** on *** ***.
** *****. **** ****** **** ** definitely **** ************* *** ******* **** my ***** **** ** *** ****** sort ** ******. * **** **** the **** *** *** **** **** have ********* *** * ** **** it.
****. *** **** ********** *****'* **** indoors *** ****'* ***** **% ** my ******* *** *********. **'* ********** still ***** ******* *** ** ********* it ********. *******, **'** ******** ** be ******* *****? *** ***** *** find *** ** ******** ** ********* of ****** *** ***********. **'* ** to ** ************* ** **** ********** what ** ***** *** *** ** apply ** *********. **** ***** *** be ***** **********, *** ** ********* aren't ******* ** *** **** ***** they *** **** *** ************ ** hand *** *********** **** ******** ********** them.
*** **** ********** *****'* **** ******* and ****'* ***** **% ** ** cameras *** *********.
*** ********** ***** *******. ** *** don't **** *** *** ** ***, that's ****, ********** ***** ******. *** *** ****** ** ***** below:
*** ** *** **** ***** ******* and ******** ** * ***,*** * *********.
**'* ********** ***** ***** ******* *** to ********* ** ********.
******, **'* ***** ******* ****'* *** we ***** **** ** *** *****.
**** ***** *** ** ***** **********, but ** ********* ****'* ******* ** use **** ***** **** *** **** the ************ ** **** *** *********** they ******** ********** ****.
**, **** *** ** ***** ** very *********** ** ******** ********* ***** metrics **** ****. *** *** **** run *** **** ** ***** ***** since ***** ********* ** ********* *** abstractly ***** ** *** ***** ************ specifications.
1/2.8" ******
*.**** ******* ** ****** (* ****) multipled ** ****** (** ****) = 22.71mm ****
1/2.5" ******
**.**** ******* ** ****** (* ****) multipled ** ****** (** ****) = 25.45mm ****
***, *** ***’* **** ******* */*.*” to ** *** *** **** ** calculations. *** * ******* ** *******.
**** * ***'* *** ** *** lens *********** ** ** **** ** coverage. ** *** ****** ******** ** the **** ** *** ******** ** suppoed ** **** *** ******* ***, how **** ** *** ******* *** is ****** *** ***** ** ****? Vertical *** ********** ************ *** **** important.
**** ** **** ** ** ***** line *******. ******* - *** ****** is ******* ** **' *** *** ground, *** ****** ** *** ****** view ** **' **** *** ****, if *** ****** ** ** ******** mode, *** * **** ** ***, how *** *** **** *** ****** provide **** ********** ***** *** *********** lens, *** **** ******** ***** ** I ***** *** ****** ** ******* the ******* ****?
* **** *** ********** *** **** look ** *** **** *** ****** accordingly. *** * **** ** ** the ************ ***** ** **** ** make **** **** * **** *** proper ********** ****** *** **** **** to ******* *** ******** ***** ** view.
**** *********** *** *** *****? **'* in ***** *** *'** **** ****.
*** ****** ********** ****** ***** **** calculation, ***** ** ****** ****** (*** high *** *** ****** ** ** installed) *** ***** ****** (*** *** of *** ******'* ********** ***** ** view):
Enabling ***** ***** ** ***
***** ***** *** ********* *** *** can ** ******* ** *** *** cameras. *** ******* ****** ****** ** set ** ** **** ** ~* meters. ***** ****** (*** ** *** camera ***** ** ****) ** **** set ** ** **** ** *******.
**, *’* ********. ***’* *** **** angle *** ***** ******* *** ****** plane *** *** ******?
**** *** **** ** *, *** the ****** ***** ** ** ******** down:
*** ********** ******* **** ** *** top **** ** *** *** ******** to *** *******/********** **** ** *** height ** *** ******.
*** ********** ******* **** ** *** top **** ** *** *** ******** to *** *******/********** **** ** *** height ** *** ******.
**, *** ** * ********* ******, how ** *** ** *** **** information ** ***** ***** ******?
** *** ***** * *** ****** the ***** ** ***** *** ****** lies, *** ***** ** ***** ****** make ******* *********** **** *** *************, with *** ********** **** ***** ** 0 ****** ****.
*** **** *** **** *** **** to ***** *** ****** ***** **** tilt *****?
*** ********** ******* **** ** *** top **** ** *** *** ******** to *** *******/********** **** ** *** height ** *** ******.
*** ** ******* *** ***** ****, but **** ****** ** **********, *** you ****** **** **** *** ********** considers *** “**** *****” ** ********* than *** ******** ******* **********?
** ** *******, *** ****** *** dual ****** **** ****:
***** ** ****** ******* *** ******, the ****** *********** *******, *********** *** optimal ** ******** ****** ******* **** ~6° ** ~**°. ** ***** **** missed ***** ***** ******** ** ****** lit ******.
** *** * ****** ******** **** that ******* ********* **** *** ** plugged **** *** ********** ******** **?
**** (********** ***** ** ****): *** width ** *** ***** ** * specific *****, *.*. ***' **** ** 50' ********. **** ** ********** ****** referred ** ** ***.
*** (***** ** ****): *** *****, measured ** *******, ** *** ******'* coverage ****.
** ** *****, **** ** ***** refer ** ********** ************, *** *** that *** ********* ** ******** ****, and ***** ** * ******** *** diagonal *** ** **** **** **** in ****.
** ** *** ****, *** ** critical. **** ******* ********** *** **** helpful.
***** ****** **** ****. *** **** is ***** **********. *** ***** *** the ****, ********* *** **** ****** for *** ********* *** ****, ****, you ***'* *** *** **** *** want ******* *** **** ****'* ****** and *** ****'* ***** **** **** of *** ****** *****. *** ** issue **** ** *** **** *** sometimes ** **, ********** ** *** camera ** ******* ** * ***** that ** ****** *****. **** ****** manufacturers **** **** ** ***** **** sheets *** **** ***'*.