Camera Field of View (FoV) Guide

By: IPVM Team, Published on Nov 13, 2019

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

***** ** **** (***) and ***** ** **** (AoV), *** *********** *******. At ***** **** *****, they ****** ******** **** the ****** *** "***" and **** ****-***********. *******, when ********* ******, ********* cameras ** ********** *******, subtleties ** ***** ************ can **** * *** impact.

** **** ********, ** examine:

  • ********** ***** ** **** And ***** ** ****
  • ***** ***** ** **** Terms
  • *********** ***** ** ****
  • *** ***** **. ******** Area
  • ********* / ********* ***
  • ***** ** **** **. Target ********
  • ***** ** **** ******** Distance ********
  • ***** ** **** **. Lens ******
  • ***** ** **** **. Imager ****

[***************]

Specifying ***** ** ****- **** **. ***

***** *** *** ****** terms **** ** *********** field ** ****:

  • **** (********** ***** ** View): *** ***** ** the ***** ** * specific *****, *.*. ***' wide ** **' ********. HFoV ** ********** ****** referred ** ** ***.
  • *** (***** ** ****): The *****, ******** ** degrees, ** *** ******'* coverage ****.

***** ***** *** ***** used ***************, *** *********** refer ** ********* ******.

Other ***** **** ******

***** *** *** ***** terms ********* **** ** describe ****** ***/***:

  • ******** ***** ** **** (VFoV): ******** **** *** "bottom" ** "***" ** the *****, **********.
  • ******** ***: *** ***** of **** ******** **** corner ** ****** ** a ******'* *****, *** commonly ****.

***** *** ***** *** sometimes ****** ** ****** and **** **************, *** are *** *************** **** HFoV ** ***.

Calculating ***** ** ****

*** ***** **** ** calculating * ******’* *** in ******* (°). *** key ****** **** ** lens ******. *** ****** the ****, *** ******** the *** / **** the ****** *** ***. One ********* *** *********** lens ****** *** *** field ** **** **** desire.

*********** ****** *** ** selected ***** *** **** Camera **********. *** ********** allows ***** ** ****** images **** **** ****** and ****** *** *** AoV. *** *******, *** animation ***** ******** ***°, 120°, **°, *** **° angles ** ****, ******* the ********** ** *** camera's ***** ** **** at **** *****.

*** ****, ****** *********** ** **** ********** ******** **** ** depth. **** *** ********** lens ******, *** *** calculate ******** *** **** **********.

FoV ** **** *******

*** ** ********* ********* by ***** *** ********** component ****, *.*., *** HFoV ** ***' ** 50'.

*******, ******* ** *** HFoV ****** *** ***** area ******** ** ** the ******. *** ********, cut *** **** ** half, *** *** **** is ******* **. *********, doubling *** **** *** the **** ********* ** 400%.

*****, ******* * ***° to **° ***** ** view ** * ******* lot. ****** **** *** area ******* ** **:

Measuring / ********* ***

*** **** ****** *** problem ** *** ** comparing ******* **** ********* FoVs. **** ** *** cameras *** ********* *** are ******* ** *** same ******, *** ****** with *** ***** *** will ****** "****" ***** than *** ***** ***. For *******, *** *** cameras ***** *** **** 1080p, *** *** ***** much "*****" **** *** other, **** ****** ******* of *** *******:

*** ****** ***** *** cameras ****** ** ********* is **** **** **** vastly ********* ****** ** view. ****** * *** a ****** ~**° ***, while ****** * **** a ***** ~**° ***, covering * **** ******* area:

******* **** ************ ***** advantage ** *********** **** as ******* **** ***** ******* appear ****** **** ***********. But *****, ****** **** simply **** *** ********* cameras ** *** ********* times *** *** ****** that *** *** ** the ******* *** *** same.

**** ******* ******* ** looking ** ****** *************, field ** **** ****** be ************ ** ** the **** ***** **** in **** ** ** cannot ** *******.

Field ** **** **. ****** ********

*** ******* * ******* is **** * ******, the ***** *** ***** is ** **** *****. The ***** ** **** is ********, *** *** width ** **** / meters ********* ** *** moves ******* **** *** camera.

**** ** * ************ law. *** *** *** it ********** ** *** image *****, ** *** subject ***** ******* **** the *******, *** *** width ******:

****'* ** ******** **** that ************ *** **** principle / *****:

*** ***** ************ *** relationship ******* ******** *** field ** **** ***** using ******* ****** **********:

FoV ***** ******** ******** ********

******* *** ******* ** subjects ******** ** **** away **** *******, ***** key ******* **** ** remembered:

  • ***** ** ** ****** FoV *****. ***** ****** often ***** ****, ** is * ********* ********** because *** **** **** where ** *** *** a ****** **. ****** simply *** "*** ***** is *" ** **********.
  • ** ****** *** *** width, *** **** **** the *******'* ******** **** the ******. ** ******** define ****, *** "*** FoV ******** ** * **** the ******."
  • **** **** *** ********** the ******** ***** **** from *** ****** *** wants ** *******. ** definition, **** **** ** the ****** *** *** the **** ****** ** have ******** ********** ********** details. ** ********* ** the *** ** *** wide, ****** ** * *********.

Field ** **** ** **** ******

*** **** **** * shorter **** ****** ******** the ***, ** **** accelerates *** **** *** FoV ********* ** *** subject’s ******** **** *** camera *********. ***’* ******* two ******* ********, * fisheye/panoramic ****** *** * super ********* **** ** show **** ********* ** action:

*** * *** / fisheye ******, ***** * foot * ******* ** further **** *** ******, the *** ********* ~* feet (** *** *** is *** ********* ** a ******). ** **** 10 ****, *** *** is **** **** ** feet ****.

** ********, *** * super ********* ****, ***** 1 **** * ******* is ******* **** *** camera, *** *** *** only ******** *** **** or ******* ** * foot. ******* ** ****, a ******* *** ** 10 **** ****** ******* will **** * **** similar *** **** * super ********* **** *** likely ******* ****** ********. This ** ***** ******** of *** ******* / 360 ******.

******* ** **** ****:

  • ** **** ******* **** fisheye ** ***** **** angle ****** ** *** FoV **** ****** *******, capturing ******* ******* ****** their **** *****.
  • ***** ***** ********* ****** deliver * *** ***** that ******* ******, ******* depth ** ***** (***) becomes * *** ****. This **** **** ***** deliver *** ********* **** but ***** ** *** of *****. *** ******** ** ***** ******** for *******.

Field ** **** ** ****** ****

****** **** **** ******* FoV. *******, ** ********, for ************, **** ** typically *** * ***** factor ** ********* ***** imager ***** **** ** be ******.

** ** ***** ***********, the ****** *** ******, the ***** *** *** will **, ********** **** being *****. **** ** covered **** ** *************** ****** ****** *********** *** ** ************ with ** ********* **********.

Test **** *********

******** * ******** *******!

Comments (17)

Shannon Davis

TED Systems
11/13/19 03:23pm

***** ****** **** ****. The **** ** ***** overlooked. *** ***** *** the ****, ********* *** best ****** *** *** situation *** ****, ****, you ***'* *** *** that *** **** ******* the **** ****'* ****** and *** ****'* ***** that **** ** *** camera *****. *** ** issue **** ** *** time *** ********* ** is, ********** ** *** camera ** ******* ** a ***** **** ** really *****. **** ****** manufacturers **** **** ** their **** ****** *** many ***'*.

Rob Dunham

Tailored IT Solutions
In reply to Shannon Davis | 11/17/19 05:28am

* *** ** ****** don't ******** ** **** planning *** ******'* ************ height ******** ** *** scene ******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

11/16/19 10:24am

***** ******* *** * always ***** **** *****, but * ******** * bit **** **** **** paragraph **** ****** **** is *** * ***** factor ** *********** ***"** ********* ***** ****** sizes **** ** ** modest".***** ** ** **** that *** ********* *** modest *** *** **** inconsequential, ** ****** ** ignored **** ***** ** an ******.

**** *** ******* *** common ****** ***** ******** in *******; *** */*.*" imager ***** ***** ** 1080p ******* *** *** 1/2.5" ****** ***** ***** in ** *******. ** course, **** *****'* ***** all ****** **** *** manufacturers, *** ***** *** indeed ******. *** ***** imagers **** ********* ** mm ** ******* **** again **** *************** ** their ********** ** *** is *.**** *** *** other ** **.****, ************, but ***** *** * real ******.

* ****** ******* ** FoV ************ ** ****** and ***** ** ***** a ****** ** ***** it, **'* ****** **************. FoV = ****** **** divided ** ******* ******** height ********* ** ********.

**, ** *** *** attempting ** ******* * person ******* **** ** entry *** *** **** an * **** ******** height *** *** ******** is ** **** ****, the *********** ***** **** this...

1/2.8" ******

*.**** ******* ** ****** (8 ****) ********* ** 6096mm (** ****) = 22.71mm ****

1/2.5" ******

**.**** ******* ** ****** (8 ****) ********* ** 6096mm (** ****) = 25.45mm ****

*** ***** ******* *** arguably ** ******* **** a ******** ***-**** ********* lens **** *** **** on **** ******* ********. The ****** *******, *******, cannot ** ******* ** a ***-**** **** ****** you *** ******* ** sacrifice *** ** **** the ****** ****** ** the ******. **** *** viable *******, *** * sacrifice ** ***** **** somewhere *** **** "******" difference.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 11/16/19 11:46am

*** ***** ******* *** arguably ** ******* **** a ******** ***-**** ********* lens **** *** **** on **** ******* ********. The ****** *******, *******, cannot ** ******* ** a ***-**** **** ****** you *** ******* ** sacrifice *** ** **** the ****** ****** ** the ******.

**** ******* ** **** but ** **** ****. We *** *** ****** it ***** ** ********** just **** ** *** quote **, '"********* ***** imager ***** **** ** be ******".

**, ** *** *** attempting ** ******* * person ******* **** ** entry *** *** **** an * **** ******** height *** *** ******** is ** **** ****, the *********** ***** **** this...

** ****, *** *********** should ** **** *** software, ******* ** ***** **** ****** ************ ***** ****** ********. For *******, ****'* *** we **** **,***+ ****** models ** *** ********** so *** ***'* **** to *** *** ****** calculations, *** **** **** your ***** *** *** if ** ****** ** on *** ***.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to John Honovich | 11/16/19 12:16pm

** *****. **** ****** tool ** ********** **** sophisticated *** ******* **** my ***** **** ** the ****** **** ** method. * **** **** the **** *** *** your **** **** ********* and * ** **** it.

Rob Dunham

Tailored IT Solutions
In reply to John Honovich | 11/17/19 05:34am

****. *** **** ********** doesn't **** ******* *** that's ***** **% ** my ******* *** *********. It's ********** ***** ***** knowing *** ** ********* it ********. *******, **'** supposed ** ** ******* right? *** ***** *** find *** ** ******** or ********* ** ****** FoV ***********. **'* ** to ** ************* ** know ********** **** ** means *** *** ** apply ** *********. **** tools *** ** ***** timesavers, *** ** ********* aren't ******* ** *** them ***** **** *** make *** ************ ** hand *** *********** **** actually ********** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Rob Dunham | 11/17/19 12:14pm

*** **** ********** *****'* work ******* *** ****'* where **% ** ** cameras *** *********.

*** ********** ***** *******. If *** ***'* **** the *** ** ***, that's ****, ********** ***** ******. *** *** ****** as ***** *****:

*** ** *** **** booth ******* *** ******** on * ***,*** * *********.

**'* ********** ***** ***** knowing *** ** ********* it ********.

******, **'* ***** ******* that's *** ** ***** this ** *** *****.

**** ***** *** ** great **********, *** ** employees ****'* ******* ** use **** ***** **** can **** *** ************ by **** *** *********** they ******** ********** ****.

**, **** *** ** would ** **** *********** to ******** ********* ***** metrics **** ****. *** you **** *** *** risk ** ***** ***** since ***** ********* ** calculate *** ********** ***** do *** ***** ************ specifications.

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 11/26/19 01:41am

1/2.8" ******

*.**** ******* ** ****** (8 ****) ********* ** 6096mm (** ****) = 22.71mm ****

1/2.5" ******

**.**** ******* ** ****** (8 ****) ********* ** 6096mm (** ****) = 25.45mm ****

***, *** ***’* **** convert */*.*” ** ** and *** **** ** calculations. *** * ******* of *******.

***:**** ********: **** ** The **** ** ** Of * */*" ******?

Undisclosed Integrator #2

11/24/19 01:42am

**** * ***'* *** in *** **** *********** is ** **** ** coverage. ** *** ****** mounting ** *** **** of *** ******** ** suppoed ** **** *** parking ***, *** **** of *** ******* *** is ****** *** ***** of ****? ******** *** horizantal ************ *** **** important.

**** ** **** ** do ***** **** *******. Example - *** ****** is ******* ** **' off *** ******, *** bottom ** *** ****** view ** **' **** the ****, ** *** camera ** ** ******** mode, *** * **** 60 ***, *** *** out **** *** ****** provide **** ********** ***** the *********** ****, *** what ******** ***** ** I ***** *** ****** to ******* *** ******* view?

* **** *** ********** can **** **** ** the **** *** ****** accordingly. *** * **** to ** *** ************ ahead ** **** ** make **** **** * pick *** ****** ********** camera *** **** **** to ******* *** ******** field ** ****.

Rob Dunham

Tailored IT Solutions
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 11/24/19 10:49am

**** *********** *** *** using? **'* ** ***** one *'** **** ****.

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 11/25/19 03:47pm

*** ****** ********** ****** Blind **** ***********, ***** on ****** ****** (*** high *** *** ****** it ** *********) *** scene ****** (*** *** of *** ******'* ********** field ** ****):

Enabling ***** ***** ** ***

***** ***** *** ********* off *** *** ** toggled ** *** *** cameras. *** ******* ****** height ** *** ** 10 **** ** ~* meters. ***** ****** (*** of *** ****** ***** of ****) ** **** set ** ** **** by *******.

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Sean Patton | 11/25/19 04:48pm

**, *’* ********. ***’* the **** ***** *** angle ******* *** ****** plane *** *** ******?

**** *** **** ** 0, *** *** ****** seems ** ** ******** down:

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 11/25/19 06:43pm

*** ********** ******* **** as *** *** **** of *** *** ******** to *** *******/********** **** at *** ****** ** the ******.

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Sean Patton | 11/25/19 10:16pm

*** ********** ******* **** as *** *** **** of *** *** ******** to *** *******/********** **** at *** ****** ** the ******.

**, *** ** * practical ******, *** ** one ** *** **** information ** ***** ***** camera?

** *** ***** * can ****** *** ***** on ***** *** ****** lies, *** ***** ** angle ****** **** ******* adjustments **** *** *************, with *** ********** **** level ** * ****** tilt.

*** **** *** **** how **** ** ***** the ****** ***** **** tilt *****?

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Sean Patton | 11/26/19 02:41pm

*** ********** ******* **** as *** *** **** of *** *** ******** to *** *******/********** **** at *** ****** ** the ******.

*** ** ******* *** point ****, *** **** trying ** **********, *** you ****** **** **** the ********** ********* *** “tilt *****” ** ********* than *** ******** ******* definition?

** ** *******, *** recent *** **** ****** test ****:

***** ** ****** ******* the ******, *** ****** recommended *******, *********** *** optimal ** ******** ****** ranging **** ~*° ** ~33°. ** ***** **** missed ***** ***** ******** in ****** *** ******.

** *** * ****** downtilt **** **** ******* something **** *** ** plugged **** *** ********** directly **?

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | 11/26/19 02:13am

**** (********** ***** ** View): *** ***** ** the ***** ** * specific *****, *.*. ***' wide ** **' ********. HFoV ** ********** ****** referred ** ** ***.

*** (***** ** ****): The *****, ******** ** degrees, ** *** ******'* coverage ****.

** ** *****, **** of ***** ***** ** horizontal ************, *** *** that *** ********* ** actually ****, *** ***** is * ******** *** diagonal *** ** **** just **** ** ****.

Chuck Vivian

07/24/20 10:39pm

** ** *** ****, FoV ** ********. **** reading ********** *** **** helpful.

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