Field of View Calculator
Calculate the field of view (FOV) for any camera and lens combination. Enter the sensor size, focal length, and working distance to get horizontal, vertical, and diagonal FOV in both angular degrees and linear units. Perfect for photography, CCTV, and optical system design.
What Is Field of View?
Field of View (FOV) is the extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment through a camera lens. It is determined by two main factors: the focal length of the lens and the sensor size of the camera. A shorter focal length (wide-angle lens) produces a larger field of view, while a longer focal length (telephoto lens) produces a narrower field of view.
Field of view can be expressed in two ways:
- Angular FOV: The angle (in degrees) that the lens can capture, measured horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
- Linear FOV: The physical width, height, or diagonal distance that is captured at a specific working distance from the lens.
How Does the Field of View Calculator Work?
The calculator uses the standard rectilinear lens formula:
Angular FOV: θ = 2 × atan( d / (2 × f) )
Where:
θ = Angular field of view (in degrees)
d = Sensor dimension (width, height, or diagonal)
f = Focal length
Linear FOV: L = 2 × WD × tan( θ / 2 )
Where WD is the working distance from the lens to the subject.
The calculator also computes the crop factor relative to a full-frame (35mm) sensor, which has dimensions 36mm × 24mm.
Why Use This Field of View Calculator?
- Accurate Calculations: Uses the standard optical formulas for rectilinear and fisheye lenses.
- Sensor Presets: Quickly select common sensor sizes (Full Frame, APS-C, M4/3, 1", 1/2.3").
- Visual Diagram: A schematic diagram shows the relationship between the lens, sensor, and FOV.
- Multiple Results: Get horizontal, vertical, and diagonal FOV in both angular and linear units.
- Free & Private: No registration, no data storage.
❓ Field of View Calculator FAQ
What is field of view in photography?
Field of view (FOV) is the observable area that a camera lens can capture at a given distance. It is determined by the focal length of the lens and the size of the camera's sensor.
How do I calculate field of view?
Use the formula: θ = 2 × atan( d / (2 × f) ), where d is the sensor dimension and f is the focal length. This calculator does the math for you automatically.
What is the difference between angular and linear FOV?
Angular FOV is the angle (in degrees) that the lens captures. Linear FOV is the physical width (in meters or feet) that is captured at a specific working distance. Both are useful for different applications.
What is a crop factor?
Crop factor is the ratio of a full-frame sensor (36×24mm) to the sensor being used. A crop factor of 1.5x means the sensor is 1.5 times smaller than full-frame, effectively "cropping" the image.
What is the difference between rectilinear and fisheye lenses?
Rectilinear lenses project straight lines as straight lines (standard). Fisheye lenses project straight lines as curved (barrel distortion), giving a wider FOV but with distortion. The calculator uses different formulas for each.
How does focal length affect field of view?
Shorter focal lengths (e.g., 24mm) provide a wider field of view, while longer focal lengths (e.g., 200mm) provide a narrower field of view. FOV is inversely proportional to focal length.
What is the field of view of a 50mm lens on full frame?
A 50mm lens on a full-frame sensor (36×24mm) has a horizontal FOV of approximately 39.6°, vertical FOV of 27.0°, and diagonal FOV of 46.8°.
What is the field of view of a 50mm lens on APS-C?
On an APS-C sensor (23.6×15.7mm), a 50mm lens has an effective focal length of ~75mm (1.5x crop), with a horizontal FOV of approximately 26.6°, vertical FOV of 17.9°, and diagonal FOV of 31.7°.
What is the field of view of a 24mm lens on full frame?
A 24mm lens on a full-frame sensor has a horizontal FOV of approximately 73.7°, vertical FOV of 53.1°, and diagonal FOV of 84.1°.
What is the field of view of a 200mm lens on full frame?
A 200mm lens on a full-frame sensor has a horizontal FOV of approximately 10.3°, vertical FOV of 6.9°, and diagonal FOV of 12.3°.
What is the formula for calculating angular FOV?
The formula is: θ = 2 × atan( d / (2 × f) ), where d is the sensor dimension (width, height, or diagonal) and f is the focal length. The result is in radians; multiply by 180/π to get degrees.
What is the formula for calculating linear FOV?
The formula is: L = 2 × WD × tan( θ / 2 ), where WD is the working distance and θ is the angular FOV. This gives the physical width (or height) of the scene at that distance.
What is a full-frame sensor?
A full-frame sensor has dimensions of approximately 36mm × 24mm, the same as a 35mm film frame. It is the reference size for calculating crop factors.
What is an APS-C sensor?
APS-C sensors are smaller than full-frame, typically around 23.6mm × 15.7mm (Nikon DX) or 22.3mm × 14.9mm (Canon). They have a crop factor of ~1.5x or ~1.6x.
What is the difference between FOV and AOV?
Field of View (FOV) typically refers to the linear dimensions (e.g., width in meters). Angle of View (AOV) refers to the angular dimensions (e.g., degrees). They are often used interchangeably.
Can I use this calculator for CCTV camera selection?
Yes. This calculator is ideal for CCTV camera selection. Enter the sensor size (often 1/2.8", 1/3", etc.), focal length, and working distance to determine the field of view for surveillance applications.
What is the working distance?
The working distance is the distance from the lens (or sensor plane) to the subject or object being viewed. It is used to calculate the linear field of view at that distance.