Camera Focal Length?

[BeachHouse1]

Is there a way to precisely set the focal length for cameras?  

Thanks?
 

[dshall]

11 minutes ago, BeachHouse1 said:

Is there a way to precisely set the focal length for cameras?  

Thanks?
 

 

You would need to look at camera in plan view,  you can see the end of the focal length in plan view,  you can drag that tip back and forth,  so all you need to do is draw a line the length of the required focal length and snap the camera tip to that cad line......  

[BeachHouse1]

Thank you Scott you are always very helpful.  

 

[DzinEye]

Also if you place a camera and open it's DBX you can set it under Field of View

[Kbird1]

5 hours ago, DzinEye said:

Also if you place a camera and open it's DBX you can set it under Field of View

 

FOV is the width of the angular view in degree , not the length to the focal point Dz.

 

M.

[DzinEye]

2 hours ago, Kbird1 said:

 

FOV is the width of the angular view in degree , not the length to the focal point Dz.

 

M.

Correct, but that's essentially what you are changing when you change focal length.  They are inversely proportional.  

[glennw]

Click to place the camera and start dragging out the focal length.

Hit tab and enter the distance - same as drawing a cad line using Tab. 

[Kbird1]

14 minutes ago, glennw said:

Hit tab and enter the distance - same as drawing a cad line using Tab. 

 

There ya go  ... *** TIP OF THE DAY ***

 

it never occurred to me to hit tab with a Camera.

[dshall]

2 hours ago, glennw said:

Click to place the camera and start dragging out the focal length.

Hit tab and enter the distance - same as drawing a cad line using Tab. 

there you go,  the master speaks again.

[DzinEye]

 

13 hours ago, BeachHouse1 said:

Is there a way to precisely set the focal length for cameras?

 

This is interesting !!  

The OP asked about setting focal length and you guys are all talking about the focal point.
The distance from the focal point to the camera does not equal focal length.
All the focal point does is aim the camera and set the distance the pivot point about which it rotates is from the camera.

IF there were an actual focal length setting in Chief, it would change the camera's field of view, and vice versa.  

Anywhooo... perhaps the OP was actually looking for focal point instead of focal length?   Joe?

[Ridge_Runner]

"The focal length of the lens is the distance between the lens and the image sensor [film in the old days] when the subject is in focus, usually stated in millimeters (e.g., 28 mm, 50 mm, or 100 mm). In the case of zoom lenses, both the minimum and maximum focal lengths are stated, for example 18–55 mm."

 

Like Mark says, the "focal length" changes the field of view - think telephoto vs. wide angle lens. 50mm is approx. what the eye naturally sees.

[glennw]

16 hours ago, BeachHouse1 said:

Thank you Scott you are always very helpful.

This is the OP's second post in reference to Scotts suggestion to draw a cad line to the correct length, so it would be safe to assume that he wanted the focal point distance from camera.

Chief refers to this line as the Line Of Sight.