Lens Field of View Calculator
Calculate camera lens angle of view and scene width
Enter focal length, sensor size, and subject distance to get horizontal, vertical, and diagonal field of view.
Live output
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Reading the result
This setup gives a moderately wide view, useful for rooms, environmental portraits, and general coverage.
Formula: angle of view = 2 x arctan(sensor dimension / (2 x focal length)).
Planning reference
Camera lens field of view for practical setup decisions
This lens field of view calculator helps estimate what a camera will capture before you set up a shot, choose a focal length, mount a CCTV camera, or plan a product photo area. The calculator supports common sensor formats and custom sensor dimensions, so it can be used for full-frame cameras, APS-C cameras, Micro Four Thirds bodies, cinema cameras, action cameras, and industrial camera modules.
Field of view formula
Angle of view is determined by focal length and the active sensor dimension. Horizontal field of view uses sensor width, vertical field of view uses sensor height, and diagonal field of view uses the sensor diagonal.
angle of view = 2 x arctan(sensor dimension / (2 x focal length))
Scene width and scene height are calculated from the angle of view and the subject distance. These real-world measurements are often more useful than degrees when deciding where to place a camera.
Common camera sensor sizes
| Format | Width | Height | Typical crop factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Frame | 36.0 mm | 24.0 mm | 1.0x |
| APS-C Sony / Nikon / Fuji | 23.5 mm | 15.6 mm | 1.5x |
| APS-C Canon | 22.3 mm | 14.9 mm | 1.6x |
| Micro Four Thirds | 17.3 mm | 13.0 mm | 2.0x |
| 1-inch Type | 13.2 mm | 8.8 mm | 2.7x |
When this calculator is useful
Photography framing
Choose a lens for a room, studio, desk setup, real estate shoot, or product table.
CCTV placement
Estimate coverage at a doorway, warehouse aisle, gate, parking bay, or fixed camera position.
Sensor comparison
Compare crop sensor and full-frame setups before changing bodies, lenses, or video modes.
Mounted cameras
Plan macro, tabletop, copy stand, and machine-vision framing before hardware is installed.
Field of view planning guides
35mm field of view calculator
A 35 mm lens on full frame is a common starting point for travel, documentary, street, and indoor photography. Use the focal length presets to compare 24 mm, 35 mm, and 50 mm framing at the same subject distance.
CCTV lens coverage calculator
For fixed cameras, scene width is usually easier to use than degrees. Enter the camera distance to a doorway, gate, aisle, or parking space to estimate how much real-world width the lens will cover.
Crop sensor angle of view
Smaller sensors narrow the view for the same focal length. Switch between full frame, APS-C, Micro Four Thirds, and custom dimensions to compare the captured scene before changing cameras.
FAQ
Is focal length the same as field of view?
No. Focal length is an optical property of the lens. Field of view is the visible angle captured by a lens and sensor together. The same focal length produces different fields of view on different sensors.
Why are horizontal, vertical, and diagonal FoV different?
Camera sensors are rectangular. The width, height, and diagonal are different dimensions, so each produces a different angle of view.
Can I use this for video?
Yes, as long as the active video sensor area is known. Some cameras crop the sensor in certain video modes, so custom width and height values can be more accurate.