DoF Manual

GeoLog Feature Documentation

Overview

The Field of View (FoV) calculator shows you how much of a scene different lenses will capture. Perfect for planning lens selection before a shoot or understanding lens coverage.

What is Field of View?

Field of view is how much of the scene your lens sees:

  • Wide-angle lens (24mm) – Large FoV, captures more scene
  • Normal lens (50mm) – Moderate FoV, similar to human vision
  • Telephoto lens (200mm) – Narrow FoV, magnifies distant subjects

FoV is measured in degrees:

  • Horizontal (side to side)
  • Vertical (top to bottom)
  • Diagonal (corner to corner)

Using the FoV Calculator

Basic Use

  1. Tap Field of View from tools menu
  2. Select your camera (set up in My Gear)
  3. Choose lens focal length
  4. View FoV measurements

What the Calculator Shows

Horizontal FoV

  • How wide the scene is, side to side
  • Most important for landscape composition

Vertical FoV

  • Height of the scene captured
  • Important for vertical compositions

Diagonal FoV

  • Corner-to-corner coverage
  • Total scene coverage

Coverage at Distance

  • Shows actual width/height captured at specific distance
  • Example: At 100 feet, captures 87 feet wide

Practical Examples

Landscape Photography

Planning a panorama:

  • 24mm lens, Full Frame camera
  • Horizontal FoV: 84°
  • Need three shots to cover 180° panorama

Choosing between lenses:

  • Wide 16mm: 107° horizontal (captures entire vista)
  • Normal 35mm: 63° horizontal (tighter composition)
  • Telephoto 70mm: 34° horizontal (isolate distant peak)

Portrait Photography

Studio setup:

  • Full Frame, 85mm lens
  • At 8 feet, captures 3.8 feet wide
  • Perfect for headshots
  • At 15 feet, captures 7.1 feet wide
  • Good for full-body portraits

Wildlife Photography

Subject distance planning:

  • APS-C camera, 400mm lens
  • At 50 feet, captures 3.3 feet wide
  • Good for bird photography
  • At 100 feet, captures 6.6 feet wide
  • Frame large mammals

Understanding the Numbers

Focal Length Effects

Wide-angle (14-35mm)

  • Large FoV (>60°)
  • Captures sweeping scenes
  • Exaggerates perspective
  • Great for landscapes, architecture

Normal (40-60mm)

  • Moderate FoV (~45°)
  • Natural perspective
  • Versatile all-around
  • Similar to human vision

Telephoto (70-400mm+)

  • Narrow FoV (<30°)
  • Compresses distance
  • Isolates subjects
  • Great for wildlife, sports

Sensor Size Impact

Sensor size affects FoV:

  • Full Frame: Widest FoV for given focal length
  • APS-C: ~1.5× crop factor (narrower FoV)
  • Medium Format: Wider FoV than Full Frame

Example with 50mm lens:

  • Full Frame: 47° horizontal
  • APS-C: 31° horizontal
  • Looks like 75mm equivalent on Full Frame

Planning Shoots

Pre-visualizing Compositions

Before arriving at location:

  1. Check FoV for your lenses
  2. Estimate subject distance
  3. Calculate coverage area
  4. Know if you need wider/tighter lens

Lens Selection

For landscapes:

  • Wide angle (16-35mm) for expansive views
  • Mid-range (50-70mm) for layered compositions
  • Telephoto (100-200mm) for compressed mountain ranges

For portraits:

  • 35mm for environmental portraits (wide FoV, context)
  • 50mm for natural perspective
  • 85-135mm for classic portraits (flattering perspective)

For wildlife:

  • 400mm+ for small/distant subjects
  • 200-300mm for larger animals
  • Calculate minimum approach distance

Camera Setup

Set up your gear in Settings → My Gear:

  1. Add your cameras with correct sensor format
  2. Add all your lenses
  3. FoV calculations automatically use sensor size

Supported formats:

  • Full Frame (36×24mm)
  • APS-C (~23.6×15.7mm)
  • Medium Format (various sizes)
  • Large Format (4×5, 8×10)

Coverage Calculator

At Distance Feature

Enter a distance to see actual coverage:

Example 1: Landscape

  • 24mm lens, Full Frame
  • Distance: 100 feet
  • Coverage: 87 × 58 feet

Example 2: Portrait

  • 85mm lens, Full Frame
  • Distance: 10 feet
  • Coverage: 4.5 × 3 feet (perfect headshot framing)

Example 3: Wildlife

  • 600mm lens, APS-C
  • Distance: 200 feet
  • Coverage: 8.9 × 5.9 feet (good for eagle perched)

Tips

Planning:

  • Calculate FoV before buying new lenses
  • Know your lenses’ coverage for common shooting distances
  • Match lens choice to subject size and distance
  • Understand crop factor if switching between formats

Composition:

  • Wide FoV exaggerates foreground, compresses background
  • Narrow FoV flattens perspective, isolates subjects
  • “Normal” 50mm gives natural perspective
  • FoV affects storytelling and viewer perception

Practical Use:

  • Calculate coverage for event photography (know you can capture whole group)
  • Wildlife: determine how close you need to get
  • Landscapes: know if you need panorama or single shot
  • Architecture: calculate if space allows wide enough lens

Common Questions:

  • “Will my 24mm capture this building?” → Check horizontal FoV and distance
  • “How close for a frame-filling portrait?” → Coverage at distance
  • “Do I need a wider lens?” → Compare FoV numbers
  • “What’s my crop factor?” → Check sensor size in My Gear

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