Field of View
Calculate the horizontal, vertical and diagonal angle of view for a lens and sensor.
About Field of View
The angle of view grows as the focal length shrinks, and the effective sensor size from the crop factor determines each axis. Knowing the angle of view helps you predict how much of a scene fits the frame before you raise the camera.
Formula
Field of View
Angle = 2 x atan(sensor / (2 x focal length))
- sensor
- Effective sensor width or height in millimeters
Worked example
With the default values below, Field of View returns Horizontal Angle of 37.8. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Focal lengthminimum 1
- 35
- Crop factorminimum 0.5
- 1.5
Results
- Horizontal Angle
- 37.8 deg
- Vertical Angle
- 25.8 deg
- Diagonal Angle
- 44.8 deg
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Field of View
- 3Horizontal Angle= 37.8 deg
- 4Vertical Angle= 25.8 deg
- 5Diagonal Angle= 44.8 deg
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Field of View calculated?
Angle = 2 x atan(sensor / (2 x focal length)) The angle of view grows as the focal length shrinks, and the effective sensor size from the crop factor determines each axis.
Why does Field of View matter?
Knowing the angle of view helps you predict how much of a scene fits the frame before you raise the camera.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 2 inputs: Focal length, Crop factor. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.