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Chapter 19: Configuring and Aiming Cameras
The Align Camera command points a camera at an object only for the current frame. It does not follow an
object if it moves during an animation. To have a camera follow an object, you need to use the Look At
Constraint, which is covered in Chapter 22, “Animating with Constraints and Simple Controllers.”
Setting Camera Parameters
When a camera is first created, you can modify the camera parameters directly in the Create panel as long
as the new camera is selected. After the camera object has been deselected, you can make modifications in
the Modify panel’s Parameters rollout for the camera.
Lens settings and field of view
The first parameter in the Parameters rollout sets the Lens value or, more simply, the camera’s focal length
in millimeters.
The second parameter, FOV (which stands for Field of View), sets the width of the area that the camera dis-
plays. The value is specified in degrees and can be set to represent a Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal dis-
tance using the flyout button to its left, as shown in Table 19.2.
TABLE 19.2
Field of View Buttons
Button Description
Horizontal distance
Vertical distance
Diagonal distance
The Orthographic Projection option displays the camera view in a manner similar to any of the ortho-
graphic viewports such as Top, Left, or Front. This eliminates any perspective distortion of objects farther
back in the scene and displays true dimensions for all edges in the scene. This type of view is used heavily
in architecture.
Professional photographers and film crews use standard stock lenses in the course of their work. These
lenses can be simulated in Max by clicking one of the Stock Lens buttons. Preset stock lenses include 15,
20, 24, 28, 35, 50, 85, 135, and 200mm lengths. The Lens and FOV fields are automatically updated on
stock lens selection.
Tip
On cameras that use 35mm film, the typical default lens is 50mm. n
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