After having used Active Camera in FS 2002 and having just purchased it for FS9, I have to wonder who isn't using it. Being able to use the mouse for the virtual cockpit (and all other views, of course), I find it indispensable. And don't forget the head latency effect. It almost makes me sick sometimes. Enough blabbing here...it is in my opinion the best addon for getting the 'feel' of flying that I'm aware of. Any thoughts? Greg in KAVLp.s. now where did I put that glass of wine at......

I agree, it was the only must have file when I got FS9, and seeing how much I used it in FS2002 and how great it is, I had no problem paying for it.There are quite a few of those "this hobby should be free" people, so it's a good bet there are quite a few not using it......or still with FS2002.Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.com

I've tried the demo a few times. I keep going back to it, but I wasn't quite sure if it was worth a purchase. There's a lot of features, such as the head latency effect, that I don't really like. The walk-around and fly-by's also do nothing for me. So .. I am left to ask if scrolling and zooming with my mouse--admittedly nicer than the joystick hat--is worth the $15.00, especially considering I could probably use my mouse software to set up a macro for the zooming through the mouse wheel.I understand the amount of work that went into ActiveCamera, but $15 just seems a bit pricey for the few features I would be using. And .. no, I'm not one of those "this hobby should be free" people, but I do believe that the worth of a product is measured by its value to the user. It's up to each of us to decide whether something is worth paying for, and what we are willing to pay.What may push me into the "buy" category is the ability to save preset views. One thing that drives me nuts about many of the VC's is the switches that are hidden by the flight yoke. With ActiveCamera, I can set up a view that looks over the top of the yoke, and then save that to a keypress. See the enclosed screenie that shows what I am talking about. The camera motion moving from the default view to this view is smooth and it feels like I am tilting my head to get a better view.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/45587.jpg

I havent bought it but I think I will. CheersMark

Hi,Well athough it went payware, and got some flak from some people, I think it is one of the best addons for FS.It is the ONLY addon I use all of the time, the only addon that comes close for me is FSnavigator, I would not want to be without these two addons.Dan

Greetings!I bought and installed, but then again deleted, ActiveCamera from FS2004: I did like it very much in FS2002, but the paid version for FS2004 somehow crashes my computer. Pity though: I especially like the head latency effect!As for yokes getting in the way of instruments and switches in VC: it's one of my pet peeves! I would truly wish that developers left out the yoke from their virtual cockpits, because I really don't need TWO: I've got one in my hands (CH yoke), and have very little need for seeing a second one moving magically on the screen! Jaap Verduijn.

Since you asked... I DON'T! I tried Active Camera with FS2002 and wasn't that impressed. When they made it payware - I pretty much forgot about it (and I have no problem paying for quality add-ons). I just don't get it... what does it do? Yeah, it lets you walk all over the place - but I can pretty much do that with the default pan and zoom commands. As for head latency... my neck gives it to me for free as I view my monitor :-). Just kidding, I agree that the head latency effect is pretty cool and it does provide a realistic 'feel'; however I think the 'feel' is more realistic for a passenger casually looking out the window than for a pilot actually flying the airplane.Personally, I prefer 2D panels over the VCs (which probably explains why Active Camera doesn't appeal to me). VCs look cool and they create a pretty believable illusion of being in an aircraft cockpit/cabin; but the gauge presentation is often small and difficult to read. Flying proficiently and precisely requires a good set of gauges in front of you at all times.I think the main reason more virtual pilots don't like the 2D panels is because of the way MS set up the default viewing system. Instead of being able to seemlessly pan the outside view with a hat (or keyboard); most folks only see the USELESS static 2D bitmap renderings of the aircraft interior by default. But there is a solution....Edit the FS9.cfg file:Place the following line under the {CONTROLS} section:pan_in_cockpit_mode=1If you have a hat on your yoke/joystick, start Flight Simulator and go to SETTINGS - ASSIGNMENTS.1) Assign the 'View (pan)' event to the hat switch2) Assign the 'Look forward now (pan reset)' event to a spare button - This allows you to reset your view straight ahead.Try this and use the keypad/joystick to adjust your views in the 2D cockpit. If you like it... let me know. I know it's not Active Camera; but I really like this configuration... and it's free.Regards,Marc

Ahhh marc, but there is so much more to Active Camera than panning around the VC.I find zooming in with the mouse wheel a great help, also panning and zomming in spot mode is made easier using the mouse and mouse wheel.You also get the approach mode, which is great for seeing your good (or not so good landings :)),and the flyby mode, which is a good replacement for the "tower" view, and being able to "walk" around the outside of the plane as well as the inside is a great feature.Like you say, its not for everyone, but for me I think its great.Dan.

I don't.More addons = more potential problems = less enjoyment of what is already a great simulator.David

OHHHHH Yeeesss!One of the truly great addons for FS9. Love it even more in FS9 than the one in FS2002, even if it is payware. Worth every penny!

I'm not such a big fan of the VC in the jets because of FPS drops, but in the payware GAs I liked Active camera because I could go sit in the back and relax during cruise. Then I tried the demo in FS2004.......it caused a FPS drop and kept crashing my computer. I'm not gonna buy it.

The head latency effect only makes you sick, cause it's rubbish: while your vision's bouncing about your body remains still in front of the comp screen, and that's what makes you sick.Stephan

Hi Anthony,"it caused a FPS drop and kept crashing my computer"with FS2004 most 3rd party windows are not properly displayed in full screen mode. In fact the sim doesn't crash at all, it is still running but waiting you close the 3rd party window.In this case you had to revert temporarily to windowed mode (ALT+ENTER).As for the fps drop, it is technically impossible since the principle of AC2004 is simply a translation of the eye point, which does not affect the frame rate at all.

I don't. I tried it in fs2002 and didn't really see the value add. I don't care about virtual walk-arounds and seldom use external views. The head latency effect also causes issues when doing aerobatics.So, in my opinion it is not worth the money.Jon

I don'tI won'tTried it in it's previous guises and didn't like it.Good idea and implementation but it does not do anything for me (personally).pAnmAn