I can see where this could be a fun toy for some people but for me it just doesn't match the way I fly. I have a lot of Go Flight hardware so for me the monitor is usually considered as my windscreen. My view to the outside world and not an aircarft interior for the wee folk. I never use the 3D cockpit and only bring up the full 2D when I have to. Most of the time I'm flying with custom mini-panels that give me the basic flight and nav. instruments that I don't have off screen hardware for yet.I tried Active Camera for 2002 and just wasen't that impressed. All I wanted where some additional outside view and eye point options but it had a lot of extra features that I didn't want or need.TonyDigital-Flight

Don't use it.

Don't use it in FS2004, didn't use it in FS2002, never missed it!For my purposes of this kind the default functions are more than enough.Wolfgang

Funny how something like Active Camera2004 is now payware - but an ultimately more useful and dare I say more complicated is AFCAD - still freeware - Take note.Good Job Lee

Those who are addicted to 2D panel don't use it (and will never).Those who are hooked to VC flying will sure love it.Some nice eye candy features (fly by, walk around (much more useful than with FS defaults shortcuts), wing views and so on) but also interesting operational purposes with FS2k4 (mouse clicking, zoom and pan, view presets, AI padlock tracking), and best of all the head movements (real pilots will sure agree).Peter

IMHO, for people who fly in VC mode active camera is a must-have utility because it really contributes to the feeling of being there. For kids who fly in arcade view only & have never been in a real airplane, it's irrellevant.I keep the latency settings very low, but present (the head latency takes some getting used to, but so does the feeling of motion when flying a real plane). The ability to pan with mouse & see ground objects at a glance is essential - as one does in real life.Being able to stroll through the cabin where it's modelled (PM2 Concorde, Beechjet) will appeal to the airliner fraternity.The walkaround is also cool because you can see details that you can't pick with the default view.I love it. It's worth every cent. Wouldn't fly without it.LonelyplanetXO

Nope..It cost me to rent a 172 $77.00 an hour. I say to myself? An Fs add-on or more "Real" flight time? I'll take the "Real" flight time... Although it's a nifty add-on, Im sure lot's of people will love it.

> For kids who fly in arcade view only & have>never been in a real airplane, it's irrellevant.I do approx 50 % or more of my flyinf in VC mode, but never have used active camera and probably never will.I think active camera is more for kids, who do not concentrate on serious flying itself, but on doing vitual tours of the aircraft interior during flying or looking at the own plane from the outside during flying - WOW very realistic!Wolfgang ;-)

VERY well put. I agree with this point of view completely. Why junk up the sim with things that offer inconsistencies and incompleteness?Ken

"I think active camera is more for kids, who do not concentrate on serious flying itself"As in real life I prefer to fly in VC mode, thanks to FS2004 and its interactive 3D cockpits and Active Camera it's much more natural to move, point and click with the mouse. I can zoom with the mouse wheel and use a view preset if I wish to scan my IFR instruments when performing an ILS app. When DH is reached I can still finish my app in visual by calling another preset view.I don't bother with eye candy walkaround in a virtual cabin, I by far prefer to concentrate on the fly, either VFR or IMC from the virtual cockpit.Unless you consider I'm a 48 years old kid with 1600+ hours actual flight time on GA, I think this add-on is made for simmers who want to fly seriously from the VC.Peter.

Tried it in FS2002- didn't like it much.Now with FS9- mostly fly with 2D cockpit(online)-probably use VC less than 5% of the time so won't be buying it...BUT... I think it is a nice bit of software for those who want that sort of thing.This pastime(or hobby- call it what you will) is many different things to different people-so many activities to try ,that's what makes it so much fun.Dave

Peter,I'm 45. My statement, that active camera is soemthing for kids, was only a reaction on the unreflected posting, that 2D flying is just for kids, which actually annoyed me a bit.Some kind of serious flying can only be done in 2D mode or at least can only be done in its best way in 2D mode(think of PIC, Fanda's Dash 8 panel, programming an FMC, strictly IFR flying tec.) Also VCs can be real fps killers, which is a good reason for many low end and mid range sys users to fly in 2D mode.For all these reasons it is just not right, that somebody states, who flies 2d is a kid. Hence my reaction. BTW I put a ;-) at the end of my post.RegardsWolfgang

I used it in FS2002 and liked it a lot. I mostly used it for the fly by mode. I saw that I had to pay $15 for it and decided I would not pay for it. I am sure some genius out there will come up with a free version of their own sooner or later. There is no where that it says we could not create our own version of active camera. As long as they use our their own coding and files. So someday it might happen. If not, well I still have my $15 in my pocket....

i don't either. fs9 is a great,totally troublefree sim out of the box for me. my only add-on is the so-cal megascenery.don

Had the free version is 2002, loved it, when they went payware forget it, it's a great addon but not worth money, I tried the demo and then my num pad on the side, none of the numbers there were views would work and thats when I definetly said forget it!