In Flight, I missed the way I had set up the outside camera in FSX. Fortunately, what we have known about the Cameras.cfg in FSX seems to largely carry over to Flight.So here is a little refresher on the possible ways to set up the "Free Look" mode.In this camera definition....

[CameraDefinition.004]Title = $Free Look

...look for the Track entry:

Track = FlatChaseLocked

There are four possible values for this entry (that I know of):

• Track=FlatChaseLockedView direction is tied to plane heading, camera movement when panning is immediate.This is the default.
• Track=FlatChaseView direction is tied to plane heading, camera movement when panning is smooth.
• Track=FixedChaseLockedView direction is constant, camera movement when panning is immediate.
• Track=FixedChaseView direction is constant, camera movement when panning is smooth.This is my personal favourite.

While we are at this, you may change the speed of the panning by playing around with the numbers of:

PitchPanRate=30HeadingPanRate=75

Bigger numbers effect faster panning.Now if someone can tell us how to change the direction of the left / right panning, that would be great. I tested negative values for HeadingPanRate without success.

The problem with the reversed L/R panning is a limitation of the LIVE interface, which for reasons only known to some unknown person, require a reversed axis. While we can change the y axis (up/down) we cannot change the z axis (left/right). :fool:

a limitation of the LIVE interface

Wow.... hmmm.... I can not say anything to this that your smiley has not already conveyed. Grrrmmmphhzz.

Wow.... hmmm.... I can not say anything to this that your smiley has not already conveyed. Grrrmmmphhzz.

It may be a limit of the X-Box side of LIVE, but regardless of which, the Flight devs had no control over this part of the action.

Hi,I haven't messed with the "Free Look" camera but In the Spot view Camera I changed the "HeadingPanRate from 75 to -75 and now it works in the way I'm used to.Jim F.

Sorry for the stupid question, but what IS the spot-view camera?I see two entries:

[CameraDefinition.003]Title = $SpotGuid = {blah-blah-blah}Description = This is the description of the spot view.

[CameraDefinition.004]Title = $Free LookGuid = {blah-blah-blah}Description = This is the description of the spot view.

Both views are called "spot view" in the description, but only the $Free Look one seems to be accessible via cycling the different views, or pressing F11.How do you reach the $Spot view?

Hi,[CameraDefinition.003]This is the one I modified and the pan direction is now the other way but I just re-checked the Cameras.cfg and noted the "CycleHidden=Yes" entry so this view wouldn't be displayed in FSX. I don't know what's going on. This warrants further investigation but I don't feel up to it just now.The Cameras.cfg that I edited is in the Flight Folder that's located in the "Microsoft" folder that contains folders for FS9 and FSX. The exact location depends on the OS. In Win 7 is under ..usernameAppdataRoamingMicrosoftJim F.

Hi,I was wrong on so many levels. The CameraDefinition in which I made the change is not even active. I became so used to the opposite rotation that when i made the change I thought the rotation direction had changed. It had not.My apologies to all concerned.Jim F.P.s. I think I responded similarly to a post in another forum (not Flightsim.com) but I don't recall where. If anyone comes across this, please let them know of my error.

I tried to change the initial zoom for outside views. Doesn`t seem to work.Same for repositioning the intial point of view.Anyone know?

*bump*

I tried to change the initial zoom for outside views. Doesn`t seem to work.Same for repositioning the intial point of view.Anyone know?

Additional question: What is the minmum zoom allowed to enter in the xml?

I would like to substitute the Spot view for the Free Look look, but I haven't been able to do it. What I am seeking is the equivalent of the Locked Spot view in FSX. Is it possible to do this? Also, what key cycles the various views?John

I would like to substitute the Spot view for the Free Look look, but I haven't been able to do it. What I am seeking is the equivalent of the Locked Spot view in FSX. Is it possible to do this? Also, what key cycles the various views?

John, by default the $Spot camera is active, and $Free Look camera is inactive and it is this camera that is the equivalent of the Locked Spot view in FSX (smooth transitions are disabled).The operational difference between $Spot and $Free Look cameras is one entry:Track = FlatChaseversusTrack = FlatChaseLockedSo, you can either add "Locked" to the $Spot camera definition, or change the entries for CycleHidden=Yes to CycleHidden=No and vice-versa for the $Free Look camera definition.The default keyboard commands for the Camera Cycle are:F7 (forward)Shift-F7 (reverse)

Thanks! Turns out I was already "Locked" and didn't recognize it...the plane was bobbing around so much. Guess my next step is to tone down my joystick sensitivity using your tutorial.Incidentally, negating the pan rate in FreeLook (to: -75) did not correct my backwards hat switch. Sure would like to get that solved so it's the same as in FSX.John

I would very much like to modify the default "eyepoint" for the "Free Look" Camera. Every time I start a flight or resume a flight, I have to hit F11 to the Free Look view and use the mouse and right button to raise the "eyepont" so that I am looking down the spine of the plane. This view is great for taildraggers and for taxiing on ramps and runways. It also comes in handy for that last few seconds of the landing flare at tight airfields. I use the same view in FSX.I have tied to use the same techniques used by Cub1 to add the "InitialPbh = 8.0, 0, 0" statement to the cockpit view. But nothing seems to happen. Cub1, do you know what the "p", "b" and "h" stand for. There must be a way to set the default camera position relative to the airplane.Has anybody figured this out? I will have to look at the camera definitions in FSX. Have these been documented somewhere?ThanksBrian

I think I stumbled on something. I did a windows explorer search on "camera". I found that the .FLT files that MS Flight uses to "save a flight" have information about any changes you have made to cameras and other things during your flight. From that I found that my eyepoint changes to the F11 Free Look camera were documented in that file. So if you wish to make this change you should append the following statements to the Free Look camera definition in the Cameras.CFG file.// Changes to raise eyepontTranslation=0, 0, 0ChaseDirection=0.0ChaseDistance=37.5ChaseAltitude=5.0If you want to experiment with this, just make a bunch changes... save the flight... then examine the .FLT file for the statements and parameters that apply. Another thing I tried was changing "CycleHidden=Yes" to "CycleHidden=No" for some of the hidden camera views. The two I found interesting and useful are the "Spot" camera and the "Facilities Runway" Camera. The Spot camera is a very much like the the Free Look camera I modified to give a peek at the runway when I wanted it. The Spot camera gives me another Free Look without the eyepoint lift which is better for flying. There is no key assignment for the Spot camera that I can find but, once unhidden, it is always shown after the cockpit view if you use F7 to cycle through the cameras.The Runway camera is real jewel of a tool. It will "look" at all the runways of any airport that you are close to. If you are near Honolulu International, it will result in multiple cameras... one for each available runway... which can generate 4 or 10 or more dynamic cameras... you might find this annoying. However it does not show up unless you cycle through the views. But where it really shines is when you are trying to find one of those little airstrips in the woods. The F12 Top Down View map is not very useful. The little runways don't pop out much. The runway view will always look at the runway as you fly. It doesn't have a key assignment either... but will always display next after the F12 Top View if you use F7 to cycle views.I hope you find this usefulBrian