This question is really aimed at being able to take better screenshots or even just vary the view of the Sim as we fly in it.

 

Take for example Carenado's exterior views. They have some very good exterior camera positions but (IMHO) ...very poor zoom. You get a very close, very wide angled shot from most of these views.

 

What I'd like to achieve is a better "focal length" (Not so Wide) with an initial positioning further from the aircraft but zoomable OR trackable (for those unfamiliar with the difference : When you zoom a lens you change the focal length AND the angle which you see the view. When you Track in or out The focal length and the angle of view stay the same but the object you're viewing gets closer or further (bigger or smaller) in the total picture. Sorry to be so pedantic but with anything technical it's best to define terminology frirst?

 

I've looked at the aircraft .cfgs for a default C172 and a Carenado Caravan and "found" the Camera scripts. Some of this looks obvious but if someone can define the precise use of various lines in that script it would be a start to experiment from. I can't believe there isn't a thread about this already but several searches found no results. I even dimly remember a tutorial on adding camera views to your aircraft but my searches on that have drawn a blank too.

 

Having worked out the nuts and bolts adding favourite views or views useful to a specific aircraft would surely be useful to a lot of folk? It would certainly make screenshots more interesting.

 

Any help or advice appreciated.

 

Geoff

I think EZDOK Camera (EZCA) over at Flight 1 may be exactly what you are looking for!

I think EZDOK Camera (EZCA) over at Flight 1 may be exactly what you are looking for!

Hi Glenn,

 

I'm aware of EZDOK, but don't have it. I do however have Track IR, which I believe can work with EZDOK?

 

BUT ...I was really looking at what must surely be a few simple bits of code modification in Notepad :smile: . Since Flightsim.com updated their site a load of tutorials (I stand to be corrected) seem to have disappeared :huh: ...at least links to old tutorials now give me a 404 :( .

 

Not being one to sit on my duff and wait for someone else to give me answers I've Googled the question and come up with some useful links. They still don't answer some questions but if I can work out some answers by trial and error I'll post here.

 

BTW folks please don't post "It's in the SDK!" because my discs are packed and in storage :unsure: . Why the SDK is downloadable for all pre Acceleration versions but not for that is an issue in itself? ..unless that link is outdated too?! Of course it may be that this issue hasn't changed since release 1 ...but until I know that..... you get my drift?

 

I come to FSX from years of Train Simming. There's hardly a piece of code in MSTS that hasn't been hacked, rewritten and improved. In fact there's an unofficial patch that has revolutionised the capabilities beyond those of newer and developing Sims. I mention this because MSTS fans had no choice but to indulge in DIY to tweak their Sim. "CamHacks" were even posted by Microsoft on the official site so those who found them all modified their cams at will.

 

BTW I found a link in these very forums that has a good step by step method, but marked "This is a very old topic... etc. etc." Why did Google find it when the forum search didn't?! This "VERY OLD" topic is a foundation stone. Surely it deserves being preserved as a tutorial surely? (for Airplane fans only "...don't call me Shirley") Maybe a top-tip is to ignore selecting forums or this forum in the search and just search Google? THAT however is another topic?

 

I appreciate that many don't like tweaking files. If you've a huge investment in add-ons and a fragile installation that's understandable. However if you backup ...lets make that even clearer ...if you copy the file you are going to modify and paste it into a folder called DEFAULT files located in a location outside the Sim, you can modify stuff to your hearts content, safe in the knowledge that if you screw up a file you can copy the default back into the Sim (safe in the knowledge that that default is till in your back-up folder) and try again? I know old hands know this. I'm aiming it at the over cautious ^_^ who might not want to mess with this anyway.

 

Geoff