With REX Esssentials Plus solving the issues w/ their weather engine behavior to a level I have been very satisfied w/, I'm left now seeking an add-on to add some more realism in the area of camera shake and whatever else might be gleaned. One camera effect I sorely miss from FS9 days is in spot view one could keep the plane in the foreground and zoom out on the background scenery, and this stopped w/ FSX. Does either product add this feature back do you know?

 

Anyway, for those who use both Opus & EZDOK, which do you prefer for camera effects? My question is not about the weather engine, and I've read the many good reports on Opus for this component.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Noel

Have a look at Accu-Feel as well for camera shake and a few other good effects. It's basically the A2A AccuSim special effects uncoupled from A2A planes and made available for all aircraft. Hard to go wrong for $15.

 

Hook

I have both and far, FAR prefer the Opus effects. The effects 'seem' much more natural. It can take a bit of getting use to, setting them up, but nowhere near as bad as ezdok.

I have to say I prefer EXDOK. When I first set up the OPUS cameras I was very impressed. But, as time passed I grew very frustrated with it's failings and having to constantly engage in duplication of efforts. I shot down OPUS camera effect and went back to EZDOK. I prefer EZDOK in that to change a camera view you don't have to bring up a window. You can simply press 2 and move mouse! EZDOK is a pain in the neck, don't get me wrong on that. But, the reality is that after trying OPUS cameras for a week I went back to EZDOK and that's all I use now. Both programs are great and both have there drawbacks. But I'm using OPUS weather and EZ cameras for now! EZDOK wins by a hair at least until I try OPUS cameras again.

Used EZDOK from about day one but now use OPUS, much better and easier to use and the best weather engine IMO you can buy.

I prefer EZdok, there is a much greater amount of control the user has over specific settings. Opus is good though especially since it's just a nice little added bonus to a WX program. Another plus for Opus is that it has a nice and simple interface where EZdok takes some getting used to, to put it mildly.

 

The new 2.0 version of EZCA that should hopefully be out in the next few weeks looks AMAZING. It will be adding some effects like RealAir used in the Legacy for example, where the fuselage rocks or vibrates when the engine starts etc. It's going to be awesome!

I voted for OpusFSX. I never had real problems with EZDOK (I posted a few tutorials back then to show how EASY it is to setup views with it) but the motion effects in OpusFSX are far more convincing to me: they make the EZDOK motion effects look like random wobbling... Yes, it's convenient that you can setup EZDOK views from within FSX but I like the control you get over everything with OpusFSX. I personally like to create a pilot view that's as close as can be to the original view the developer created and with EZDOK this took me ages to get (almost) done (which btw might be my bad) but with OpusFSX this is done in a seconds. Also making changes can be done VERY precise. With EZDOK I often had to redo things to almost accidently get the exact viewpoint I wanted.

 

BTW I only create viewpoints for the VC so I don't know how both programs would compare when you are interested in outside views...

I voted for Opus because the question was in refference to "Effects", but in fairness i think that Opus still has a little way to go yet, given that it is still a bit fiddly to get the transition smoothness right and EzDok does have the edge when it comes to the ease of adjusting camera views within FSX.

 

Nough said about Opus as a program, just superb.

Ezdok for me,

 

Unlimited customisation, and so easy to move around views.

 

OPUS FSX makes you have cameras all over the place, rather annoying. [still like the weather engine btw]

Have a look at Accu-Feel as well for camera shake and a few other good effects. It's basically the A2A AccuSim special effects uncoupled from A2A planes and made available for all aircraft. Hard to go wrong for $15.

 

Hook

 

I just installed Accu-Feel but don't see camera shake anywhere. I'll go back and have another look at the configuration utility.

I can't vote because I have not tried Opus. I will say that EZDok is great once you get familiar with it. I have a GS13 gamepad with all of my camera view programmed to specific buttons. It works flawlessly and I couldn't be happier. I'm am really looking forward to 2.0. For weather, ASE seems to be doing the trick for now.

I just installed Accu-Feel but don't see camera shake anywhere. I'll go back and have another look at the configuration utility.

 

Accu-Feel does not have a camera shake component, I'm not sure what LHookins was referring to.

I just installed Accu-Feel but don't see camera shake anywhere. I'll go back and have another look at the configuration utility.

 

Taxi fast across the grass and see what happens. I don't know if the shake I get in turbulence is from FSX or Accu-Feel, but it's there. You'll also hear and see some bumps as you taxi across concrete runway seams.

 

What did you think of the various sound effects?

 

I'll be honest, I didn't like it on the first aircraft I tried it on, but I've used it on everything I've flown since.

 

Edit: From the manual:

 

Shock Absorption

 

This models how well your undercarriage absorbs small ground bumps, shocks, and jolts. Higher values, mean more absorption, and a smoother ride when on ground, while lower values mean less absorption that results in more bounces, bucks, jolts, etc. Be careful when adjusting too low and taxiing fast off the pavement, as it's possible to scrape a wing or worse. Also, be careful with your brakes when on dirt or grass, as hitting an unsuspected large bump while braking hard can cause the aircraft to nose over. This value is dynamic in the sense that the bumps are constant, yet the aircraft is not. Hitting a 6” hole or depression with a Cessna 172 will create a larger reaction than in a large 4-engined aircraft. As usual, you can adjust as desired.

 

Hook

Accu-Feel does not have a camera shake component, I'm not sure what LHookins was referring to.

 

Well, it does appear to have some physics features according to A2A. They note effects apparent during taxi as well as 'jolts thru the airframe' which must imply something beyond audio only I would imagine. I know these aren't apparent w/ the bigger planes I fly so maybe some tweaking will bring these into play. I'll report back...

• 
  Ground physics for both on and off pavement for both tricycle and tail dragger airframes bucks your airplane around, making just taxiing a quality experience
  
• 
  Dynamic tire screeching and rub sounds tied into the physics of each tire, which makes every landing not just feel different, but sound different. You have more feel for exactly how well you are controlling your aircraft, both big and small.
  
• 
  Runway / pavement seams send dynamic jolts through your airframe that you can both feel and hear
  

Yep, Accu-Feel does all those things, but it does not control the camera in any way. It's still a fantastic add-on, it's just not the same purpose as EZdok or OpusFSX's Live Camera abilities.