I know this has most likely been discussed before and I've seen posts in the official MSFS 2024 forums (including my addition).

There doesn't seem to be a "correct" FOV adjustment in MSFS 2024.  Tried the WideViewAspect values and they don't correct anything (1 makes it worse).

MSFS 2024:

XPlane12 (with adjustable FOV):

Just to be clear, ZOOM isn't the same as FOV.

Zoom (focal length) = changes perspective making images large which does what you can see but is NOT field of view.

FOV = changes viewing angle (in degrees) where wider (increased degrees) increase what you can see.

MSFS 2024 seems to set the FOV at some degree value that I'm guessing is based on detected screen resolution?  If accurate, then MS/Asobo really should provide for a FOV separate from Zoom since they are NOT the same.  P3D and XPlane have hFOV and vFOV but MSFS 2024 does not ... or at least I can't seem to locate one, not in the Camera.cfg files either.

Thoughts?

FoV in MSFS changes when you zoom (use the scrollwheel). If you want to move out / zoom without changing FoV, translate backwards. Aren‘t you using ChasePlane? When you are in the outside view, instead of zooming, try to press Alt+Up/Down arrow. This doesn’t work with MSFS default, only ChasePlane.

I don‘t know any way to directly alter the numerical values for changing FoV, only zooming exists. But there is a table which shows you the degree of FoV per zoom level percent.

3 hours ago, roesti said:

try to press Alt+Up/Down arrow

I’ll give that a try, but zoom and moving backwards isn’t really changing FOV angle/degrees … I’ll still get the same stretched objects.

1 hour ago, SayAgain said:

I’ll give that a try, but zoom and moving backwards isn’t really changing FOV angle/degrees … I’ll still get the same stretched objects.

If you move backwards and don't zoom (so don't scroll - just go to Spot View for example and press Alt+Down Arrow (should be the default bind and can be changed)), nothing stretches. If something stretches, zoom in a bit (decrease FoV). That's a feature //42 even advertised when ChasePlane released first for 2020. The "Zoom"-Function does exactly what you said. It changes FoV and that's why you get the stretched objects / fisheye effect.

You can of course combine both the default zoom (FoV change) with translating back, but you don't have to. But translating back ("zooming" without FoV change) can come with it's own downsides and that's probably the reason it isn't implemented by default. You recognize it when you go out to far and it's a probably specific to MSFS, the terrain / LOD starts to decrease. So ground / distant objects can become blurry if you move "too far away from your plane", a problem which doesn't exist in X-Plane. When using the zoom function, you don't move away, but it just increases the FoV like a wide angle camera.

But there's really no other way to show more / less information on the same screen space. Either increase / decrase FoV (default zoom) or move away / closer to the object.

EDIT: Example pictures, both 3440x1440 like you, same situation, both in Spot View. First picture = zooming out with the scroll wheel, second picture is moving the camera backwards. Goal was to have the 747 in sight on the left, the stretching is obvious and exaggerated in the first picture, while "going away" from the plane keeps the field of view more natural (2nd pic).

https://ibb.co/v6r0Gx4p
https://ibb.co/ns1ZsZz6

Edited December 25, 2025Dec 25 by roesti

Transitioning back and forward can be assigned either to an axis or to two buttons. 

I move 2 axis to either zoom or to transition in and out.

Other axis levers to transition up, down, left, right.

I removed zoom from the mouse wheel, because the wheel interferes with rotating knobs unless the cursor remains pointed exactly on the knob.

There are also 12 buttons below (spring loaded flippers) on the old CH Quad.

12 hours ago, SayAgain said:

Just to be clear, ZOOM isn't the same as FOV

I don't think you will get anywhere on this assumption unless you are prepared to be convinced otherwise.

In FSX, P3D v4 and X-Plane 11 the Zoom numbers are proportional to (because they are derived from) the FoV. Yes, the algorithm by which the default zoom numbers are derived varies, and in the Microsoft sims is tweakable by changing the WideViewAspect flag, but this does not affect the spatial qualities of the scenes you will see if you zoom progressively in and out. (The only real effect of setting WideViewAspect=1 is it lets you zoom out further. I expect this is the same in MSFS 2020 and 2024, although I have not investigated.)

P3D (at least to version 4.5-ish, where I stopped) has an extra variable if you use ViewGroups, which allows you to select a projection algorithm from flat, cylindrical or spherical, but I think this only compensates for the angling-in of multi-screen display setups. In FSX (and I think X-Plane, at least to v11) the projection algorithm is always 'flat', which I think is why things distort as you move further away from the centre (vertically as well as horizontally). Yes, I think you can change the horizontal and vertical FoV independently but I don't know of circumstances where it would make sense to do this.

I looked briefly at your two screenshots but they seem to be taken from two different places, so I doubt you can draw any useful conclusions from comparing them.

Edited December 25, 2025Dec 25 by MarkDH

10 hours ago, SayAgain said:

XPlane12 (with adjustable FOV):

I get that the jet you highlighted is a little less stretched, but how can you accept the fisheye induced exaggerated verticals on those buildings on the right side? 

This thread describes the method to set a 'realistic' FOV.  The problem for me is that I haven't found a way to solve the issue of setting a correct way to display HUD graphics (centered in its drop down frame) if I set the FOV according to this method. So it's either more realistic FOV, or live with zoomed out so that in-cockpit graphics including HUDs where they exist look optimal from my POV.  I've settled on zoomed out which I've become used to as terrain gets in effect sharpened, and the sense of speed on the ground goes up, so it's not all bad.
 

 

Edited December 25, 2025Dec 25 by Noel

Believe me, it's even worse on my screen when I want to use the full scope. At 3840x1080, the outer areas of the image are stretched so much that the Cessnas at the edge look like A380s.
That's why I only use part of the screen in windowed mode when I start MSFS2020 or MSFS2024.
And I can't sit back far enough in the cockpit to get the proportions right across the whole page. I've come to terms with this and don't expect any improvement from ASOBO in this regard in the future.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

8 hours ago, OneOfMany said:

how can you accept the fisheye induced exaggerated verticals on those buildings on the right side?

Not the same scenery provider ... BUT regardless both vertical and lateral FOV is adjustable in XP12 ... so I can adjust the vertical buildings.

46 minutes ago, Alti said:

At 3840x1080, the outer areas of the image are stretched so much that the Cessnas at the edge look like A380s.

IMHO, that should never be the case in a correctly implemented camera system unless you specifically change to a wide angle lens.

9 hours ago, MarkDH said:

I don't think you will get anywhere on this assumption unless you are prepared to be convinced otherwise.

It's not an assumption ... these are independent.  In a camera, when you Zoom you change focal length ... if you want to recover the edge to edge view then you move backwards and nothing is stretched at either edge of the image.  If you change the Zoom in MSFS 2024 and then move the camera position backwards you still get stretched objects on the edges ... and that's the issue.

2 hours ago, SayAgain said:

If you change the Zoom in MSFS 2024 and then move the camera position backwards you still get stretched objects on the edges

I would be surprised if you're seeing increased distortion when you zoom IN.

6 hours ago, SayAgain said:

Not the same scenery provider ... BUT regardless both vertical and lateral FOV is adjustable in XP12 ... so I can adjust the vertical buildings.

So you have the ability to trapezoid the image to minimize vertical skewing? And horizontally you would be shortening the real life distances as you progress to the sides to minimize stretching? 

That sounds like a good workaround. Is it done interactively, or by changing values in either a configure file, or menu sliders? 

I could see that being useful when changing aspect ratios to accomadate ultra widescreens. 

Edited December 26, 2025Dec 26 by OneOfMany

3 hours ago, OneOfMany said:

Is it done interactively

Yes and no, in XP12 vFOV and lFOV can be linked or individually set in real time with offsets for wrap around monitors.  As you make any adjustments to this screen, you'll see it impact the view (background) ... would be nice to be able to undock this window so make it easier to see the impact.

7 hours ago, MarkDH said:

I would be surprised if you're seeing increased distortion when you zoom IN.

No distortion is less and less the more I zoom IN ... but when I move the camera (not zoom) position backwards (in MSFS 2024) to recover to the same FOV, the distortion will return.  

It would be nice to have something similar in MSFS 2024 that we can adjust as needed to reduce the issue.  

4 hours ago, SayAgain said:

No distortion is less and less the more I zoom IN ... but when I move the camera (not zoom) position backwards (in MSFS 2024) to recover to the same FOV, the distortion will return.

If it behaved as you describe, this would mean that zooming in and out was just the same as moving the camera forwards or backwards, which it manifestly is not. You are also using 'FOV' very loosely (FOV is an angular value measured from a given position, so it doesn't change when you move the camera forwards of backwards.) Here's a challenge:

(1) Take a screenshot (of any scene).
(2) Zoom in substantially (enough to make an obvious difference).
(3) Move the camera - in any way you want - and try to get the view you captured in step (1).

You will not succeed. For small zoom changes you may get something that looks close to the original screenshot, but they will not overlay exactly. For larger zoom changes, they will be completely different, and in particular you will see less distortion further away from the centre of the image. 

BTW, I can see only two material differences between the XPlane dialog above and MSFS 2024: (1) you can't set the horizontal and vertical FOVs independently (does this have any practical use?), and (2) you cannot set the FOV manually in degrees (so you have to set it by adjusting the zoom).

Edited December 26, 2025Dec 26 by MarkDH