Crop view:

What is this?

Field of view (FOV) is how much of a scene your camera captures. A wide-angle lens (like 24mm) sees a broad view, while a telephoto lens (like 200mm) narrows in on a small slice. This simulator lets you compare up to four lenses on different sensors, overlaid on real-world scenes, so you can visualize exactly what each combination captures.

How it works

Field of view is determined by two factors: the focal length of the lens and the size of the sensor. The horizontal FOV angle is calculated as 2 × arctan(sensorWidth / (2 × focalLength)). A shorter focal length or larger sensor produces a wider angle of view. When switching sensors, the "equivalent focal length" concept applies: a 50mm lens on an APS-C sensor (1.5x crop) frames the same as a 75mm lens on full frame, because the smaller sensor captures a narrower central portion of the image circle. However, perspective (the spatial relationship between near and far objects) depends only on camera position, not focal length — a 50mm and 200mm lens shot from the same spot show the same perspective, just different crops. This simulator helps you plan lens purchases, understand how focal length affects composition, and compare sensor formats visually.

Key factors

Focal Length — The primary control over field of view. Shorter focal lengths see more of the scene; longer ones see less but magnify distant subjects.

Sensor Size — A smaller sensor crops into the center of the image circle, narrowing the field of view (the crop factor effect).

Orientation — Portrait (vertical) orientation shows a taller, narrower slice. Landscape (horizontal) shows the wider, more traditional view.

Scene Context — Different scenes (cityscapes, interiors, nature) help you understand how FOV changes feel in various real-world contexts.

Pro Tip

Add two lenses and toggle between a crop sensor and full frame on one of them to instantly see the crop-factor effect. A 35mm on APS-C frames almost identically to a 50mm on full frame.

Pro Tip

Use the scene selector to check coverage for specific shooting situations — a cityscape scene shows whether your wide-angle is wide enough to capture a building from across the street.

Pro Tip

When planning a lens purchase, add your current lens as Lens A and the lens you are considering as Lens B. The overlay shows exactly how much more or less you would see.

⚡Challengebeginner

You want to capture a wide view of a city skyline. Which focal length gives a wider field of view?

Hint: Lower focal length numbers mean a wider view.

FOV Simulator

Lens A

Focal length20mm

Sensor

Lens B

Focal length35mm

Sensor