Angle of View Calculator: Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal
This angle of view calculator turns a focal length and sensor size into the horizontal, vertical and diagonal angle of view, plus the width of the scene you capture at a distance of your choice.
Example: Focal length 50 mm · Sensor size: Full frame (36 × 24 mm) · Distance to subject 10 m → Angle of view: Horizontal 39.6° · vertical 27° · diagonal 46.8°. Source: Wikipedia – Angle of view (photography) (α = 2·arctan(d/(2f))). Updated: .
How it is calculated
A 50 mm lens on full frame has an angle of view of 39.6° horizontally, 27° vertically and 46.8° diagonally. The shorter the focal length and the larger the sensor, the wider the angle.
How it is calculated
The angle of view is α = 2 · arctan(d / (2 · f)), where d is the width, height or diagonal of the sensor and f the focal length. When only one number is quoted, it is usually the diagonal. The scene width at a distance D is B ≈ D · d / f, which tells you whether the subject fits in the frame.
What it is useful for
- Choosing the right lens for landscape, portrait or architecture.
- Comparing shots from different cameras: the same angle of view means the same framing.
- Planning the distance for a group photo or an event camera.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the angle of view?
With 2 · arctan(sensor dimension / (2 · focal length)). For 50 mm on full frame the diagonal gives 2 · arctan(43.27 / 100) = 46.8°.
What angle of view does a 50 mm lens have on APS-C?
About 26.6° horizontally and roughly 31.6° diagonally. That equals the angle of view of a 75 mm lens on full frame.
How large is the scene at 10 m?
With 50 mm on full frame, about 7.2 m wide and 4.8 m high (distance times sensor dimension divided by focal length).
What is the difference between angle of view and crop factor?
The angle of view describes the framing in degrees, while the crop factor compares the sensor with 35 mm film (36 × 24 mm). A smaller sensor gives a narrower angle at the same focal length.
Sources and legal basis
- Wikipedia – Angle of view (photography) (α = 2·arctan(d/(2f)))
- Wikipedia – Image sensor format (sensor dimensions)
As of: · Editorial policy
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