Calculator · CCTV · Optics
CCTV lens and field of view calculator
Choose the sensor size, enter the lens focal length and the distance to the target. You get the horizontal and vertical field of view, and the width and height of the scene at that distance. If the sensor is not in the list, type its width and height from the data sheet.
Result
Enter the lens and the distance to see the result.
Working
field of view = 2 × atan(sensor size ÷ (2 × focal length))
- Field of view = 2 × atan(sensor size ÷ (2 × focal length)), worked out for the width and for the height.
- Scene width at a distance = distance × sensor width ÷ focal length.
- A shorter focal length gives a wider view. A longer one gives a narrower, more magnified view.
The sizes listed are the nominal 4:3 optical formats. The real size depends on the chip, and many CCTV sensors are wider than they are tall, so the data sheet figure is better when you have it.
To check whether that view is sharp enough at the target, use the pixel density calculator.
For guidance only. Always check against the current edition of the standard and the manufacturer's data.
Built by the engineer behind Kerova, certificate software for fire and security firms.