Camera zoom issues

[invi]

Hi all,

I'm trying to get into DCS but the first problem I'm having is with setting up the camera in a way where I can actually see what's going on.

Namely, for me to have the camera at a level of zoom where I have a good view of the cockpit and out of the canopy, the instruments all become impossible to read.

Is there a common solution to that?

[Maki Nishikino]

I just use TrackIR and move my head as necessary. I also play at 1440p so that helps a bit.

[invi]

I'm keen to avoid investing in more tech right now if I can (I already just bought a stick, throttle, and rudder controls) but I realise that this is an expensive hobby I'm getting into here.

In MS Flight Sim I don't have this issue, so I'm wondering if it's something I can fix by tweaking FOV sliders? If I can get a wider angle on the camera I should be able to zoom on the instruments a bit while still being able to see out of the canopy?

[Maki Nishikino]

Not to my knowledge. I do suggest though if you're going to get yourself into this sim you invest in a 6 DoF tracking device of some sort.

[startrekmike]

Originally posted by invi:

I'm keen to avoid investing in more tech right now if I can (I already just bought a stick, throttle, and rudder controls) but I realise that this is an expensive hobby I'm getting into here.

In MS Flight Sim I don't have this issue, so I'm wondering if it's something I can fix by tweaking FOV sliders? If I can get a wider angle on the camera I should be able to zoom on the instruments a bit while still being able to see out of the canopy?

Getting some kind of IR head tracking doesn't really seem all that essential until you have it and understand just how much of a difference it makes. For Microsoft Flight Sim, you are going to find quite a few players who don't really bother with IR head tracking because it simply isn't fast paced enough to really outright require it. You are not looking around for enemy fighters, checking your instruments, and even looking for ground targets while trying to fly your plane. In DCS, you do all those things and all of those things require that you move your view pretty much constantly.

To be really blunt, I would say that IR head tracking is pretty much essential for DCS. If you don't have it, you will always have to fight with the sim because pretty much everything in DCS was made with IR head tracking in mind. It is "possible" to make do without it but only to a point.

If you can afford to get something like TrackIR, it is worth the purchase. It may not seem like it at first glance but once you spend some time with it and get used to it, you will consider it just as essential as a good HOTAS. It really is that important.

[invi]

I think that probably rules DCS out for me then unfortunately. Expense is less of an issue, but I've got a HTPC set-up where I'm sitting about 2m away from the screen, which I gather is too far for TrackIR to work properly.

I't s a shame because I really feel like I could at least make do and enjoy learning how to operate the plane if I could just see the instruments.

[Sizigmund]

Originally posted by invi:

I think that probably rules DCS out for me then unfortunately. Expense is less of an issue, but I've got a HTPC set-up where I'm sitting about 2m away from the screen, which I gather is too far for TrackIR to work properly.

I't s a shame because I really feel like I could at least make do and enjoy learning how to operate the plane if I could just see the instruments.

You can use a keyboard to move the pilot's head in all 6 DOF.

The default key bindings are the following:

1. RCtrl + RShift + Num * - Lean forward.
   
   
2. RCtrl + RShift + Num / - Lean backwards.
   
   
3. RCtrl + RShift + Num 8 - Move pilot up.
   
   
4. RCtrl + RShift + Num 2 - Move pilot down.
   
   
5. RCtrl + RShift + Num 4 - Move pilot left.
   
   
6. RCtrl + RShift + Num 6 - Move pilot right.
   
   
7. Num * - Zoom-in.
   
   
8. Num / - Zoom-out.
   
   
9. Num 5 - Move pilot to a default position.
   
   
10. Num Enter - Default zoom.
    
    
11. Num 4 - Turn pilot's head left.
    
    
12. Num 6 - Turn pilot's head right.
    
    
13. Num 8 - Turn pilot's head up.
    
    
14. Num 2 - Turn pilot's head down.

Use these bindings while Numlock is enabled.
I recommend you to bind the pilot's head turning to your joystick's top ministick cap. Additionally, you can search through the key bindings settings. There is an options that you can bind to quick look on the instruments. Additionally, you can enable Padlock, it can be used to automatically keep the pilot's sight on the enemy. So the pilot will track the target with his sight for you and you won't be need to use the pilot's head turning bindings to track the target manually. There is also a key bindings to switch between the Padlock targets. Just check the binding options in game's config menu.

[invi]

Originally posted by Sizigmund:

Originally posted by invi:

I think that probably rules DCS out for me then unfortunately. Expense is less of an issue, but I've got a HTPC set-up where I'm sitting about 2m away from the screen, which I gather is too far for TrackIR to work properly.

I't s a shame because I really feel like I could at least make do and enjoy learning how to operate the plane if I could just see the instruments.

You can use a keyboard to move the pilot's head in all 6 DOF.

The default key bindings are the following:

1. RCtrl + RShift + Num * - Lean forward.
   
   
2. RCtrl + RShift + Num / - Lean backwards.
   
   
3. RCtrl + RShift + Num 8 - Move pilot up.
   
   
4. RCtrl + RShift + Num 2 - Move pilot down.
   
   
5. RCtrl + RShift + Num 4 - Move pilot left.
   
   
6. RCtrl + RShift + Num 6 - Move pilot right.
   
   
7. Num * - Zoom-in.
   
   
8. Num / - Zoom-out.
   
   
9. Num 5 - Move pilot to a default position.
   
   
10. Num Enter - Default zoom.
    
    
11. Num 4 - Turn pilot's head left.
    
    
12. Num 6 - Turn pilot's head right.
    
    
13. Num 8 - Turn pilot's head up.
    
    
14. Num 2 - Turn pilot's head down.

Use these bindings while Numlock is enabled.
I recommend you to bind the pilot's head turning to your joystick's top ministick cap. Additionally, you can search through the key bindings settings. There is an options that you can bind to quick look on the instruments. Additionally, you can enable Padlock, it can be used to automatically keep the pilot's sight on the enemy. So the pilot will track the target with his sight for you and you won't be need to use the pilot's head turning bindings to track the target manually. There is also a key bindings to switch between the Padlock targets. Just check the binding options in game's config menu.

This is all really handy info, thanks!

It suddenly occurred to me that I do have VR as an option, but that might be a bit intense for trying to learn for the first time. Not being able to see the controls while I'm figuring out which buttons do what might be a bit of a problem.

[Sizigmund]

Originally posted by invi:

This is all really handy info, thanks!

It suddenly occurred to me that I do have VR as an option, but that might be a bit intense for trying to learn for the first time. Not being able to see the controls while I'm figuring out which buttons do what might be a bit of a problem.

It might be a problem yes. Most of the players, including me, are binding the most impotant functionality of the plane to a H.O.T.A.S.. The less important things are stay on keyboard or can be binded to a H.O.T.A.S. as well by using one of the H.O.T.A.S. buttons as a modifier. So actually by pressing this button you are toggling your H.O.T.A.S. between a weapons management and navigation control, for example.

The most important functionality is usually a weapons and countermeasures control. But the airbrakes for example are important too, because they can be used during the dogfight.

But yes its not an easy task for a new player to understand which functionality must be binded to a H.O.T.A.S., because it is not so clear yet which functionality the aircraft have. Actually this might be a hard part for any player that purchasing a new aircraft, even if he / she flied some other aircraft for a long time already.

I don't know which H.O.T.A.S. do you have, but you can try and search the H.O.T.A.S. profiles for your H.O.T.A.S.. There is a lot profiles for Thrustmaster Warthog, almost for any plane on DCS site. Here is the link for example: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/1292863/

But it is not usually convinient to use the profile that was pre-made by some other players. Sometimes it is better to bind everything by yourself, this way you will know exactly each button functionality. Anyway, you can search for a pre-made profile, it might help you to use the game with VR.