Field Photography ยท PhotoPills ยท Lesson 13 More Calculators
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Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
More Calculators
Three smaller tools, each solving one specific framing question. Not everyday tools like Exposure or DoF, but worth knowing where they are for the day you need them.
๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ
Field of View
A standalone director's viewfinder โ€” no map required.
๐Ÿ“
Subject Distance
How far back to stand to fit your subject.
๐Ÿ”„
Focal Length Match
Comparing shots between two different cameras.
Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
Field of View: Your Digital Viewfinder
Field of View calculator showing a 3D illustration of a camera's frame projected onto a subject 3 meters away, with horizontal and vertical field of view measurements
85mm at 3 meters captures a 1.27m ร— 0.84m frame

This is the standalone version of the map tool from Lesson 6 โ€” same math, but for when you're scouting a location or storyboarding a shot with no map involved. Set your camera, focal length, and subject distance, and see exactly how much of the scene fits in frame.

Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
Classic vs. Inverse
Classic
Inverse
You know the lens and distance
You know the field of view you want
Get: angle & field of view
Get: the focal length or distance needed
"What will this lens capture?"
"What lens do I need to capture this?"

Same pattern you've seen in the DoF pill (Lesson 7) โ€” pick what you know, solve for what you don't.

Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
FoV In Augmented Reality
Augmented reality view showing an orange rectangle framing a photograph on a wall, previewing the camera's field of view
Preview the exact frame before you ever lift the camera

Tap AR and point your phone at the real scene โ€” PhotoPills draws an orange rectangle showing exactly what your chosen lens and distance will capture. Great for storyboarding a shoot or scouting a location before your gear even comes out of the bag.

Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
Subject Distance: Will It Fit?
Subject distance calculator showing an illustration of a camera and a tree, with a minimum subject distance of 23.61 meters to fit the tree in frame
Fitting a 10m-tall tree in frame at 85mm needs at least 23.61m of distance

The flip side of Field of View: instead of "what fits in my frame," this asks "how far back do I need to stand so my subject just fits?" Perfect for wildlife, tall buildings, or any subject with a known size.

Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
Using The Subject Distance Calculator
  1. ๐Ÿ“ท
    Camera & focal length
    Same as every other calculator in this series.
  2. ๐Ÿ“
    Subject dimensions
    How tall and wide your subject actually is.
  3. ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ
    Orientation
    Portrait or landscape โ€” changes which dimension matters most.
๐Ÿ”—
Chain it with DoF or FoV
Tap "To DoF" or "To FoV" at the bottom to send this distance straight into those calculators.
Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
Subject Distance In AR
Augmented reality view showing a measurement line and ruler ticks overlaid on a living room, marking a distance of 35.56 meters
The calculated distance, drawn as a ruler on the real ground

AR draws the calculated distance right on the ground in front of you, with tick marks every 0.5m (or 1ft) so you can actually pace it out. Handy indoors too โ€” this example measures across a whole room.

Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
Focal Length Match
Focal length match calculator comparing a Nikon D4s at 85mm f/5.6 against an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, showing the equivalent 41mm focal length needed to match field of view and depth of field
85mm on a Nikon D4s โ‰ˆ 41mm on an Olympus OM-D to get the same shot

Different sensor sizes mean the same focal length produces a different field of view and depth of field. This calculator finds the equivalent focal length and aperture on a second camera to match what you got on the first โ€” genuinely useful if you're borrowing gear or comparing bodies before a purchase.

Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
When You'd Actually Reach For These
  1. ๐ŸŽฌ
    Field of View
    Scouting a location or storyboarding a shoot before you bring the camera.
  2. ๐Ÿฆ…
    Subject Distance
    Wildlife, buildings, or any subject with a known size and a "will it fit" question.
  3. ๐Ÿ”
    Focal Length Match
    Comparing your gear to a fellow club member's before borrowing or buying.
Field Photography ยท PhotoPills
Three More Tools In Your Kit
1
FoV
Preview the frame
2
Subject Distance
How far to stand
3
Focal Length Match
Compare two cameras
4
All chainable
To DoF, To FoV buttons
UP NEXT
Lesson 14: Shadow Tools, My Stuff & Settings
The last loose ends โ€” Panel 1's shadow length calculator, and a real tour of the My Stuff menu you've only glimpsed since Lesson 1.
โŒ‚ Index