Hi all,

What is the difference between Main, Aux and Posing Camera?
When to use which?

Thanks in advance

I don't think there is any difference between Main and Aux, other than the default initial states, and the fact that the Main camera has a hot-key (Ctrl-M) while the Aux does not. (I wish it did.)

The main and aux cameras always orbit the center of the universe. The Pose camera always orbits the currently selected figure. Load two figures in the scene, switch to the Pose camera (Ctrl-,) and then switch the current figure. You'll see the camera jump whenever the current figure selection is different.

The Pose camera also translates with the current figure when you move the current figure (using the dials at least).

Thanks, bagginsbill.

 Also note that the "point at" cameras are a lot slower t o respond than the "universe" cameras.
So as the character overhead increases, the camera response decreases.

Here's something I've been wondering ever since I first tried Poser:

Why don't Poser cameras have the capability to orbit around whatever object is currently selected in the scene? Every other 3D app that I've used has this, and it's very convenient. A workaround would be to use a null figure, but that's just silly.

And another thing, why does the preview window performance suffer considerably when using cameras which don't orbit around the center of the universe (like Posing, Face, etc)?

 I suspect more math to calculate the relative position when using "Point At" cameras.
I seldom use these cameras because of this issue.

Only the character related cameras track the selected figure. No object point at cameras.

I must confess not being familiar with the math, but if other apps manage this without such a significant impact, I don't understand why it is an issue in Poser.

actually, in PP2010 (& from P7 up i think) you can create a new camera that revolves around whatever you choose.  Object>Create Camera>Revolving, then set Point At to your object/figure/whatever..

Nope - it will point at what you tell it, but it does not orbit that item.

Try it. Point at a sphere. Move the sphere way off to the side.

You will still orbit the center of the universe.

yup, you're right.   sorry.

It's actually weirder than that. It does a strange figure-8 orbit when point-at is activated.

If you parent a camera to an object or figure it will revolve around it. Except for the ortho cams.

Quote - If you parent a camera to an object or figure it will revolve around it. Except for the ortho cams.

Have you actually found a way to make that usable, or are you just theorizing? Because I can't navigate with a camera in that state.

Here's my experience.

If the object you parent the camera to is not in the center of the world and/or is rotated at all, this is unworkable.

The camera movement controls that normally let you orbit, pan, or dolly to/from whatever is in front of you become crazy.

hoplaa asked  "Why don't Poser cameras have the capability to orbit around whatever object is currently selected in the scene?".
I only point out that you can selcet an object for the camera to rotate around. I think a selection camera that acts like hand, face or pose cams only on the current selection, could be helpfull.

Thank you, bagginsbill, hoplaa, Willber, jancory and gmadone.