I’m using PoserPro2010, and I have to match an exact camera position to line up with my friend’s coordinates who is using a different 3D program than Poser.  I just need to know a couple of things in order to figure out how to set poser’s camera to the correct position. Is the main camera pointed at the center of mass by default?

For this problem, I am using one figure in the scene in zero position, I need to position the main camera so that it is 1.31 Meters off the floor, 2.35 Meters in front of (away from) the figure, and angled so that it is looking down at the figure’s chest/center of mass at an angle of 104.5 degrees, and also the camera must be 29 degrees to the figure’s left.

After reading the manual section on camera movement, I assume I’m using the “Dolly” controls to move the camera 1.31 meters off the floor, and 2.35 meters away.  My question regarding that part is, are the numbers next to the dolly parameter dials measured in Feet or in Meters?? Also I couldn’t find a way to change which measurement type to use.  I assume it is in Feet by default, so I will have to convert to meters?

I suppose the “Orbit” parameter dials will be what to use for pointing the angle of the camera downward at the figure’s chest, but when I use the X Orbit dial set at either 104.5 or -104.5 degrees, it is too extreme of an angle. I’m guessing a setting between -15 and -20 degrees might be more what is needed.

If I know what kind of measurements poser uses, I might be able to do the calculations and convert my friend's requested numbers into poser's measurement terms, but I can't find anywhere in the manual what poser uses as measurement by default.  Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

MM

main camera is pointing to the center of the scene by default (I think you can change it with "point at" command).

for the measurements go to poser preferences and in one of the tabs you'll find an option for changing it.

I'm writing from memory so I cannot give a better answer:)

ok if you want to match to another app's camera functions, you'll need to use the Dolly Camera.

the Main Camera aims at the world center and basically, few if any, other apps do that.

they use a camera model thats like the real world, that in poser is the Dolly Cam.

The numbers on the dials is in whatever unit you set in general preferences. The number read by python is in poser units where 1 pu = 108 inches (from memory)

keep in mind that focal length of camera in poser not necessarily translate to same number in other application.

for 3DSmax, I take 1400 and divide by poser cam focal length, that will give FOV in degrees for camera in max. (e.g., 35mm cam in poser, 1400/35 = 40 degree FOV, 3DSmax cam focal length then 49.455 mm)

Quote - I suppose the “Orbit” parameter dials will be what to use for pointing the angle of the camera downward at the figure’s chest, but when I use the X Orbit dial set at either 104.5 or -104.5 degrees, it is too extreme of an angle. I’m guessing a setting between -15 and -20 degrees might be more what is needed.

In Poser when a camera is at zero rotation on all its axes, it is looking straight down the world z  axis, from +z looking towards -z. If you xOrbit the camera 90°, it will be looking straight up, and at -90° it will be looking straight down. In a diffrent app, the camera bay have a diffrent starting angle, try adding or subtracting 90° from the value your friend quoted.

In Poser the Dolly camera is where the dials say it is. Unfortunately that is not the case with the Main or Aux camera. In P6, when the Main or Aux camera is scaled to 100%, the camera is approximately 1.1  Poser Native units (about 2883.4 mm) behind the position indicated on the zDolly dial. This only applies to zDolly, and it is the value for P6, it is probably the same in later versions, but I can't guarantee that.

Thanks everyone for posting this info, I'm wondering why poser's manual doesn't include these differences that you've all listed here. You would think that if they wanted to use their own unique measuring system that they would at least include how the units relate to, and can be calculated to match other apps.

lesbentley & magnusgreel, from what you're saying I should be using the dolly camera instead of the main camera if I want precise distances, either that, or use the main camera and subtract the distance that it is off by. And I was correct in assuming that the orbit controls will give me the tilt/angle. If I subtract 90 from 104.5 I think that will get me close to the angle I need. I was experimenting with the orbit dial and it seemed like -15 to -20 looked more appropriate, so I think you're in the ballpark with that suggestion.

medzinator, I wasn't going to change the focal setting, simply because I don't know enough yet about how it affects everything else. I was just hoping it would be a simple matter of setting the dolly dials and the orbit dials, but from what you're saying, the focal length not being the same as the other app could throw everything off.

markschum & adom, I thought to look first in gen pref for the measurement setting, I must have quickly skipped over it and somehow didn't see it there, I'll go back and check again.

Well, you've all given me some good starting points to experiment with, some of it sounds a bit confusing tbh, probably because I'm not great at poser (or math), lol,  but I'll give it a whirl. :-) thank you.  

MM

Quote - I should be using the dolly camera instead of the main camera if I want precise distances, either that, or use the main camera and subtract the distance that it is off by.

With your subject in the center of the scene, you will probably find it much easier to set the angles of the camera with the Main, or Aux, rather than the Dolly camera.

Quote - medzinator, I wasn't going to change the focal setting, simply because I don't know enough yet about how it affects everything else.

Changing the focal length will not affect the point of view, or perspetive. The only thing it will affect is how much of the scene you see in the document window. To put it another way, using a longer focal length has the same affect as as cropping the image. Shorter focal length = more space round the top, bottom and sides of the subject, longer focal length = less space.

As others also say, dolly camera should be used for this type of thing.
If some reason you need to find absolute position of main camera, you can do below;

1. parent dolly camera to main camera
2. set dolly camera xyz and rotations to zero.
3. set parent of dolly cam to Universe

now the position of dolly cam is actual and not in respect to origin in scene.