Angle of View Calculator

Summary

Angle of view (AOV) is the angular extent of a scene captured by a lens and sensor pair, expressed in degrees. Enter a focal length and sensor format — or custom dimensions — and the calculator returns horizontal, vertical, and diagonal AOV using the standard 2 × arctan(d / 2f) formula. A visual arc diagram shows the angle at a glance, and the lens category (ultra-wide through telephoto) is labeled automatically.

How it works

1. Enter the lens focal length in millimeters.
2. Select a sensor format preset (full-frame, APS-C Canon, APS-C Nikon/Sony, Micro Four Thirds, 1-inch) or choose Custom.
3. For a custom sensor, enter the width and height in millimeters.
4. Click Calculate — horizontal, vertical, and diagonal AOV appear instantly.
5. Read the lens category label (ultra-wide, wide, standard, short tele, telephoto, super-tele) based on horizontal AOV.
6. The visual arc diagram scales with the angle so you can compare lenses at a glance.

Use cases

• Verify the published angle of view for a new lens before buying.
• Understand how the same focal length covers more or less on APS-C vs full-frame.
• Plan portrait, landscape, or architectural shots by knowing the exact capture angle.
• Compare two focal lengths side by side to decide which to pack.
• Calculate AOV for video crop modes by entering the active sensor dimensions.
• Teach photography students how focal length and sensor size interact.

Frequently Asked Questions