FSX FOV and Fisheye Lens

[Infinity]

I haven't been able to experiment much, but has anyone successfully employed a wrap around view using a fisheye lens on a single projector? My thoughts were opening a few windows on a single projector and warping the image with software, then adding the fisheye lens to a dome screen to project a full 180+ degree FOV.

Or, just using the defualt FOV with a fisheye lens, but I don't know how much FOV degrees I could get.

Am I in wonderland or does this seem feasible?

[steveeverson]

Hi There, I did some experiments with a fish eye lens attached to a projector some time ago. The main problem I had was image quality as the edges of objects tended to 'bloom' and separate into colours - eg red or blue 'halo' around things. As far as I can see you'd be much better off projecting onto a domed mirror like you get for security in shops. Also this adds the advantage in lowering your throw distance as the mirror is reversing the projector throw.

Paul Bourke has done a lot of work on this and I think has been mentioned in the forums
Here is his website:

Dome projection using a spherical mirror (MirrorDome) (http://paulbourke.net/dome/)

You would need some warping software to adjust the image. I use fly elise NG immersive display lite for my 3 projector system in my own sim as I use some mirrors to fold the image and lower the throw distance. Its very good value for money and easy to use.
Their website is:

Fly Elise-ng (http://fly.elise-ng.net)

hope that helps
Cheers

Steve

[Infinity]

Thank you. I'm familiar with the mirror setup, but I've also read (here) it didn't work too well. My preference with the fisheye was less hardware and space requirements, but I am glad you were able to share your experience with it. Do you recall what kind of FOV degree you were getting using the fisheye?

The warping software you mentioned is the one I was going to use. I can always revert back to triplehead2go, but was hoping to broaden the scope with a single projector setup and will continue my experimentation.

I guess the biggest question I'm trying to answer regarding FOVs is even though it's possible to wrap the sides around to the peripheral side views using a mirror or lens, how much does this view match the actual FOV degree displayed by FSX?

[OmniAtlas]

It's been done. Google the gundam arcade pod. One projector for a 180 degree wrapped view. I've been floating this idea but the 180 degree view with one projector at the Kuala Lumpur flight simulator set up by Nat has pushed me to go with one short throw 1080p projector.

[Infinity]

It's been done. Google the gundam arcade pod. One projector for a 180 degree wrapped view. I've been floating this idea but the 180 degree view with one projector at the Kuala Lumpur flight simulator set up by Nat has pushed me to go with one short throw 1080p projector.

I'm not familiar with the Kuala Lumpur flight sim. The facebook page has limited photos of the display. This is done with 1 projector? Any idea how? Settings, hardware, software? Good-luck with your setup. Sounds like you are steps closer than I am.

[OmniAtlas]

Their facebook page has a couple more pics and videos -- if you go back in their timeline you can see they are using a 180 degree dry wall for their setup. According to Nat (who works for FDS), they set it up with a 100 degrees FOV zoomed out on FSX -- not entirely 180 degrees but the effect was good nevertheless.

They probably used NTHUSIM or one of the other more advance software for their warping.

7663
(click on the link for a photo of the build, not too sure why its not showing by default)

The other thing to note it does not entirely cover your FOV on your left and side, but looking ahead I think the human vision is only limited up to 160 degrees?

I haven't actually started my build yet (moving house now!) but have been researching.
I am looking to purchase the BenQ W1080ST projector which is the first short throw 1080p projector at an affordable price ~ 1000 USD.

[Infinity]

This is the easiest example I can show. They've taken two windows opened on a single projector and warped the image. It appears they haven't used a mirror or fisheye lens, so I'm guessing if an image will be warped, the end result will display correctly on flat or curved surfaces as one would "tweek to fit". Of course we are discussing the outside view vs. cockpit view, but I'm sure it is the same process.

I wonder if immersive display lite will do the same? Cheers everyone!


http://youtu.be/WIzrO42qUrU

[fordgt40]

Well that video would not encourage me to part with my money :-(

[OmniAtlas]

One projector build -- skip to the 2:30 mark


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FoNsYDaS34

[Zohanx747]

The facebook page has limited photos of the display. This is done with 1 projector?

[OmniAtlas]

The facebook page has limited photos of the display. This is done with 1 projector?

Yes, that is correct, 1 projector.
I visited the flight sim center and tried their jetmax -- the 180 view however doesn't completely wrap around your views.

[Joeylikey]

This system uses one projector with a fisheye lens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrSJpetxpto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVsLOv-bNek

Joey

[OmniAtlas]

I believe those projectors cost over 5 grand.

Will be hard to implement with a median-heavy body aircrafts. You can see the image casting onto the fighter jet sim and it doesn't have the necessary wide angle projection as needed in an airbus/boeing aircraft.

[Joeylikey]

The projector is a Canon Realis and the fisheye I think is from Navitar. It is projected from the top down. His sim software is Lockheed Martin's Prepar3d (http://www.prepar3d.com) v1.4 using the Omnimap API (http://www.elumenati.com/products/software/omnimap-api/) from the Eluminati. The price is probably well north of 5 grand for the projector setup. You could build a fisheye setup yourself like this guy (http://www.lss-planetariums.info/index.php?lang=en&menu=projector&page=projector) to keep cost down. I believe his dome has a 10 ft diameter. His rig is definitely optimized for single seat aircraft.

Joey

[Joeylikey]

Duplicate post

[Joeylikey]

Duplicate Post

[Joeylikey]

Duplicate post

[Joeylikey]

Duplicate post