Area of view at 400 ft.

[Madara]

Hello all!

Does anyone happen to know approximately how much area the Mavic Pro covers at 400ft? I have a project where I am going to monitor traffic patterns and need to figure out how much area I can cover while shooting video.

I can test it tonight and measure it on Google Earth if no one knows.

Thanks.

 

[sar104]

The MP has a diagonal FOV of 78.8° at 4000 x 3000 px, so the diagonal length, l, covered at 400 ft should be:

l = 2 x 400 x tan(78.8/2) = 657 ft
​

With a 4 x 3 aspect ratio, that makes the vertical, a, and horizontal, b, lengths at 400 ft:

a = 657 x sin(arctan(3/4)) = 394 ft

b = 657 x cos(arctan(3/4)) = 526 ft​

That does ignore lens distortions, but should be approximately correct.

 

[Niblett]

The MP has a diagonal FOV of 78.8° at 4000 x 3000 px, so the diagonal length, l, covered at 400 ft should be:

l = 2 x 400 x tan(78.8/2) = 657 ft
​

With a 4 x 3 aspect ratio, that makes the vertical, a, and horizontal, b, lengths at 400 ft:

a = 657 x sin(arctan(3/4)) = 394 ft

b = 657 x cos(arctan(3/4)) = 526 ft​

That does ignore lens distortions, but should be approximately correct.

So in other words about 100km

 

[Madara]

Thank you very much.

 

[Rick0504N]

The MP has a diagonal FOV of 78.8° at 4000 x 3000 px, so the diagonal length, l, covered at 400 ft should be:

l = 2 x 400 x tan(78.8/2) = 657 ft
​

With a 4 x 3 aspect ratio, that makes the vertical, a, and horizontal, b, lengths at 400 ft:

a = 657 x sin(arctan(3/4)) = 394 ft

b = 657 x cos(arctan(3/4)) = 526 ft​

That does ignore lens distortions, but should be approximately correct.

Yeah, but I need it using Common Core math, please.

 

[sar104]

Yeah, but I need it using Common Core math, please.

Is that a thing?

 

[UAVNV]

Is that a thing?

I think he's joking, if hes not im as smart as sar

 

[sar104]

I think he's joking, if hes not im as smart as sar

Yes - I figured he was too.

 

[RayOZ]

Here's a pic to visualised it.
Feels like I was back in school.

 

[SRJ_Mavic_PRO]

That made my brain hurt!

 

[lmel2005]

This calculation has its value, when camera looks straight down.

Changing angle of the gimbal, ranges will be different.

 

[sar104]

This calculation has its value, when camera looks straight down.

Changing angle of the gimbal, ranges will be different.

I assumed that the OP meant the field of view on the ground at 400 ft AGL, i.e. vertically down. If the question meant anything else then it would be missing essential information.

 

[Bledsoe1qb]

The MP has a diagonal FOV of 78.8° at 4000 x 3000 px, so the diagonal length, l, covered at 400 ft should be:

l = 2 x 400 x tan(78.8/2) = 657 ft
​

With a 4 x 3 aspect ratio, that makes the vertical, a, and horizontal, b, lengths at 400 ft:

a = 657 x sin(arctan(3/4)) = 394 ft

b = 657 x cos(arctan(3/4)) = 526 ft​

That does ignore lens distortions, but should be approximately correct.

Wow you are too smart my friend. I still remember high school over 40 years ago when they first started teaching that stuff I had a headache then and still get one Now. That stuff does not make any sense to me LOL. Evidently you paid attention hope you have a good job making lots of money because you deserve it

 

[ICHOTT]

The answer is not in someone’s calculations, the answer is get it up there and see if it does what you want, you may be good at 400, might be that 350 is ideal for your project!

 

[Pommystuart]

Maybe pop up the drone to 400ft.
Take a still pic and measure the distances between what you can see on the ground.
Easy.

 

[mrreddog]

Isn't the picture size different size than the video size??

 

[sar104]

Isn't the picture size different size than the video size??

Yes - the video formats do have a higher aspect ratio. The diagonal shouldn't change, and you can plug any aspect ratio into the formulae in post #2 to get the height and width for different values.

 

[Pommystuart]

You could also pick a still frame from the video and measure from that.

 

[Aerial West]

Yeah, but I need it using Common Core math, please.

this is what evil looks like guys.

 

[Rick0504N]

this is what evil looks like guys.

I was very lucky that my kids were out of school prior to CC starting.

I struggled with everything beyond long division lol

Much respect to sar104.