Camera changes its Angle of View because of Persp/Ortho switch

[Br0ken1334]

1. Create a PolyCube.

2. Switch the Persp Camera to Ortho (default Angle of View = 54.43). 

3. Hit F key (Frame Selection).

4. Switch the Ortho back to Persp.

5. Angle of View is changed...

[mspeer]

Hi!

I can't confirm this (tested with Maya 2018.4 on windows).

[Br0ken1334]

Hmm, looks like this bug only appears if I use Camera Mode Toggle hotkey (or View -> Camera Settings -> Perspective/Orthographic).

With manual switch in the Attribute Editor it works fine.

Maya 2018.4, Windows, too.

[mspeer]

Hi!

This is an intended feature, so when fast switching back and forth between those 2 modes the framing will be preserved.

If you want a different behavior you can create your own script and hotkey.

[Br0ken1334]

Framing saving is a nice feature, but why it ruins the Angle of View? After that I need to manually restore the camera settings for the Persp view.

For example, in 3ds Max, when you switch back from Ortho it preserves the framing and the Angle of View.

[Br0ken1334]

After series of the experiments I found that if I switch from Persp to Ortho (with Alt-P) after Frame Selection it preserves the framing and the Angle of View.

But any zoom operations in Ortho mode breaks Angle of View in Persp...

I tried to lock the Focal Length attribute, it helps to keep the Angle of View, but camera position still changes.

Persp (some zooming) -> Ortho (without zooming) -> Persp = Angle of View is preserved!

Persp (some zooming) -> Ortho (some zooming) -> Persp = Angle of View is changed!

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

That's the point, if you are in Orthographic mode, you are not moving the camera, you are zooming, so when switching back to Perspective mode the camera position (distance) will not change, but Focal Length (zoom).

If you lock the Focal Length, nothing will change (only panning will be transferred).

[Br0ken1334]

Oh, thanks for the explanation!

I'm actively using an Ortho mode for viewport navigation and this behavior is quite uncomfortable...

So, now there is no way to synchronize Orthographic camera with Perspective like in other apps (3ds Max, Zbrush, Blender)?

[mspeer]

Hi!

It is synced.

Position is synced and Zoom is synced (if you want).

There is not more you can sync.

The problem you may have is that Ortho cameras don't scale view with movement or don't move while zooming.

I don't know your workflow, but this built-in feature seems not to be useful for you, maybe a custom solution can fit your needs (the simplest could be a script that only toggles the Orthographic switch on and off)