Camera Control Problems

Since the update, I've been having trouble with my camera controls. When I try to focus on an object, the camera freaks out and does something different than it's supposed to.

First off, it doesn't focus directly on the object itself. This is a problem with unusual-shaped objecs, because then the camera will focus on the ground under the object rather thet object itself.

If I try to zoom onto the object (moving the mouse forward), it'll reach a point where it'll refuse to zoom any further than a meter away from it.

Attempting to rotate around the focused object (Moving the camera sideways) rotates the camera at its current position rather than orbit around the object I'm trying to focus on.

In general, using the wheel or perform some precise camera manuevers causes the camera to sometimes wack out and zoom in towards a random direction at an odd angle.

I already tried fiddling with the camera preferences, such as setting smoothing to 0, but this hasn't helped.

I'm getting REALLY frustrated because I can't even make simple modifications to my products, yet alone actaully BUILD anything, because the camera controls just randomly decide to become retarded.

So, I'm wondering if there's any tricks to fixing this or not.

I've actually had wild camera control since a few server updates ago - camera suddenly zooms too far, will not zoom close enough, suddenly changes direction during a zoom, etc..... Some have said that if you use the on-screen controls, rather than the mouse, it does not usually have those problems, but I cannot get myself used to those.

I know when I put the cursor on my avatar and zoom in, I also get "stopped" a short distance away and can't get closer. What I've done is hold down the Alt key and pointing the mouse cursor "past" the avatar (or object) to a point beyond and then slowly zoom in by moving the mouse. This will get you much closer to your avatar or object and then holding Control & Alt & Shift at the same time you can move you view sideways. Or just using Control & Alt, you can rotate your view around with the mouse. Just be careful not to actually click on your avatar or object, or it will bounce you back to the default viewing distance. Hope this makes sense and you can even look "inside" your "body" to find hidden jewelry or something that you know you're wearing but can't see. Hope this helps.

I did that once - it was a bit creepy.

I tried the onscreen controls already. I can move the camera and rotate it, but the zoom control won't respond.



I tried this but it's just way too frustrating because I have to get the camera JUST right. When I do, often the camera will whack out in response to any minor adjustment, including simply rotating around the object. Also, this doesn't help because I'm a builder. I HAVE to click on my objects to edit them. If doing so causes the camera to change, then it's pointless.

And exactly WHY was the camera changed? I thought the camera system was one of the most robust features of SecondLife, especially when compared to other 3D programs with awkward or overly complicated camera controls.

Just FYI ...

Ctrl 0 --- zoom in (up to 6 steps if I remember correctly)
Ctrl 8 --- zoom out (up to 12 steps)
Ctrl 9 --- reset the zoom

These are camera zooms, not repositioning. Play with them a little and you will get the idea.

Thanks - I didn't know that.

I learned that through a tip of the week back when some Lindens would communicate with the residents. This was before the Linden communication manager has taken over and had the Lindens that would communicate with the residets stop communicating with the residents ... and now they wonder why there is a problem with the Linden | resident communications ...

Kat Linden has certianlly taken the Departmant of Communications in an Orwellian direction

[edit]
Sorry for the soapbox tangent

Just a little clarification on this: When you "zoom in and out" in this manner, you're actually changing the focal length of the camera lens, not changing any physical distance between the camera and what it's looking at. What's labeled as "zoom in" really just makes the view more orthographic, and "zoom out" makes it more fisheyed. It's the whole "objects in the mirror maybe closer than they appear" kind of effect. Your perception of what you think you're seeing can get pretty out of whack if you don't fully understand what you're looking at. Keep that in mind when using these controls.

/me grins - I actually had to read that a couple of times to really understand it (felt like a blond moment there for a bit and I've never been blond).

/me wanders up behind Yosef and slowly starts massaging his shoulders...... slides her hands up to gently massage his head......... rubs her fingertips in little circles on his temples........ softly caresses her hands along his chest, feeling his muscles relaxing........ continues caressing lower and lower......

(the remainder of this scene has been blacked out due to the PG rating of this forum)

seriously, you two need a room, and clean sheets delived often

Related question...

I can pan my camera over very wide distances with my camera controls. But my wife's will turn after a relatively short distance. This limits her ability to spy on distant neighbors while I can spy at will.

I checked her preferences and they look the same as mine. Anybody know why she can't pan long distances while I can?

A little more investigation found the answer...

DISABLE CAMERA RESTRAINTS . In the advanced menu in the top Nav bar.
If you do not have advanced Option just type ctrl-alt-d to toggle advanced menu on and off
Might want to make sure LIMIT SELECT DISTANCE is un-checked as well

Mine does this as well... I kinda get a touch of movement sickness in my tummy....

Maybe they try to cause a seizure in us?
Gosh I hope noone actually has one.. goodness LL could be ... (wont use the S word)

Hmm, strange this doesn't help me....... I have had those off for a while.

I think it has something to do with who owns the land you spy on

and furthermore, you just outed yourself to your neighbors..

its rude to spy on people,. Unless you suspect those people of being potential griefers...