After playing FM7 with my wheel for months, I’m still undecided between cockpit view and dashboard view.
What I dislike about the different camera views:
Cockpit view: the virtual steering wheel is distracting (especially because of the animation lag)
Dashboard view: with most cars, the rear view mirror is out of the field of view. Also, there’s a bit less side vision than with the cockpit view.
So for me, neither the cockpit view nor the dashboard view is perfect.
For me, the perfect view would be the same as the cockpit view but with the steering wheel removed.
(BTW, I’m not even considering the hood or bumper views, I think they are unrealistic and kill the immersion)
What about you guys? What do you think about the different camera views? Which one do you use?
I use the bumper view, quickest reactions to inputs from me, and I find I do not need the dash or hood to convey the feeling of motion. I do find the bumper view too low for super tight traffic, and if I choose something else, it’s the in-car without the steering wheel. Like you, I find the motion of the hands and wheel distracting.
Check your settings in-game, if you’re using in-car view you should be able to use the option to turn off the steering wheel so you only have the dashboard, and not a second wheel showing.
Yes I know, this is the view I was referring to as “dashboard view” in my first post.
The problem with this view, is that the camera is moved forward, hence with most cars the rear view mirror is no longer visible; and in some cars, even the gauges are no longer visible, which is quite broken.
If the gauges are not visible, I can at a pinch live with it, because I have the tachometer/speedometer on the HUD.
But if the rear view mirror is not visible, there is no virtual rear view mirror to replace it.
I feel like I need a rear view mirror. It’s useful for clean defending. It’s useful to avoid crashes when being passed. It’s useful for many reasons.
Of course there is the mini-map and the arrows, but it’s not the same.
With the rear view mirror, when an opponent is getting close to me, I don’t need to actually LOOK at the mirror to SEE the car getting closer.
But with the mini-map, if I don’t constantly look at the mini-map, I won’t see if someone is getting close to me.
And regarding the arrows, in the heat of the action, very often I barely notice them.
I use dashboard, even though the FOV can be quite poor in some cars. But it’s the lesser of the evils because I can’t stand to see the in-car wheel model as well as my own wheel.
I use different setting dependent on the car and how I feel. Some cars have really bad cockpit views. Usually I rotate between cockpit, dash, and bumper cameras during a long race to keep it fresh. I would prefer to use dash cam but the view is weird in some cars or you can’t really see the instrument panel. Chase cam doesn’t work at all for me. I feel very disconnected to what the car is doing and what the actual heading of the car is.
I use cockpit view in most instances. For cars that have impaired vision from the regular cockpit view, I use the dashboard view or even the hood view. I really like when a car provides a good rear view mirror, as some of you have mentioned. And I agree, chase cam gives me no feel at all for what the car is doing. I might as well be “drinking and driving” with that…
I use cockpit view 99% of the time but sometimes the FOV, POV or just how high or low the camera is in cockpit view is awful on occasion. Then I use hood view.
Hood view, which I wish would be customizable since on some cars it seems to be placed way too far.
Steering angles make cockpit view look wrong.
Dash view without the steering wheel looks wrong.
Outside views unplayable for me with the wheel.
Bumper view most of the time too low but awesome sense of speed.
If I’m using FM7 to get the best sense of realism I use the cockpit view unless the windshield glare is intolerable. If I’m in a Rival or Bounty Hunter event where setting the best time is important I use the hood view.
I hate the views from outside the car because they make me feel very disconnected from it.,
I never use a standard controller even though I keep hearing that the bulk of the fastest times are set using it.
EDIT: I use the standard controller for painting and applying decals.
Cockpit of course. That’s the only way to go. The closest to where you actually seat irl. Unless of course you strap yourself onto the hood or underneath your car, or have an ultra-fast drone following your car while you remotely drive that car as well as fly the drone. In which case, then go for it I guess
Cockpit whenever other cars are involved so I can use the rear view mirror to see if somebody is going to make a move (or to try avoid rammer), and also gives slightly better peripheral vision.
Dash view when driving alone or for cars that require lower DOR because on PC the animation rate is fixed to match 900° so as soon as you lower it you get ‘crazy hands’ wich drives me nuts.
98% Helmet view, 2% cockpit view…there aren’t any other realistic views, are there? I find it hilarious that someone said “outside views are unplayable with a wheel” and uses hood view, which is in itself an outside view…
For me HOOD cam since Forza 2 … cockpit cam is the seat too far behind and Dashboard is nice but without Mirror a NOGO !!!
But because the FOV is not adjustable , all Cams are not really accurate for my setup… SAD :-/
Chase cam for me when using wheel as it provides more situational awareness during initial laps,
once field has spread a quick button press takes me to dash view (no wheel).
Like most people in real life I have ~180 degree FOV so most game FOV are not comparable unless VR is used…
And I agree, chase cam gives me no feel at all for what the car is doing. I might as well be “drinking and driving” with that… 