Blender Cameras
Set up cameras with the same decisions a real cinematographer makes: focal length for feel, f-stop for focus, composition for storytelling.
Focal length cheat sheet
| Length | Feel | Use |
|---|
| 14–24mm | Very wide, distorted | Architecture, claustrophobic interiors, exaggerated perspective |
| 28–35mm | Wide, "documentary" | Establishing shots, environments |
| 50mm | Neutral (≈ human eye) | Default storytelling |
| 85mm | Short telephoto | Portraits, character close-ups (flattering) |
| 100–135mm | Telephoto | Hero product shots, isolated subjects |
| 200mm+ | Long tele | Wildlife, surveillance look, heavy compression |
Quick rule: 85mm for intimacy, 24mm for spectacle, 50mm for neutral.
Aperture / f-stop
| f-stop | DoF | Use |
|---|
| f/1.2–2.0 | Razor thin | Hero portraits, dreamy |
| f/2.8 | Shallow | Standard portrait |
| f/4 | Moderate | Two subjects in frame |
| f/5.6–8 | Medium-deep | Group portraits, environments |
| f/11+ | Very deep | Landscape, "everything sharp" |
Recipes
Recipe 0 — Bbox-aware hero camera (preferred for orchestrator chains)
Use this when you have a specific subject. Computes the subject's bounding box, places camera at a distance that fits the subject in ~80% of the frame vertically, and aims via Track-To.
python
import bpy, math
from mathutils import Vector
# Choose subject — all meshes named GEO-* by default, or pass a specific list
subject_meshes = [o for o in bpy.data.objects if o.type == 'MESH' and o.name.startswith('GEO-')]
if not subject_meshes:
raise RuntimeError("No subject meshes found (looking for GEO- prefix)")
# World-space bbox
deps = bpy.context.evaluated_depsgraph_get()
all_verts = []
for o in subject_meshes:
eo = o.evaluated_get(deps); em = eo.to_mesh()
for v in em.vertices:
all_verts.append(o.matrix_world @ v.co)
eo.to_mesh_clear()
xs = [v.x for v in all_verts]; ys = [v.y for v in all_verts]; zs = [v.z for v in all_verts]
center = Vector(((min(xs)+max(xs))/2, (min(ys)+max(ys))/2, (min(zs)+max(zs))/2))
height = max(zs) - min(zs)
width = max(xs) - min(xs)
biggest = max(height, width)
# Frame fit: at distance D, vertical frame = D × (sensor_h / focal). Solve for D.
focal_mm = 60 # 60mm gives a flattering not-too-wide hero shot
sensor_h_mm = 24 # full-frame
frame_per_meter = sensor_h_mm / focal_mm # 0.4 m vertical frame per metre of distance
target_fill = 0.80
camera_distance = biggest / (frame_per_meter * target_fill)
# Camera positioned in front (negative Y) with slight X offset for a 3/4 angle
cam_pos = Vector((center.x + camera_distance * 0.3, center.y - camera_distance, center.z))
# Empty for tracking
empty_name = 'Empty-camera_target'
empty = bpy.data.objects.get(empty_name) or bpy.data.objects.new(empty_name, None)
if empty.name not in [o.name for o in bpy.context.collection.objects]:
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(empty)
empty.location = center
# Camera
cam_data = bpy.data.cameras.new('CAM-hero')
cam_data.lens = focal_mm
cam_data.dof.use_dof = True
cam_data.dof.aperture_fstop = 4.0
cam_data.dof.focus_object = subject_meshes[0] # focus on first/main subject
cam = bpy.data.objects.new('CAM-hero', cam_data)
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(cam)
cam.location = cam_pos
track = cam.constraints.new('TRACK_TO')
track.target = empty
track.track_axis = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z'
track.up_axis = 'UP_Y'
bpy.context.scene.camera = cam
print(f"camera:bbox_aware center={tuple(round(v,2) for v in center)} dist={camera_distance:.2f}m focal={focal_mm}mm")
For elongated vertical subjects (sword, flag, candle): biggest dimension is height; the framing math fits height to 80% of vertical frame, which is what you want.
For wide horizontal subjects (car, table): biggest is width; it fits width to 80% of vertical frame too which over-zooms — for those, swap to
frame_per_meter_h = (sensor_h_mm * aspect_ratio) / focal_mm
or adjust target_fill down.
Recipe 1 — Hero portrait camera (85mm + shallow DoF)
python
import bpy, math
subject = bpy.data.objects.get('GEO-subject') # change to your subject
# Camera
cam_data = bpy.data.cameras.new('CAM-hero')
cam = bpy.data.objects.new('CAM-hero', cam_data)
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(cam)
bpy.context.scene.camera = cam
cam.location = (3, -4, 1.6)
cam_data.lens = 85
cam_data.sensor_width = 36
# Depth of field
cam_data.dof.use_dof = True
cam_data.dof.aperture_fstop = 2.8
if subject:
cam_data.dof.focus_object = subject
# Track-to constraint (auto-aim at subject)
if subject:
track = cam.constraints.new('TRACK_TO')
track.target = subject
track.track_axis = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z'
track.up_axis = 'UP_Y'
print('camera:CAM-hero set')
Recipe 2 — Wide environmental establishing shot (24mm)
python
import bpy, math
cam_data = bpy.data.cameras.new('CAM-establish')
cam = bpy.data.objects.new('CAM-establish', cam_data)
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(cam)
bpy.context.scene.camera = cam
cam.location = (8, -10, 2.5)
cam.rotation_euler = (math.radians(80), 0, math.radians(35))
cam_data.lens = 24
cam_data.sensor_width = 36
cam_data.dof.use_dof = False
print('camera:CAM-establish (24mm wide)')
Recipe 3 — Product hero (100mm + macro DoF)
python
import bpy, math
subject = bpy.data.objects.get('GEO-product')
cam_data = bpy.data.cameras.new('CAM-product')
cam = bpy.data.objects.new('CAM-product', cam_data)
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(cam)
bpy.context.scene.camera = cam
cam.location = (0.4, -1.5, 0.2) # close-in
cam_data.lens = 100
cam_data.sensor_width = 36
cam_data.dof.use_dof = True
cam_data.dof.aperture_fstop = 2.0
if subject:
cam_data.dof.focus_object = subject
if subject:
track = cam.constraints.new('TRACK_TO')
track.target = subject
track.track_axis = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z'
track.up_axis = 'UP_Y'
print('camera:CAM-product (100mm hero)')
Recipe 4 — Composition guides (rule-of-thirds overlay)
python
import bpy
cam_data = bpy.data.cameras['CAM-hero']
cam_data.show_composition_thirds = True
cam_data.show_composition_golden = False
cam_data.show_composition_center = False
print('composition:thirds_on')
These overlays show in viewport only; no effect on render.
Recipe 5 — Orbit camera animation (10-second 360° turntable)
python
import bpy, math
target = bpy.data.objects.get('GEO-subject')
# Empty as pivot
pivot = bpy.data.objects.new('Empty-orbit_pivot', None)
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(pivot)
if target:
pivot.location = target.location
# Camera child of pivot
cam_data = bpy.data.cameras.new('CAM-orbit')
cam = bpy.data.objects.new('CAM-orbit', cam_data)
bpy.context.collection.objects.link(cam)
cam.parent = pivot
cam.location = (0, -5, 0.5)
cam.rotation_euler = (math.radians(85), 0, 0)
cam_data.lens = 50
bpy.context.scene.camera = cam
# Animate pivot's Z rotation: 0 → 360° over frames 1..240 (10s @ 24fps)
pivot.rotation_euler = (0, 0, 0)
pivot.keyframe_insert('rotation_euler', frame=1)
pivot.rotation_euler = (0, 0, math.radians(360))
pivot.keyframe_insert('rotation_euler', frame=240)
# Set linear interpolation for constant orbit speed
if pivot.animation_data and pivot.animation_data.action:
for fc in pivot.animation_data.action.fcurves:
for kp in fc.keyframe_points:
kp.interpolation = 'LINEAR'
print('camera:CAM-orbit (10s turntable)')
Recipe 6 — Push-in / dolly (camera moves forward, no zoom)
python
import bpy
cam = bpy.data.objects['CAM-hero']
# Start position
cam.location = (3, -8, 1.6)
cam.keyframe_insert('location', frame=1)
# End position (closer to subject)
cam.location = (3, -4, 1.6)
cam.keyframe_insert('location', frame=120)
print('camera:dolly_5s')
A push-in (physical move forward) is visually distinct from a zoom (focal length change). Use push-ins for cinematic feel, zooms for surveillance/news look.
Composition rules — enforce via positioning
- Rule of thirds: place the subject at one of the 4 intersection points, not center.
- Headroom: leave ~10% empty above the head.
- Nose room: if subject faces left, leave space on the left for them to "look into".
- Foreground/midground/background: three depth layers feel more cinematic.
Sensor sizes
| Sensor | Width (mm) | Notes |
|---|
| Full frame DSLR / 35mm cinema | 36 | Default |
| APS-C | 22.5 | 1.5–1.6× crop |
| Super 35 | 24.89 | Most cinema |
| Micro Four Thirds | 17.3 | Mirrorless |
| iPhone 15 Pro | 9.8 | Smartphone reference |
Set with
cam_data.sensor_width = 36
.
Common pitfalls
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|
| Distorted face on portrait | Use 50mm+ for human subjects |
| Subject blurred, background sharp | Set to the subject |
| Camera dead-center on subject | Apply rule of thirds; offset subject |
| Orbit camera tilts wildly | Use Track-To constraint, not manual rotation |
| Camera below ground in animation | Add Floor constraint or check Z keyframes |
| DoF very slow in Cycles | Acceptable for finals; viewport may use simpler approximation |
When to load
Load when:
- Cinematic effects beyond defaults: anamorphic, lens flares, vignette
- Multi-camera scenes (camera markers for editing)
- Camera shake / handheld noise
- Stereo / VR camera setup
The reference covers: full focal length theory, aperture/f-stop tables, composition guides, sensor variants for matching real cameras (iPhone, cinema, DSLR), animated camera patterns, cinematic effects.