Drone flight parameters calculators

GSD Calculator

Formula:
GSD = (Sensor Width × Working Distance) / (True Focal Length × Image Width)

Enter your values below:

GSD (cm/pixel):

True focal length

Description: The true focal length of the camera (not the 35 mm equivalent).
Formula: True Focal Length = (35mm Equivalent Focal Length) / (Crop Factor)
Crop Factor: Crop Factor = 35 / Sensor Width

Enter values

Motion blur in flight

Description: Expected motion blur length in the image given shutter interval and drone speed.

Formula: Motion Blur (m) = Camera Shutter Interval (s) × Drone Speed (m/s)

Learn More: Article • Video

• For great results, ensure motion blur is always less than 1x GSD and in no case more than 2x your GSD

Optimal flight speed

Description: Optimal flight speed for the drone given capture timing.
Formula (simple): Optimal Flight Speed (m/s) = Image Interval (m) ÷ Camera Interval (s)
Camera Interval: max(Shutter Interval, Photo Interval) (computed automatically)

Sensor width from focal length and HFOV

Description: Convert between focal length, horizontal field of view (HFOV), and sensor width.
Formula: Sensor Width = 2 × (FocalLength × tan(0.5 × HFOV)) (HFOV in radians)

• Use these formulas to determine the width of a sensor’s active image area if it is not known.
• All lengths are in millimeters and all angles are horizontal degrees.
• Valid for rectilinear images only.
• In real world footage all lens distortion must be removed prior to measuring horizontal field of view (HFOV).