@HugoB and @RCHeliguy firstly, regardless of my chosen FOV when using the Pimax 5k+, I've never had to make any in-game adjustments relating to viewing angle apart from centering or adjusting seat position to my preference. The only in-game FOV adjustment I might play around with is the Real World View option in RaceRoom due to cockpit scaling issues, but that was the same with the Rift.
Secondly, for me personally, (it's all subjective after all) and for sim-racing specifically, clarity at the extremes of the FOV range, in terms of edge-to-edge sharpness where your surroundings are concerned, isn't the most important thing and I'm not including the clarity of dials, gauges and text in that statement because it hasn't been an issue when glancing outside of the sweet spot. It's the increased awareness and the early warning that the additional peripheral vision provides, without the need to consciously turn your head, that's been the biggest win for me since moving to the Pimax, even above the improved visuals. It just 'ups the ante' through both increased immersion and improved judgement, whether that's being visually aware of another car pulling alongside you that little bit earlier and reacting accordingly, (rather than CrewChief telling you and hoping he's right
), or making a dive down the inside, with less risk to yourself and others, because you can see, or are aware of, a little more of what is to your left or right. I've even had a few 'three-abreast' moments of late, which I would have previously avoided completely or backed out of sharpish for fear of things ending in tears but I was able to hang in there because those few extra degrees of awareness gave me the confidence and 'margin of error' to do so.
Of interest as well is that the claimed Pimax FOV in Small, Normal & Large guises is also pretty questionable, at least when using this admittedly slightly fiddly and therefore questionably accurate, Steam Workshop app to measure it.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1359389601
My quick and dirty results with the Pimax were as follows and I know others who reported similar.
Time will tell.
Secondly, for me personally, (it's all subjective after all) and for sim-racing specifically, clarity at the extremes of the FOV range, in terms of edge-to-edge sharpness where your surroundings are concerned, isn't the most important thing and I'm not including the clarity of dials, gauges and text in that statement because it hasn't been an issue when glancing outside of the sweet spot. It's the increased awareness and the early warning that the additional peripheral vision provides, without the need to consciously turn your head, that's been the biggest win for me since moving to the Pimax, even above the improved visuals. It just 'ups the ante' through both increased immersion and improved judgement, whether that's being visually aware of another car pulling alongside you that little bit earlier and reacting accordingly, (rather than CrewChief telling you and hoping he's right
), or making a dive down the inside, with less risk to yourself and others, because you can see, or are aware of, a little more of what is to your left or right. I've even had a few 'three-abreast' moments of late, which I would have previously avoided completely or backed out of sharpish for fear of things ending in tears but I was able to hang in there because those few extra degrees of awareness gave me the confidence and 'margin of error' to do so.Of interest as well is that the claimed Pimax FOV in Small, Normal & Large guises is also pretty questionable, at least when using this admittedly slightly fiddly and therefore questionably accurate, Steam Workshop app to measure it.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1359389601
My quick and dirty results with the Pimax were as follows and I know others who reported similar.
- Large: Claimed:170 - Measured:145
- Normal: Claimed:150 - Measured: 125
- Small - Untested
- Large FOV: the edge of the logo and a little of the text (unreadable) on both sides
- Normal FOV: no logo and less text (unreadable) on both sides
- Small FOV: I see nothing!
Time will tell.
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