Is there a way to fit the viewport to the current field of view?

Question

Since there seems to be no direct way to get the camera's projection matrix, I'm hoping that it's possible to fit the viewport to the current field of view (the area encompassed by passepartout), because then the viewport projection matrix would in effect be the camera projection matrix, and that matrix can be retrieved via region_3d.perspective_matrix.

So, in pictures, I'm looking to do the following via Python:

Before:

After:

Is that possible?

I'm looking to export the projection matrix for an external application, so that my view there matches blender's camera view.

For that purpose, this is a roundabout way to ask, but my previous question was (in my view, incorrectly) marked as a duplicate.

Answer 1

While trying to figure out how to manipulate bpy.context.screen.areas[5].spaces[0].region_3d.view_camera_zoom , I accidentally discovered that the Home key will make the camera bounds fill the viewport. If you try 'View All' from the spacebar menu it doesn't work exactly like the Home key (could not be bothered to hunt down why).

While not exactly useful, the examples at http://web.purplefrog.com/~thoth/blender/python-cookbook/screenshot-sequence.html might get you a little closer to the solution. Specifically

def viewMatrixFromCamera(cam):
    """
    :param cam: the camera whose point of view is of interest
    :return: the view matrix suitable for use in region_3d.view_matrix
    """
    m2 = cam.rotation_euler.to_matrix()
    m2.resize_4x4()
    m3 = mathutils.Matrix.Translation(cam.location)
    return (m3*m2).inverted()

def viewFrom(screen):
    """
    :param screen:
    :return: the "first" area in the specified screen that is a 3D view.
    """
    for obj in screen.areas:
        if (obj.type == 'VIEW_3D'):
            return obj
    return None


v3d = viewFrom(bpy.context.screen)
m1 = viewMatrixFromCamera(bpy.context.scene.camera)
print(m1)
v3d.spaces[0].region_3d.view_matrix = m1

Unfortunately this exact code is NOT what you need when you are actually looking through the camera. It only works to set the view when you are NOT looking through the camera.

Another problem is that while the code does move your focal point to the camera position, and gives you the correct orientation, it is highly unlikely to match the focal length of the camera. I have not been able to find any setting on the 3D view that allows you to adjust the focal length when you are not looking through the camera. When you "zoom in" you really just move the 3d view's focal point closer to the center point.

Answer 2

If you want to "fill" the screen with the camera view while looking through a camera, this little nugget should do the trick:

import bpy
import mathutils


def viewFrom(screen):
    """
    :param screen:
    :return: the "first" area in the specified screen that is a 3D view.
    """
    for obj in screen.areas:
        if (obj.type == 'VIEW_3D'):
            return obj
    return None

def wonk(factor):
    return 50*(2*math.sqrt(factor) - math.sqrt(2))

#

v3d = viewFrom(bpy.context.screen)
r3d = v3d.spaces[0].region_3d

r3d.view_camera_offset = (0,0)
r3d.view_camera_zoom = 29.29 # (2-sqrt(2))*50

a1 = v3d.regions[4].width / v3d.regions[4].height
a2 = scn.render.resolution_x / scn.render.resolution_y

if a2<a1 :
    r3d.view_camera_zoom = wonk(a2/a1)

If you want to set your view point and angle to be the same as the camera while not looking through the camera, see my other example.

Answer 3

Python has access to all the variables used to make the camera matrix, it shouldn't be so much work to check on the C code and get it working in Python, note that the camera frame may have shift applied, so a matrix alone wont give give you the camera bounds.

Check: BKE_camera_params_compute_matrix and BKE_camera_params_from_object

Answer 4

Spacebar menu ..... view camera center.

bpy.ops.view3d.camera_to_view()