To zoom or not to zoom

[Ripsnort]

Never even entered my mind to use zoom for ATA combat, until I saw Udie doing it at last years con...it throws my peripherial, combat awareness off, so I just live with lousy gunnery, but end up flying home alive because of leaving it where it is due to SA.

[Nash]

Heya Rude. Nah... I can't gun with it in most cases. When I'm getting close enough (say 1k or less) zoom is no good for me. But at say 1.5k and greater, you can clearly see what the bandit is up to only if yer zoomed. So I use that to get into better position (about 1/2 way zoomed in). Once he's within' 1k you don't need it to see what he's doing, and I find it impossible to hit anything when zoomed in unless he's flying perfectly straight. But at those greater distances it *really* helps you to position yourself for the fight.

[hblair]

I never zoom in a fighter, except for boom & zoom, but that's a whole 'nother topic.  

[Rude]

Thanks Nash...will give it a shot...especially if it helps me kill you and that pesky niki you drive around in

[Rocket]

I zoom to see where the con is going when I am closing in.  I don't use in guns range, like Rude it really messes my aim up.  I usually end up over correcting back and forth.  My gunnery sux bad enough let alone zooming.  That and I can't track the con close as he changes from straight view to up/angle or angle view.  But it is helpful as all get out setting up the con from a distance  

S!
Rocket

[AKSWulfe]

I have my zoom customized so that on the 190A5 the line that runs through the dashboard is just above the bottom of my monitor. It's not nearly as jittery/bouncy as the default position and doesnt' restrict your vision as much.

The zoom is universal across all planes, so if you want to try my setting just quickly launch a 190A5 offline and set it up that way.

I only use it because I have a 15" monitor, damn near impossible to see things sometimes.

I only use zoom when I'm closing behind a bogey or have some shot from behind him or 90degrees into his topside.

Otherwise I use default forward head position because it simply allows for faster view transition.

I have the zoom key mapped to the red thumb button on the X35T, so I can easily zoom in and out.
-SW

[mason22]

<mazda>  "zoom zoom."

[eskimo2]

I think it gives a realistic veiw and helps gunnery in many situations.  I use zoom in ground attack and longer air to air shots.

eskimo