And I explained why the “exact magnification” is not known
10X is not magnification
It’s “Improvement in identification range over naked eye”
B- This is further confirmed by the first source, stating that the “10:1” ratio (or “10X magnification” as specified in other sources) is actually the “Improvement in identification range over unaided eye”; So the “4X-10X magnification” figure is not the actual magnification but rather a performance figure of identification range improvement over the naked eye.
Thus the actual magnification of the system should be adjusted based on the provided FOV values.
Plus this is not an optical tank sight with gunners head against the eyepiece
This is a display hooked to a camera
“10X” figure even if it was magnification, would mean the angular size of the target on the MFD as seen by the pilot with his head in the assumed distance would be 10 times the angular size of the target as seen by naked eye.
There’s really no particular reason to look at it. The TISEO system, which is almost identical to the TCS, is also known to have a magnification of 4-10x.
“10X” means the angular size of the object as seen by the pilot through the MFD would be 10 times the angular size of the object as seen by his naked eyes.
Again, this is not an optical tank sight with gunner’s head against the eyepiece … This is a camera projected on an MFD.
That’s why TGP documents only give you FoV values and that’s why they should all be adjusted using FoV only (Unlike tank sights)
I mean it’s hard to correctly model it whilst still being bound to game logic. Though they probably should correct it to real FoV so it looks correct from the cockpit pov at least, it doesn’t take away the fact that in-game we can essentially put our faces to the screen with no loss in resolution by using the sight view. And this would give us an advantage that isn’t available irl if real FoV was modelled, because in-game zoom value on the sight view would then be upwards to 167.5x.
So with that in mind you should compare it like this:
Spoiler
Cockpit view: target 1x magnification
Display in cockpit view: ~3x magnification (disregarded by Gaijin)
Sure this means you will get more zoom when you switch to the full screen view, but:
1- That’s an advantage all aircrafts get … And it’s not unique to TGPs either, missile seekers get that as well. And not just in terms of zoom, but also resolution as TV cameras don’t have any resolution limit applied to them.
2- Those magnification figures are based on looking at it from the cockpit, as that view doesn’t exist IRL.
3- In fact if anything, with other systems you usually use the full screen view to find target and guide weapons, but with TCS you rely on the cockpit MFD more often as it’s slaved to radar so you don’t need to manually find targets (Nor is appropriate to do during air to air combat)
4- While you don’t get the full screen view IRL, you can get higher “magnification” by getting your head closer to the MFD.
You could perhaps say the “full screen view” is an analogue to that.
But because TCS is not adjusted properly, even if you bring your head so that the MFD fills your entire field of view, you are getting as much magnification as if IRL you were sitting with your head all the way back.
While other aircrafts get their “proper magnification figure” with pilot’s head all the way back, and can get higher magnification by moving pilot’s head closer.
I mean … It just looks radicicolous! … The cockpit has like 2x zoom!
There are many problems with using magnification figures for things like this. E.g. Assumed pilot head position for the 10X figure might not match the assumed head position in the game.
And the 10X figure might not even be true magnification, but rather “ratio of improvement in identification range” which would mean the actual magnification is higher. (Due to resolution limitations and quality loss etc)
So it’s just best to use FoV which is very easy to adjust to match real life.
IRL the MFD shows 0.44 deg slice of the world in NFOV … You make it do the same in the game, and the head position etc become irrelevant …
Most of these points you mention I also originally included in my post but then removed because it was getting too long. So I agree, but this is just how Gaijin reasoned it I guess.
This one particular I also included intially. But then I guessed, I suppose Gaijin could argue that you’re not realistically doing that as you’re firmly attached to your (ejection) seat. I wonder how much free movement you have though.
Can’t we figure this out though, roughly at least. There is probably some info on the display size itself and then assume some viewing distance (or rather work out the viewing distance given the 4-10x magnification and see if it’s reasonable).
I agree in the end though. I think they should just model it based on FoV only for these type of sights. It keeps things more consistent. But it also just shows that Gaijin doesn’t really care as much for the cockpit view, they’re more about modelling things more correctly for how most people play (so not the cockpit). Still, even with that, magnification numbers are quite rare to find, so they should not use them anyways to keep it in line with other sights. A case of something being gimped in-game because it tries to be more realistic (in one way) than other things.
