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XCamera

XCamera is a camera system for X-Plane 11/12 that replaces the default view system with a fully configurable, aircraft-specific camera framework.

Background

  • Developer: Stick and Rudder Studios
  • Website: stickandrudderstudios.com/x-camera
  • License: Commercial (closed source)
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (native binaries)
  • Compatibility: X-Plane 11.3+ and X-Plane 12

XCamera is actively maintained. The plugin is a standalone XPLM plugin and does not require FlyWithLua or any other scripting framework.

Features

  • Custom views: Multiple camera categories and views per aircraft, stored in aircraft-specific configuration files
  • Camera transitions: Smooth and Bezier curve transitions between cameras, automatic sequences
  • Airport cameras: Automatically generated cameras at gates, signs, runways, and tower positions
  • Walk mode / free camera: Free movement via keyboard in and around the aircraft
  • G-Loaded Camera: Replaces the earlier Cinema Verite function starting with X-Plane 12.4.1
  • External cameras: Configurable external views with orbit and fly-by
  • AI aircraft views: View from the perspective of AI aircraft
  • Mini control panel: Color-coded dynamic panel for quick camera selection
  • Head tracking: TrackIR (Windows), OpenTrack (Linux/macOS, recommended), LinuxTrack (unmaintained), SimHat (iPhone)

Free vs. Registered

  • Free: All features are functional, but advanced settings are not saved. Airport camera generation is limited.
  • Registered ($18 USD): Settings are saved, full airport camera generation. A 2.X key works for all 2.X versions.

Value in Flight Simulation

XCamera offers hundreds of aircraft-specific camera positions that are shared through the community. The Bezier transitions between cameras create a cinematic effect that standard views lack. Airport cameras provide external views from gate, tower, or runway — useful for realistic approach observations. Walk mode allows free exploration of the aircraft and its surroundings.

Installation

Download: stickandrudderstudios.com/x-camera/download-x-camera (free version) or X-Plane.Org Store (registered)

Extract the ZIP file to Resources/plugins/. This creates the X-Camera/ folder with the Linux binary at 64/lin.xpl.

No additional system packages are required. There are no known Linux-specific issues.

Head Tracking on Linux

For head tracking on Linux, OpenTrack is recommended. LinuxTrack is no longer actively maintained.

OpenTrack setup

  1. Install and configure OpenTrack (input: webcam with NeuralNet tracker, IR clip, etc.)
  2. In OpenTrack: Set output to "UDP over network"
  3. Place the OpenTrack X-Plane plugin (included in the OpenTrack build) in Resources/plugins/ and enable "Track Head Motion" in X-Plane
  4. In XCamera: Enable the "TrackIR" checkbox on the desired views — XCamera treats OpenTrack data the same as TrackIR data

Installing OpenTrack on Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt install cmake qtbase5-dev libopencv-dev libprocps-dev
git clone https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack.git
cd opentrack && mkdir build && cd build
cmake .. && make -j$(nproc)

Alternatively, pre-built packages are available in some distributions.

Sources