Why does my .7 solve error result in bad track? I started with my iPhone 4 footage and managed to get a solid 0.7159 solve error (using the phone preset w/k1+k2+focal length) with just 21 markers (including my new Favorite Thing, perspective markers). Huzzah!

Except when I Setup Tracking Scene - the presented solution shows the camera and the markers in an almost completely straight line, or has the camera stretched out to a ridiculous distance, covering the markers (which are in an almost completely straight line).

I've set the floor, the origin, the x axis, the scale - all to only minor adjustments.

How can I convince Blender that it's looking at a fairly broad street, not a tiny, thin path?
The problem is displayed in your screenshot.



First off the iPhone 4 has a 3.85mm focal length (part of the iPhone 4 preset), no were near 457.

Because you had a focal length that was way off, it messed up blender big time. No doubt you had Refine in the Solve settings set to adjust the K1 and K2 values. -1237926.25 is a HUGE number, way bigger then anything you will ever really need; for that matter the K1 value is way too high. The focal length and Lens Distortion values are the cause of your problem.