diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+0.7.2.0:
+- add option to set initial camera position
+
 0.7.1.0:
 - add an interface which makes a movie
 
diff --git a/not-gloss.cabal b/not-gloss.cabal
--- a/not-gloss.cabal
+++ b/not-gloss.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:                not-gloss
-version:             0.7.1.1
+version:             0.7.2.0
 stability:           Experimental
 synopsis:            Painless 3D graphics, no affiliation with gloss
 description:{
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 license-file:        LICENSE
 author:              Greg Horn
 maintainer:          gregmainland@gmail.com
-copyright:           (c) Greg Horn 2012-2014
+copyright:           (c) Greg Horn 2012-2015
 category:            Graphics
 build-type:          Simple
 cabal-version:       >=1.8
diff --git a/src/Vis.hs b/src/Vis.hs
--- a/src/Vis.hs
+++ b/src/Vis.hs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {-# OPTIONS_GHC -Wall #-}
 
 module Vis ( Options(..)
+           , Camera0(..)
            , defaultOpts
            , display
            , animate
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@
 import Graphics.UI.GLUT ( SpecialKey(..), BitmapFont(..), Flavour(..) )
 
 import Vis.Vis ( Options(..), visMovie )
+import Vis.Camera ( Camera0(..) )
 import Vis.Interface ( display, animate, simulate, play, animateIO, simulateIO, playIO )
 import Vis.VisObject ( VisObject(..) )
 import Vis.GlossColor
@@ -35,4 +37,5 @@
   , optWindowSize = Nothing
   , optWindowPosition = Nothing
   , optWindowName = "not-gloss"
+  , optInitialCamera = Nothing
   }
diff --git a/src/Vis/Camera.hs b/src/Vis/Camera.hs
--- a/src/Vis/Camera.hs
+++ b/src/Vis/Camera.hs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 data Camera0 = Camera0 { phi0 :: GLdouble
                        , theta0 :: GLdouble
                        , rho0 :: GLdouble
-                       }
+                       } deriving Show
 
 data Camera = Camera { phi :: GLdouble
                      , theta :: GLdouble
diff --git a/src/Vis/Interface.hs b/src/Vis/Interface.hs
--- a/src/Vis/Interface.hs
+++ b/src/Vis/Interface.hs
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@
                      , playIO
                      ) where
 
+import Data.Maybe ( fromMaybe )
 import Graphics.UI.GLUT ( Key, KeyState, Position, Modifiers, Cursor(..) )
 
-import Vis.Vis ( Options, vis )
+import Vis.Vis ( Options(..), vis )
 import Vis.Camera ( Camera, Camera0(..), makeCamera, setCamera, cameraMotion, cameraKeyboardMouse )
 import Vis.VisObject ( VisObject(..) )
 
@@ -39,9 +40,7 @@
   where
     ts = 0.01
     userState0 = ()
-    cameraState0 = makeCamera $ Camera0 { phi0 = 60
-                                        , theta0 = 20
-                                        , rho0 = 7}
+    cameraState0 = makeCamera $ fromMaybe defaultCamera (optInitialCamera opts)
     drawFun (_,time) = do
       obs <- userDrawFun time
       return (obs, Nothing)
@@ -81,9 +80,7 @@
     simFun ((userState,cameraState),time) = do
       nextUserState <- userSimFun time userState
       return (nextUserState, cameraState)
-    cameraState0 = makeCamera $ Camera0 { phi0 = 60
-                                        , theta0 = 20
-                                        , rho0 = 7}
+    cameraState0 = makeCamera $ fromMaybe defaultCamera (optInitialCamera opts)
     kmCallback (state, camState) k0 k1 _ _ = (state, cameraKeyboardMouse camState k0 k1)
     motionCallback (state, cameraState) pos = (state, cameraMotion cameraState pos)
     setCameraFun (_,cameraState) = setCamera cameraState
@@ -125,3 +122,11 @@
   where
     drawFun (userState, _) = userDrawFun userState
     simFun (userState,time) = userSimFun time userState
+
+
+defaultCamera :: Camera0
+defaultCamera =
+  Camera0
+  { phi0 = 60
+  , theta0 = 20
+  , rho0 = 7}
diff --git a/src/Vis/Vis.hs b/src/Vis/Vis.hs
--- a/src/Vis/Vis.hs
+++ b/src/Vis/Vis.hs
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
   , optWindowSize :: Maybe (Int,Int) -- ^ optional (x,y) window size in pixels
   , optWindowPosition :: Maybe (Int,Int) -- ^ optional (x,y) window origin in pixels
   , optWindowName :: String -- ^ window name
+  , optInitialCamera :: Maybe Camera0 -- ^ initial camera position
   } deriving Show
 
 myGlInit :: Options -> IO ()
@@ -283,11 +284,11 @@
 
   myGlInit opts
 
-  let cameraState0 =
-        makeCamera $
+  let defaultCam =
         Camera0 { phi0 = 60
                 , theta0 = 20
                 , rho0 = 7}
+      cameraState0 = makeCamera $ fromMaybe defaultCam (optInitialCamera opts)
 
   -- create internal state
   areWeDrawingRef <- newIORef False