diff --git a/cellpack/autopack/upy/simularium/simularium_helper.py b/cellpack/autopack/upy/simularium/simularium_helper.py
index 774439b1..bb7ad09a 100644
--- a/cellpack/autopack/upy/simularium/simularium_helper.py
+++ b/cellpack/autopack/upy/simularium/simularium_helper.py
@@ -1328,7 +1328,9 @@ def writeToFile(self, file_name, bb, recipe_name, version):
                     n_subpoints[t][n] = 0
                 n += 1
 
-        camera_z_position = box_size[2] if box_size[2] > 10 else 100.0
+        # use max dimension to make sure camera captures entire scene
+        max_box_dimension = max(box_size)
+        camera_z_position = max_box_dimension * 2.5
         converted_data = TrajectoryData(
             meta_data=MetaData(
                 box_size=np.array(box_size),
diff --git a/cellpack/bin/simularium_converter.py b/cellpack/bin/simularium_converter.py
index abe2c972..53261ae5 100644
--- a/cellpack/bin/simularium_converter.py
+++ b/cellpack/bin/simularium_converter.py
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ def main():
         converter.fill_in_empty_fiber_data(time_point_index)
         if converter.debug:
             print("SUBPOINTS LENGTH", len(converter.subpoints[time_point_index]))
-        camera_z_position = box_size[2] if box_size[2] > 10 else 100.0
+        camera_z_position = box_size[2] * 1.5
         converted_data = TrajectoryData(
             meta_data=MetaData(
                 box_size=np.array(box_size),
diff --git a/examples/recipes/v2/spheres_in_a_box.json b/examples/recipes/v2/spheres_in_a_box.json
index 5b2859be..4f09db7e 100644
--- a/examples/recipes/v2/spheres_in_a_box.json
+++ b/examples/recipes/v2/spheres_in_a_box.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
         [
             1000,
             1000,
-            1500
+            1000
         ]
     ],
     "objects": {