I'm new to this game, and as I cycle through the views with the F9 key, I see that the external view that I [would] like best is unusable, because the "camera" viewpoint orbits my spaceship. It just makes me dizzy. Is it supposed to do that, or is there some key I'm supposed to press, or option to enable, that would make the camera sit still?

One of the things that draws me to the game is the cool graphics; I wish I could fly my ship and have an external camera view of it at the same time because that would look really cool. I don't like this crazy orbiting camera thing. Please tell me if there's a way to make it stop.

press F9 key yet many times
you can to fly without your ship, use navigation key

hmmm it was to say BANZAIIIII before the new year

f9 offers multiple views to allow for taking screen shots of your ship from different angles.

Thanks. I'll try that.

There are only 2 third-person views for you (I forget what the default key is for that). What you are using F9 for is an external camera mode. This mode does not follow you around, it is stationary unless you use your flight keys to "fly" the camera around.

I have three views available but its on <F2>. One that hugs the butt end of my ship (much too closely), one that loops around the ship, and one that either locks on a spot as my ship turbos off into the ether or allows me to "fly" the camera as RelayeR noted . Guess The Devs changed the mapping again. Where was the memo? Why wasn't I informed?

Right, that jibes with my experience, except for the keystroke. I, too, get a camera view that "loops around the ship", as you described it, and I don't see the point of it. I'd like it to sit still and stay where I put it.

The F2 & F3 (old defaults) or F9 & F10 (new defaults) "camera" & "view" as paedric describes work like this:

[press F2 or F9 once] - gives you an external camera view that stays stationary but you are allowed to fly your ship. [press F3 or F10 once while in this view] - your third person view goes to behind and slightly above your ship. [press F3 or F10 a second time] - your third person view remains stationary and tracks your ship.

[press F2 or F9 a second time] - the camera view orbits your ship at around 40m/s but you are allowed to fly your ship. The camera view will fall in behind your ship if you fly above 40m/s.
[press F2 or F9 a third time] - the camera view becomes "flyable" but your ship is not.
[press F2 or F9 a fourth time] - the camera view goes back to first person view.
(the above camera views can be accessed by default key or the "CameraToggle" command.)
(the above third person view can be accessed by default key or the "ViewToggle" command.)

Hmm, not on my Mac G4. F10 gives 2 modes: camera right behind the ship, and camera stationary while ship flies off into the distance. F10 toggles between those two modes, and only if I've hit F9 first to switch from 1st person to camera view.

Thanks Waleran. It has been a while since I've played with the cameras so I've edited the above to reflect.