You can lose orientation of the plane fast when it's further away not
to mention other problems it's best to keep it closer to the field..
I use to try and keep my plane parallel to our runway about 75-100yds
out. It was a lot eaiser to see what you and the plane are doing..
On landings I would have a good approch height wise, but would be on
the outside edge of the runway.. So the last turn to final and I would
aim the plane towards myself (before making the final turn towards
runway)and I had a land mark that I would use that aligned the plane to
the center of the runway before finishing the last turn.. This helped me
alot..