"view distance" how would i use LOD / culling centered on my player

Hi
Im looking to implement some sort of "distance culling " (if anyone knows the right term for this il probably be half way there)…
My project has large outdoor areas and lots of objects dotted around but I simply can’t be bothered to go through them setting up the LOD like I’m supposed to. So, can I set up a field of vision for my player and camera that culls distant objects and applys low poly to medium distance objects, while still clearly seeing high poly nearby objects?
In my case I would also like to be able to unapply the culling I.e when player is indoors or if there’s something pretty going on outside.
Thanks

Ooh ps could this setting be adjustable by the player of the final packaged game to suit there hardware?

UE4 now has the ability to setup lods for you, just go to the actual model in ue4, and look at the LOD settings, configure them for said model and do the same for the rest of the models, and your all set.

Would this work on the player character and effect there view of all other objects?
Or do you mean going through the scene setting the LOD for each prop as I mentioned I’m avoiding in the Q?