The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

So.... different ratios will produce a different view of the subject matter (cropping involved).....but when viewing the resulting picture on a monitor, the size of the picture will look the same regardless the of ratio chosen??

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

Great explanation Bob (as usual) but along the same lines, when I asked on UHH what I to output from LR to get 11 X 14 prints, I was told to use 5.5 X 7, which is not one of the built-in choices but does work perfectly. It looks like both sides were divided by 2. How would I know to do that? What would I do for other custom sizes? Thanks, Bob

BebuLamar

I don't have the 7D Mk II so I don't know but I think if you set the camera to any aspect ratio other than 3:2 there would be a mask or crop line indicate in the viewfinder. So basically only the 3:2 aspect ratio on your camera uses the entire image captured by the camera. The other just a crop to provide different proportion of width vs height.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

If I take photos incamera that are composed well, then the 3:2 (6:4) ratio, which is my camera's natural size, gives me the largest pixel size to print off of. The more I have to change the aspect size/crop in post-processing to get good composition, the less options I have in print output. Of course, every time I print larger than 4x6 I have to crop to a different aspect ration, but good composition in the first place means less pixels trimmed.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

May I extend this subject by asking what are the aspect ratios of the most common and not so common image display. Such as 4x6 prints and others. I would tend to think the capture aspect ratio should match the dispkay aspect. When composing a scene does the aspect ratio of the box it is in have anyrhing to do with thr nuances of the composition. This is a really screwed up way of asking a question I must not understand well.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

No, the size of the picture will be the ratio chosen, i.e., a 16X9 ratio will produce a longer narrower photo than a 4X3.

Make an example in inches. Draw a 16 inch by 9 inch rectangle. Then draw a 4 inch by 3 inch rectangle and look at the difference in the shape.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Choosing a different aspect ratio is only going to affect jpg images or raw images if you open them in Canon's own software DPP. If you shoot raw images and edit using any other software they will always start out as 3:2 aspect ratio. You can change them using the crop tool in any editing software.

If you are shooting to print images to fit a 8x10 matt, then you'd want to shoot in a 4:5 aspect ratio. If you were printing images to fit a square frame or matt you'd shoot at 1:1 ratio. For a matt that is 6x8 you'd use 4:3 and so on. But it is better to keep the camera in it's native ratio of 3:2 and crop the image to fit the aspect ratio of the frame or matt. Just remember to leave room when shooting so that you can crop without losing parts in the crop.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Having read all the above I have a couple comments.

First A 4"x6" print has 3x2 aspect ratio, not a 4x6 aspect ratio. You want to use the least common denominator when describing the aspect ratio. A 4x3 aspect ratio image can be printed without cropping in sizes of 4"x3", 8"x"6, 12"x9", 20cm x 15cm etc, without cropping.

Secondly "The 4/3rds sensor" sounds like a micro four-thirds format, I believe wdross was referring to a 4x3 aspect ratio.

Third, a square aspect ratio (1x1) makes the most efficient use of the light from the lens. Any other aspect ratio wastes light.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

David is right! In addition, 3X2 is the aspect ratio of the sensors in DSLRs, even though the processors can crop as you choose. But 3X2 gets all of the pixels.

alx Loc: NJ

May I suggest thinking outside the box? Cut yourself a series of sample rectangles with all the aspect ratios and get a feel for them and their proportions. When taking the picture, look at the scene or subject and decide what your goal is for the final product and shoot for that goal. Don't be afraid of cropping in the end, the purpose is to produce the best final photograph. Hell, don't even limit your thought to your cardboard samples.

You don't have to only accept the aspect ratio of your camera. If you are standing on a hilltop with a broad panorama and the scene is telling you it will make a fantastic wide sweeping photo, envision how you want to present it and shoot with the understanding that you will crop it in the end. If that final crop doesn't fit a "standard" size you can always cut a mat and frame to fit your vision. Artistry is about the vision, not the box.

That is why I also suggest the highest resolution that you can afford to give yourself the most options and ultimate end control. If your photograph moves the viewer, except for the technicians who want to copy you, no one gives a damn what the original sensor aspect ratio was. If you make the viewer feel, you have a photograph.

PhotosBySteve

If you shoot in RAW, changing the aspect ratio to other than 2x3 will allow you to view the image while shooting at the selected ratio, the final image saved will still be the full default 2x3 image. If in JPEG the final image will be cropped to the selected ratio.

DJO

Take a step back and take a second look at the RATIO: 6x4 = 4x6 = 2x3 = 1x1.5 = 24x36. The last one on this list, 24x36, is considered to be the standard dimension, in millimeters, of a single frame of 35mm film. This has been an irritation, or not, for more than 80 years.

There have been times in the history of photography where groups of individuals considered cropping sinful; negative carriers were filed to indicate none had occurred. Disregarding derision from some of my peers, I cropped. My reason being that, in my opinion, not everything in the world has a proportion of one by one and a half.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

On most digital cameras with selectable aspect ratios, the selected ratio applies ONLY to JPEGs saved at the camera. Any raw file saved includes every pixel the sensor recorded. You can take advantage of this in several ways, if you set the camera to save both raw files and JPEGs:

You can set the camera for 1:1 or 16:9, and compose in the camera for a square or HDTV composition. But the camera saves 3:2 (dSLR and APS-C) or 4:3 (Micro 4/3). So you can adjust the crop some in post-production from the raw file, if needed.

You can set a mirrorless camera to Monochrome mode, and view a black-and-white image in the EVF or on the LCD/OLED display. The camera will save a black-and-white JPEG and a color raw file. You can post process the raw file any way you like...

alx Loc: NJ

I was one of those who had my film carrier machined to allow me to print the "full frame". That was perfect when the full frame was perfect. BUT, I totally agree that the perfect photograph does not always match the aspect ratio of the film/sensor. If that means crop, then crop. It is what the audience sees that counts, not the rest.

JPL

Basically, if you plan to mainly view your pictures on your TV you shoot in 16:9 format to make them fit the TV and save work in post processing. Other formats you use according to what pleases your eyes or purposes of photography.