Aspect Ratio (Page 2): On the Canon 60D You have Aspect ratios of 3:2 (Default), 4:3, 16.9, and 1:1 which is square. If the Canon 7D is the same, then choose one or try then all for...

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

On the Canon 60D You have Aspect ratios of 3:2 (Default), 4:3, 16.9, and 1:1 which is square. If the Canon 7D is the same, then choose one or try then all for fun. 3:2 ratios will give you a 4x6 print.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

An aspect ratio is some unit of measurement used for comparing a long side to a short side. You guys have driven to Wikipedia, which I have been avoiding. A sincere, not sarcastic Thanks

NormPR

These are all good points, I (like BboH). am ignorant to a few of my Canon menu items. When questions like this are asked, you are not only giving an answer, but educating others who look at the menu and find things they have no idea what they are, sometimes I will look for it but the books confuse the issue more. Thanks for the simple and personal explanations, they help all of us 'non professionals'.

photonynikon Loc: upstate New York

film camera negatives are 24 x36 mm... which corresponds to 2x3
a 4x6 is a 2x3 ratio. APS-sensor sized DSLRs and full-frame DSLRs follow these ratios.... Point and shoot digital cams have sensors that are 4x5 ratio, or 8x10 equivalent. MANY more pictures are printed as 4x6s, and I had to explain to the grannies in the photolab where I was working why their 4x6's didn't show ALL the image they shot.

nicelights Loc: 30 miles east of LA

I have read all of the comments here and would like to add one not mentioned. On my Kodak 990 Digital camera there is 3x2,4x3 and 16x9 offered multiple times. 3x2 is at 10.7mp. 4x3 is at 12mp, 6mp and 3mp. The 16x9 is 9mp. The 1485 camera offers several more variations. This allows the shooter to capture record shots for accidents, before and after for building contractors or other records keeping in small files or good quality photos for critical detail shots, Quality Control, etc. I only use the highest pixel count for each size but that is my choice.

cecilia delacroix Loc: near Seattle

How the heck did 11 x 14" ever become a standard size print?! :)

TomballLegend Loc: Tomball, Texas

Festina Lente wrote:

quote=rwdaley The first issue is how the camera i... (show quote)

Like your Mantra but mine has to do with inertia, "Fly Low and Slow". This thread proves there are a lot of people with one hell of a lot of spare time on their hands ---how many angels dance on the head of a good cold beer?

Place Carefully Over Puter
Place Carefully Over Puter...

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

Bangee5 wrote:

On the Canon 60D You have Aspect ratios of 3:2 (Default), 4:3, 16.9, and 1:1 which is square. If the Canon 7D is the same, then choose one or try then all for fun. 3:2 ratios will give you a 4x6 print.

The 7D offers 6 aspect ratios.
But to be clear, the camera records the EXACT SAME IMAGE and MEGA PIXELS no matter which ratio is selected. Turning this feature on by selecting any ratio only turns on a composition guide grid while in Live View mode.
Nothing changes or is indicated in the viewfinder, which is why we all use DSLRs.
But if it helps compose for a target print or application, by all means use it.

Aagaard Loc: Sahuarita, AZ

BboH wrote:

There are always (at least for me) some things that one hesitates to admit not knowing (don't want to show how dumb...). Aspect ratio is one of those things for me - just never have been able to grasp the concept. Reading this thread an 8x10 inch print has been noted as having as having a 5:4 ratio - I still don't get it - would appreciate some help - thanks

Our photography club has a monthly contest, and the winning photo gets printed at 16 x 20 (or 20 x 16). However, many of our members have very little idea what the aspect ratios are all about, so we created this on-line presentation to help them: http://www.pcqc.org/presentation/index_8.htm

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be interested in viewing it!

photonynikon Loc: upstate New York

8x10 prints are a throw-back to 4x5 film camera days....BEST sizes would be 8x12, or 10x15, which interestingly enough, was the largest size print I could get from the Fuji Frontier paper processors. Film and DSLR'S STILL use the 3:2 ratio!!!! WHY the need to crop AT ALL?????

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

My sensor is 3x2. I print all my photos with that ratio so I don't lose any pixels. I guess the feature allows you to compose better if you know the print size you want.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

photonynikon wrote:

8x10 prints are a throw-back to 4x5 film camera days....BEST sizes would be 8x12, or 10x15, which interestingly enough, was the largest size print I could get from the Fuji Frontier paper processors. Film and DSLR'S STILL use the 3:2 ratio!!!! WHY the need to crop AT ALL?????

To make it look the way you want it to look, of course. Why would anyone think that what you shot is what you want the final image to look like. Some things look great at 10x20, or 10x30, or 6x27.7. or 12x34. Seems pretty silly to think that everything looks good at 2:3.

And Jer - I LOST PIXELS!!!

In the attached image,why would I want anything behind or infront of my subject?

This is 1.4:3

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

CaptainC wrote:

quote=photonynikon 8x10 prints are a throw-back t... (show quote)

Thanks, CaptainC. Your image knocked that discussion on the head. In my opinion, a very satisfactory conclusion.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

On my Sony A330, I can change the aspect ratio from 3:2 (?) to 16x9. But I found out by reading the OM or David Busch's book a few months ago that the 16x9 setting actually has lower resolution, so I keep mine at the normal setting and just crop as desired.

Casadearte Loc: Watsonville, California

I want to thamk you guys. I did no expect this trend of explanations, all of theme o useful. Now, I think I can understand the comcept.