If lens are round, why do we take rectangle pictures?

I've just always wondered this. The lens we use is round. Wouldn't a round picture be able to capture the most then? Why do we use round lens instead of a rectangle one?

Because nobody makes round frames?

Actually, the lens projects a round image, but most image degradation occurs at the edges of the circle, so we cut it off.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #9398202
Because nobody makes round frames?

Actually, the lens projects a round image, but most image degradation occurs at the edges of the circle, so we cut it off.

Wouldn't a square maximize the space of the most useful portions then?

If sensors were round it would increase the price of cameras considerably, because of all the waste when cutting up the silicon wafer. Round print paper would cost more too, for the same reason.

mikejet wrote in post #9398221
Wouldn't a square maximize the space of the most useful portions then?

Yes, like 2 1/4 inch square negatives from medium format roll film, but the square is generally not considered aesthetically pleasing.

^^^^ yes, plus ......
Using round film (negative or slides) wouldn't be so easy to manufacture either

I say we should shift to hexagonal images. Better utilization of the lens' image circle, minimal silicon wafer wastage, and a more "natural" resultant image. Just think of the honeycomb murals you could make!

I think Roger you hit the nail on the head! Lets draft a patent

I would hate to be a framer if we went to hexagonal images!

All that cutting of frames!

tzalman wrote in post #9398257
Yes, like 2 1/4 inch square negatives from medium format roll film, but the square is generally not considered aesthetically pleasing.

http://fiveprime.org/h​ivemind/Tags/6x6,portr​ait

I'm sure everyone realizes that 'way before digital, there was film, and film provided the opportunity for every kind of right-angled format often even within a single camera. My Mamiya RZ67 offers backs with 60x4.5, 60x60, and 60x70 formats, for instance. My old Mamiya press cameras in the 60s offered those as well as 60x90. These have been availble for decades and decades.

While the square format certainly has its artistic uses, it's the preference of only a very tiny minority--and came into use originally only because rectangular formats are too problematical for a waist-level viewfinder (as TLRs and rollfilm SLRs usually were "back in the day" when huge hunks of medium format pentaprism glass were prohibitively expensive and heavy).

The marketplace vote has always favored the rectangular formats.

good thing lenses aren't square... good luck trying to MF with that ring.

The original Kodak box camera produced round images by using a round mask that
closely matched the image circle produced by the lens. There were also several early glass plate cameras that used round plates fitted into a screw-in holder that attached to the rear of the tubular camera body. No reason it can't be done now, but why?

"Do these blow up into funny shapes?"

"Not unless round is funny."

Why is Bologna round....and bread square?