Going from the 4:3 to 3:2 aspect ratio

I have found myself having a hard time getting familiar with 3:2. Going to 3:2 is a little different. I don't know much about why this is. Is there a mechanical reason DSLRs are 3:2? Is there some advantage to it? Are all DSLRs 3:2? I'm sure I'll get used to it, but 4:3 sure was nice. I look at my pictures side by side and the G9 images look "normal" compared to the T1i images. Did anyone else find this odd at first?

Traditionally, 135 film (35mm still film) is shot in the 3:2 aspect ratio. The most common sizeis 36x24 mm. DSLRs are based heavily on 35mm SLRs, so it's natural that they'd keep this aspect ratio.

Not all DSLRs are 3:2. For example, Olympus uses 4:3 and I think Kodak has some 4:3 DSLRs as well.

What were you using before that was 4:3?

I generally prefer 5:4 but there is no one aspect ratio that is perfect for everything. That's what the crop tool is for.

The DSLR cameras have the 3:2 aspect ratio because 35mm film (SLR and P&S) cameras have always been 3:2 aspect ratio. The only reason the digital P&S camera have the 4:3 aspect ratio is because they originally shared the same sensors used in video camcorders which were viewed on TV screens which have the 4:3 aspect ratio. Since I had been shooting 35mm film for a long time before digital came around, I found the 4:3 aspect ratio of the P&S cameras rather odd and not the other way around.

I see, that explains a lot. I was wondering why the P&S cameras used 4:3. I suppose I can always crop. after a while I'm sure I will see 4:3 as strange looking. I had a SLR when I was young, but don't remember it being 3:2. I guess it must have been since it was a 35mm camera. Thanks for the info!

jyotidas wrote in post #9888468
Traditionally, 135 film (35mm still film) is shot in the 3:2 aspect ratio. The most common sizeis 36x24 mm. DSLRs are based heavily on 35mm SLRs, so it's natural that they'd keep this aspect ratio.

Not all DSLRs are 3:2. For example, Olympus uses 4:3 and I think Kodak has some 4:3 DSLRs as well.

What were you using before that was 4:3?

That's interesting Olympus is 4:3.

My Canon G9 is 4:3. It shoots in RAW and has a lot of great features. It's a great camera. I really only switched to get HD video, but all the great stuff that came with the T1i has made me switch over to it completely. I am selling my G9 next week. I have a buyer already.

I used a Olympus dslr before and i liked the 4:3 ratio, but soon adapted to 3:2 and now i like that more. It work better with todays tvs and pc-monitors..

nate42nd wrote in post #9888448
I have found myself having a hard time getting familiar with 3:2. Going to 3:2 is a little different. I don't know much about why this is. Is there a mechanical reason DSLRs are 3:2? Is there some advantage to it? Are all DSLRs 3:2? I'm sure I'll get used to it, but 4:3 sure was nice. I look at my pictures side by side and the G9 images look "normal" compared to the T1i images. Did anyone else find this odd at first?

I really wish P&S cameras were 3:2 as it wreaks havoc when people try to print 4x6 prints and can't understand why all the heads are cut off.

itzcryptic wrote in post #9906444
I really wish P&S cameras were 3:2 as it wreaks havoc when people try to print 4x6 prints and can't understand why all the heads are cut off.

Yes, I have had this happen. I think the 3:2 is going to be great! It was just a shock. i didn't even know about it. I went from the G9 to the T1i and was confused for the first hour of looking at my images. haha

itzcryptic wrote in post #9906444
I really wish P&S cameras were 3:2 as it wreaks havoc when people try to print 4x6 prints and can't understand why all the heads are cut off.

No kidding, or trying to find "standard" frames to fit 3:2 as most are made for 4:3. I hate having to crop my images just to hang them up, or pay high prices for a "custom" frame.

You'd think there'd be more 2:3 frames around because of the 35mm film format being around for a long time.

MrGreen wrote in post #9907066
No kidding, or trying to find "standard" frames to fit 3:2 as most are made for 4:3. I hate having to crop my images just to hang them up, or pay high prices for a "custom" frame.

You'd think there'd be more 2:3 frames around because of the 35mm film format being around for a long time.

You have trouble finding 4x6 frames??

PacAce wrote in post #9888491
The DSLR cameras have the 3:2 aspect ratio because 35mm film (SLR and P&S) cameras have always been 3:2 aspect ratio. The only reason the digital P&S camera have the 4:3 aspect ratio is because they originally shared the same sensors used in video camcorders which were viewed on TV screens which have the 4:3 aspect ratio. Since I had been shooting 35mm film for a long time before digital came around, I found the 4:3 aspect ratio of the P&S cameras rather odd and not the other way around.

Yes and no.

For the most part, P&S cameras did not share the same sensors with digital camcorders. Camcorders usually had insufficient pixels for quality still images— and still do.

But they were designed for use with standard 4:3 computer terminals. And computer terminals were 4:3 because early ones were modified TVs.

DSLRs, as said above, are descended from 35mm film SLRs. This is quite literally the case. The earliest DSLRs were actual Canon or Nikon 35mm film SLRs with electronic backs attached. For example, Canon's very first DSLR was the EOS DCS 3, which was a Canon EOS-1N with the mechanical film drive mechanism removed and a Kodak digital chassis bolted on.

The aspect ratio was 2:3 because the shutter was 2:3, designed for 35mm film.

MrGreen wrote in post #9907066
No kidding, or trying to find "standard" frames to fit 3:2 as most are made for 4:3. I hate having to crop my images just to hang them up, or pay high prices for a "custom" frame.

You'd think there'd be more 2:3 frames around because of the 35mm film format being around for a long time.

Where do you find 4:3 [1:1.33] frames?

All I can find are 3½×5 [1:1.43], 4×6 [1:1.5 or 3:2], 5×7 [1:1.4], 8×10 [1:1.25], 8½×11 [1:1.29], and 11×14 [1:1.27] standard frames, none of which are 4:3.

Metric frames, such as the A4 size, all have a 1:1.41 ratio.

With the exception of the 4×6 frames, all of the above standard sizes require cropping of a standard 2:3 DSLR image. All, without exception, require cropping of a standard 4:3 P&S image.

Knowing how to crop is a requirement, and always has been.

20droger wrote in post #9908970
Yes and no.

For the most part, P&S cameras did not share the same sensors with digital camcorders. Camcorders usually had insufficient pixels for quality still images— and still do.

But they were designed for use with standard 4:3 computer terminals. And computer terminals were 4:3 because early ones were modified TVs.

DSLRs, as said above, are descended from 35mm film SLRs. This is quite literally the case. The earliest DSLRs were actual Canon or Nikon 35mm film SLRs with electronic backs attached. For example, Canon's very first DSLR was the EOS DCS 3, which was a Canon EOS-1N with the mechanical film drive mechanism removed and a Kodak digital chassis bolted on.

The aspect ratio was 2:3 because the shutter was 2:3, designed for 35mm film.

OK, fair enough. I should have said they shared the same sensor maker as the digital camcorders.

Seven11 wrote in post #9907255
You have trouble finding 4x6 frames??

You bother to print smaller than 8x10??