"Wide Screen" images from 20D

  • Thread starter Thread starter ZED28
  • Start date Start date
Z

ZED28

Guest
I had posted a question asking the existing 20D/30D owners if they would have gone with the 5D if they had the chance to purchase again. That's a different discussion but kinda related to that, I borrowed a 20D from a buddy of mine to see how I would like it. :thumbs:

Well, to be honest - I can't see myself reaching past the 20D at this point for a number of reasons, but again, that's the other discussion.

One thing I did notice was the image aspect/size. It produces almost widescreen images when compared to my Nikon 5700. Not that I think this is a bad thing, I was just wondering if that was a trait for all cropped sensor DSLR's?

The difference is shown below - the blue lines at the top and bottom represent the format of my 5700...

eos20d.jpg
 
Olde-worlde SLR cameras used 35mm film, which had an aspect ratio of 3:2. Digital SLR cameras continue to use the same shape.

Pre-widescreen televisions had an aspect ratio of 4:3 and for some reason the vast majority of point'n'shoot digital cameras use that shape, instead of 3:2. I suspect it's because computer monitors were largely 4:3 when digital cameras first began to get popular and manufacturers thought people would want to view their photos "full screen," so they made the photos the same shape as the screen, but that's a guess.

For reference, the aspect ratio of widescreen tellies is 16:9.
 
As noted above, all DSLRs (that I can think of) have a 3:2 ratio. Most compacts have a 4:3 ratio.

With a 3:2 ratio you need to think how you want to crop your image in the final print. Shoot a cose up of a 3:2 image and when you want to print a 10x8 (or 5:4 ratio) image you will lose some of the area around your subjects.
 
True ratio prints are: 6x4 9x6 15x10 (2/3) and so on all other print sizes will involve a crop of some sorts. I do a lot of work for the 'spotlight' and portfolio stuff for actors and the standard format is 8x10, I always shoot with lots of background over the head of the subject, knowing that I have to crop nearly 2 inches off for the final print...Ian
 
Ah, thanks for the clarification guys. So my 5700 is actually 4:3, the 20D is "normal" and I'm a little wiser! :thumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top