What are the Major Aspect Ratios?

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What are the Major Aspect Ratios?

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Started 3 years ago by alphanikonrex
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1. Many thousands of D-800 users need a 1 x 1 Aspect ratio firmware

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alphanikonrex

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Not too long ago, when I cropped, I would simply create a rectangle to my pleasing.

Now, I'm finding myself using "real" aspect ratios, such as:

3:2 (Edited, I messed up with this one, sorry)
5:4
4:3
16:9

My question is, are there any other major ones, and what is the "real" aspect ratio for a panorama?

What I mean by a "real" aspect ratio is one that works well with other mediums (I'm not sure this is quite the way to describe it).

For example, 3:2 and 5:4 seem to be the standard ratios for printing, so as long as the photo is finalized in one of those aspect ratios, when I get it printed it won't be cropped in a strange way. Same for 4:3 and 16:9, which are standard for video.

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Just throwing it out there, but is 3:2 a real aspect ratio? Or am I imagining things?

Because I know nothing about the topic. :D

Posted 3 years ago #
jbl

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Yes, 3:2 is one of the most important aspect ratio in photography, I'm surprised it's not in your list.

35mm film is in 3:2 aspect ratio in photography.

5:4 is the medium format ratio in photography.

4:3 is obvious but to me, I tend to avoid this aspect ratio, I truly hate it.

16:9 is the hd ratio used in dvds and all that stuff everyone know are aware of.

However, there's 21:9. 21:9 is simply another name for 2.35:1 that they use to sell their new tvs. the 21:9 televisions are coming shortly, don't be surprised when they arrive and make 16:9 look boring.

2.35:1 is the anamorphic wide screen we still see in major movies in theaters... it's also called 2.4:1 and that's what the 21:9 televisions are all about, they are going to be sold for watching those blockbuster movies.

There are other aspect ratios used in cinema, here I uploaded this for you:

[img]http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6150/filmaspectratios.jpg[/img]

edit: ok img tags doesn't work.. that's kinda lame..

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6150/filmaspectratios.jpg

Posted 3 years ago #
monty11

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@jbl, I'm glad that the img tags didn't work ... did you check the dimensions of the image?

Wikipedia can always be of help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_%28image%29 and it also looks like it is jbl's image source.

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

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6:4 is the same thing as 3:2

Aspect ratio is less important in digital photography than it was back in the film\print days. Most labs are able to print at any ratio that will fit on their paper. You might have to pay a small amount for the to cut the blank parts off. Most picture frames come in predefined aspect ratios... that's what drives the "normal" conversation. Don't let them tell you how to crop! Get a custom frame if necessary (or make one yourself, I've never tried it, but it can't be that tough).

When viewed on a computer (the way I look at most photos) It can be any ratio you like... the software will resize it when necessary. The most important thing is to consider how your photo will be used \ viewed before you crop. Otherwise, knock yourself out.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Thanks for the feedback!

Here's the one of the diagrams linked to:

So let me get this straight: the panorama aspect ratios are 2.75:1 and 4:1, correct?

Posted 3 years ago #
jbl

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4:1 is not used anymore.

and as said in the graph, it was only used in Napoléon (1927) and they used 3x 4:3 ratio to make the single 4:1 image.

that movie was very expensive to make and it was a flop... lol

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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So then 1:2.75 is the panorama ratio? Could somebody clarify?

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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Don't forget squares. 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 was the medium format standard for years. For all the mathematicians it would be...? 1

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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I didn't know that squares were also part of the ratio family, thanks.

But please, I'm dying to find out the ratio for panoramas.

Posted 3 years ago #
mb

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Golden ratio is 0.618:1 or 1:1.618 or approximately 3:5 or 5:8, not that it matters much though.

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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A panorama is a very wide view than can be a full 360 degree view, so I don't believe there is a "standard" aspect ratio for a panorama.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Ok, thanks a bunch!

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Don't forget that your aspect ratios also depend on whether or not you will be printing out your images. In that case your limited by the size of the paper you have available.

I agree with Ted in that there isn't a standard panorama size but that just depends on the paper and size you want to get it printed on.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Did you get a nice panorama while you where on vacation Alphanikonrex?

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Yes, I want to crop some of my photos to a panoramic aspect ratio. They're not that great, but if I have an idea of the crop it would help in future composition.

It seems that some of the standard aspect ratios are connected to the paper they're printed on, so I guess that I was asking what size of paper are panoramas normally printed on (if I were to send it to some place to be printed).

Posted 3 years ago #