What's the fuss over 3:2 aspect ratio?

An earlier thread about 3:2 Aspect ratio being jumped on by supposed
experts got me thinking. I use all three of the popular aspect ratios
now being used with digital cameras. I put together an short article on
the subject if anyone is interested.
http://www.brisbaneweddingphotograph...pect-ratio.htm

Doug.

In article , Matt Ion says...

NO rectangular sensor is the perfect shape - the optimum sensor shape is
circular, to match the actual light pattern projected by the lens.
Anything else is a waste of optics.

Exactly - and 4:3 is closer to circular than 3:2.
--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
Olympus 50X0, 8080, E3X0, E4X0, E5X0 and E3 forum at
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http://myolympus.org/ photo sharing site

Moe rons.

On Tue, 26 May 2009 22:05:13 -0700 (PDT), eNo wrote:


Don't know about the earlier thread, but 3:2 corresponds to the most
popular 4x6 print size (4:6 = 2:3 = 3:2).

No it doesn't.

eNo wrote:

Don't know about the earlier thread, but 3:2 corresponds to the most
popular 4x6 print size (4:6 = 2:3 = 3:2).

That's just a by-product of the popularity of 35mm film cameras.
When 126 instamatics were popular (and before that 12 on 120, 620 or
127) there were a lot of square prints. I think square format was
actually a rather good choice for snapshots.

The popularity of 24x36mm on 35mm film had very little to do with
any popular preference for a 3:2 aspect ratio.

Peter.
--

On Wed, 27 May 2009 12:38:18 +0200, Alfred Molon
wrote:

In article , Matt Ion says...

NO rectangular sensor is the perfect shape - the optimum sensor shape is
circular, to match the actual light pattern projected by the lens.
Anything else is a waste of optics.

Exactly - and 4:3 is closer to circular than 3:2.

Not really. Few people would choose a circle or a square
image to a rectangle. That is evidenced from your comments.

Over history the golden rectangle (1.6180339887 ratio) has
generally been chosen as the most esthetically pleasing.

From a practical view, we use rectangles of an image not a
circle. We rotate the camera to obtain a vertical subject so while we
are using a rectangular image out of a circle, it is not the circle
that is important.

On Wed, 27 May 2009 10:33:19 -0400, wrote:

Over history the golden rectangle (1.6180339887 ratio) has
generally been chosen as the most esthetically pleasing.

Number worship.

Just like the rule of thirds.

Wally

eNo wrote:

Don't know about the earlier thread, but 3:2 corresponds to the most
popular 4x6 print size (4:6 =3D 2:3 =3D 3:2).


On the contrary, the 4x6 print size followed the 35mm film format, not
the other way around.

On 5/27/09 12:05 AM, in article
, "eNo"
wrote:

On May 26, 8:05*pm, DMac wrote:
An earlier thread about 3:2 Aspect ratio being jumped on by supposed
experts got me thinking. I use all three of the popular aspect ratios
now being used with digital cameras. I put together an short article on
the subject if anyone is
interested.http://www.brisbaneweddingphotograph...Aspect-ratio.h
tm

Doug.

Don't know about the earlier thread, but 3:2 corresponds to the most
popular 4x6 print size (4:6 = 2:3 = 3:2).

eNo
http://esfotoclix.com
Afew years back it was 3 1/2 x 5 = 5 x 7. Remember?

On 27-05-09 10:33, wrote:
On Wed, 27 May 2009 12:38:18 +0200, Alfred Molon
wrote:

In , Matt Ion says...

NO rectangular sensor is the perfect shape - the optimum sensor shape is
circular, to match the actual light pattern projected by the lens.
Anything else is a waste of optics.
Exactly - and 4:3 is closer to circular than 3:2.

Not really. Few people would choose a circle or a square
image to a rectangle. That is evidenced from your comments.

Over history the golden rectangle (1.6180339887 ratio) has
generally been chosen as the most esthetically pleasing.

Which is fairly close to 3:2 (1.5) if that's of any consequence.

In the end the presentation aspect ratio should be pleasing with respect
to the subject(s) in the composition.

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