Photo frame aspect ratio rant

T

tbm

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Name
Mike
Edit My Images
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We all know that 35mm is by far the most popular film format, and that most DSLR sensors continue to use the same 3:2 aspect ratio today.

Why is it then, that whenever I look for photo frames, that I can find very few that offer a 3:2 aspect ratio? There's plenty of 10"x8", 7x5", and all manner of wonky, boss-eyed obscure aspect ratios, but precious few 3:2's..

I understand the need for different aspect ratios to suit different subjects (portraits, panoramic landscapes etc); but surely it's a no-brainer to also offer a range that suits the native aspect ratio of the camera...

I'm not averse to cropping, but 99% of the time I compose with the native AR in mind and without any intention to crop the image.

Am I missing something here? Is this not a gaping hole in the photo frame market?
 
Totally with you tbm, I posted a similar rant a while back and I certainly wasn't the first to do so. I've spent bloody ages trying to find a good supply of native 3x2, no joy as yet so I get them made up which costs a lot more.
 
Are they? My old Coolpix is 2048px x 1536px (4 : 3) and my newer Canon Sureshot is 4000px x 3000px (again, 4 : 3). Pretty sure the Oly Mju was also 4 : 3, as are four thirds DSLRs.
 
Nod said:
Are they? My old Coolpix is 2048px x 1536px (4 : 3) and my newer Canon Sureshot is 4000px x 3000px (again, 4 : 3). Pretty sure the Oly Mju was also 4 : 3, as are four thirds DSLRs.
Click to expand...

7x5in is 4:3 to within 1/4in.

But I share your frustration :(
 
Never really thought about it, but you are dead right.

Sure there is a market for it TM C All rights held patent pending....

Graham
 
Cheap processors printed 7x5 (rather than 7.5x5) long before digital was a major influence.
 
All the different aspect ratios are the bane of many parts of photography.

In schools photography, where packs are printed, you have some photographers who do 10x7, 5x7, 5x3.5 - so that they all have approx the same crop - and can all be printed on 7 or 10 inch paper

Then others do 10x8, 8x6, 5x4, 4x3 - again, so the crops are near the same, and can be printed on 8 inch paper.

Of course, the A series of paper (and the lesser knowen B series and the C series envelopes) are an ideal series - as when you half one sheet you get two of the next - and so on. Yet, few frame manufactures make a good range of A4, A5 etc - partly due to photographic paper for labs is seldom available in 11.75 or 8.25 inch rolls.

We're stuck with a series of standard frame sizes

6x4 - tradional 35mm and SLR baised digital
5x7 - american infulenced first large size - not related to any film or digital format
6x8 - point and shoot digital 4:3 - which came originally from "whole plate" sheet film and glass plates - which was 8.5x6.5 inches
10x8 - matches only 5x4 sheet & 10x8 sheet film cameras - and some digital cameras like the Nikon D3 allows this
10x12 - matches nothing!
11x14 - standard US larger print
12x15 - standard larger UK size
12x16 - standard larger European size (30x40cm)

and so on...

Just shoot with not too tight a crop - to allow "wiggle space"
 
tbm said:
We all know that 35mm is by far the most popular film format, and that most DSLR sensors continue to use the same 3:2 aspect ratio today.

Why is it then, that whenever I look for photo frames, that I can find very few that offer a 3:2 aspect ratio? There's plenty of 10"x8", 7x5", and all manner of wonky, boss-eyed obscure aspect ratios, but precious few 3:2's..

I understand the need for different aspect ratios to suit different subjects (portraits, panoramic landscapes etc); but surely it's a no-brainer to also offer a range that suits the native aspect ratio of the camera...

I'm not averse to cropping, but 99% of the time I compose with the native AR in mind and without any intention to crop the image.

Am I missing something here? Is this not a gaping hole in the photo frame market?
Click to expand...

this also was a problem for printing from 35mm to stock papers..iirc
those frame sizes were in use then...and i feel have been carried over from the past

i set my camera at 3:2...but am happy to crop
 
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