Help me understand aspect ratio and working in light room

kc4sox · Sep 28, 2016

First off 7Dmkii and I want to print images as 5x7 , 8x10. What aspect ratio should I set the camera to so that if and when I need to crop an image in Lightroom I won't loose "The edges" of the image. Or better retain as much of the cropped image as possible so I can shoot "tighter" when I'm on a shoot.

ETA: I shoot in RAW

Thanks in advance

480sparky · Sep 28, 2016

Aspect ratios are simply the mathematics of ratios. 1:2, 2:4, 3:6, 4:8 are all the same aspect ratio.

5x7 is the same as 10x14, 15x21, 20x28. If you boil it down and divide both 5 and 7 by 5, you get 1 and 1.4. So the aspect ratio of 5x7 is 1:1.4. The reciprocal of 1:1.4 is 1:0.71428581429...... or 1:0.71 rounded off.

8x10 is 1:1.25 and 1:0.8. Same for 16x20 and if you're so inclined, 24x 30 and 32x40.

Shooting format doesn't matter. Raw, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, DRW, aspect ratio is about cropping, not file format.

There's not much you can really do to 'shoot tighter'. In fact, it's better to 'shoot loose' so you can crop better in post to fit the aspect ratio of your intended print.

kc4sox · Sep 28, 2016

Outstanding ! Thanks and God I love this forum.

zombiesniper · Sep 28, 2016

only 4x6 really match what is available in camera.

Print Size Aspect Ratio
4x6 3:2
5x7 7:5
8x10 5:4
20x30 3:2

tirediron · Sep 29, 2016

zombiesniper said:
only 4x6 really match what is available in camera.

Print Size Aspect Ratio
4x6 3:2
5x7 7:5
8x10 5:4
20x30 3:2

Don't forget 8x12 which is becoming a standard-size print now; it's a 3:2 as well.

table1349 · Sep 29, 2016

Aspect ratio = shoot wide - crop. Then you cover all the aspect ratios.

480sparky · Sep 29, 2016

dennybeall · Sep 29, 2016

As mentioned, the camera takes what it takes but it is going to shoot wider than tall so you also want to keep that in mind. If you want to display your photo at 10X8 then frame your shot vertically and wide enough you'll have some space to play with as you crop. That's one reason to have the battery grip on your camera so you get the extra shutter button for vertical shots.

KmH · Sep 29, 2016

The convention is - the length of the horizontal side of how an image is intended to be displayed is stated first.
10x8 indicates a horizontal, or landscape format.
8x10 indicates a vertical, or portrait format.

If you have a 3:2 aspect ratio camera (FF (FX - EF))/APS-C (DX - EF-S)) and shoot a portrait that will be displayed/printed in a vertical format but hold the camera with the frame horizontal, you can use the top and bottom of the frame (viewfinder/live view) to approximate the height of a vertical format final image.
Note that most of each side of the horizontal framing will be lost cropping to a vertical aspect ratio.

AlanKlein · Sep 29, 2016

Keep in mind that if you're willing to custom frame, then you can crop to any size and format. You're not limited to the standard 5x7 or 8x10, etc.

spiralout462 · Sep 29, 2016

Does anyone know who and why someone thought 11×14 is a good print Size? I like it, but, it's not nice and round and easy to figure like 4×5.

Advanced Photo · Sep 29, 2016

8x 10 can be expressed as the ratio- 8:10 it can then be simplified by reducing both sides by the same amounts...so it is the same as 4:5, 2:2.5, and finally, 1:1.25.

5x7 is equal to the ratio 5:7 which can be simplified to 1:1.4.

You can just divide the second number by the first to get the ratio.

Here are the common sizes and mat and frame sizes for them...
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Frame size

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Mat opening

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Image size