4:3 or 2:3?

[Rhys]

I look at the new format 4:3 and notice two things about it in particular.

The first is that it seems harder to get a level horizon with 4:3 than with 2:3.

The second is that 4:3 seems to fit standard paper sizes a little better than 2:3.

On the whole, I rather like the 4:3 standard - not only because it fits the 4:3 standard for most PC screens but also because the bayonet mount is supposed to be a new standard. I hope that it doesn't flop as badly as Olympus's OM system did. The OM4 TI was one of the best cameras around and had the best glass outside of Leica.

[ReF]

i guess it's a matter of personal preference. the 4:3 format really bothered me when it came to chopping off part of the picture for 4X6inch prints, though that does fit many paper sizes better. i still prefer the way 3:2 shots look, except when it comes to the rare vertical shot. i guess they're both good. I don't like all the proprietary formats of Olympus cams - i sure don't want to end up with a bunch of useless and expensive junk in the future that doesn't fit on anything. the cost and incompatibility of XD cards alone keep me away from Olympus p&s cams.

[Jim Last]

the cost and incompatibility of XD cards alone keep me away from Olympus p&s cams.

Not all Olympus P&S are limited to XD Cards!

The C-5060WZ, C-7070WZ & C-8080WZ accept CF Cards as well!

[jamison55]

There are definitely advantages and disadvantacges to both, but I fear that Olympus' 4:3 pro SLR standard is doomed by the dominance of Canon and Nikon, and the abundance of great lenses for thier 3:2 SLR's. Besides 3:2 is the golden ratio baby!

[D70FAN]

There are definitely advantages and disadvantacges to both, but I fear that Olympus' 4:3 pro SLR standard is doomed by the dominance of Canon and Nikon, and the abundance of great lenses for thier 3:2 SLR's. Besides 3:2 is the golden ratio baby!

I just had a thought (as rare as that might be).

How hard would it be to have multiple formats in the same camera? Nikon is proving this possible in the D2X by offering 2 crops in one. A high resolution 12MP moderately fast, 1.5X crop, and a, 6MP 8fps, 2X crop in the same camera with framing for both. There is an opportunity here to also offer a 6MP 4:3 as well (if I have calculated this correctly).

Just as I can add a grid on my D70 they could super-impose all 3 crops/formats on the mirror.

Of course I could do this conversion mentally, when shooting, and crop in PS, but I refer back to my opening statement.

[jamison55]

The Oly 5050 that I recently sold offered both formats. I found it very useful in that I would dial in 3:2 most of the time for the 4x6 vacation prints, and switch on the fly to 4:3 for those that I expected I would blow up to 8x10. I would love to be able to select between the two on a DSLR...even at the expense of a few MP's.

[D70FAN]

The Oly 5050 that I recently sold offered both formats. I found it very useful in that I would dial in 3:2 most of the time for the 4x6 vacation prints, and switch on the fly to 4:3 for those that I expected I would blow up to 8x10. I would love to be able to select between the two on a DSLR...even at the expense of a few MP's.

Doh! You're right. My Nikon 990 has this setting option as well. Shows how infrequently I use my trusty old 990, since moving to a dSLR.

I think if you just mentally crop out 15% on each side of the 3:2 image you can get the same effect. But you are right, that it would be nice not to have to crop in post processing.

[Rhys]

Doh! You're right. My Nikon 990 has this setting option as well. Shows how infrequently I use my trusty old 990, since moving to a dSLR.

I think if you just mentally crop out 15% on each side of the 3:2 image you can get the same effect. But you are right, that it would be nice not to have to crop in post processing.

I know I can use 3:2 on my 995. I don't think I can on the 3100 or the S1 IS.

I'd never actually use 3:2 though as it involves cropping the image.

I particularly like the 3:4 ratio as it fits a PC screen without cropping.

[D70FAN]

I know I can use 3:2 on my 995. I don't think I can on the 3100 or the S1 IS.

I'd never actually use 3:2 though as it involves cropping the image.

I particularly like the 3:4 ratio as it fits a PC screen without cropping.

Olympus is singin' your tune.

[Rhys]

Olympus is singin' your tune.

If only Olympus would drop their funky battery in favour of AA...

Olympus lenses are really excellent.