D5500: Lack of 16:9 aspect ratio

[smoothh2o]

Is the lack of a 16:9 aspect ratio on the D5500 going to be a problem when I go to view these images on a PC or a TV. TV's especially all use the 16:9 format. Are they automagically viewed with black areas where the formats don't match? And, wouldn't this be a poorer image to view as it is not making use of all of the resolution in the image....

Rick

 

[nicodimus22]

Is the lack of a 16:9 aspect ratio on the D5500 going to be a problem when I go to view these images on a PC or a TV. TV's especially all use the 16:9 format. Are they automagically viewed with black areas where the formats don't match? And, wouldn't this be a poorer image to view as it is not making use of all of the resolution in the image....

It's a minor pain that the camera can't just output them that way, but all the major software editors have the ability to crop to exactly whatever aspect ratio you wish. I always crop my final images to 16:9 for maximum impact on TVs and most monitors. What that means is that while I'm taking the photo, I have to remember that the top (or bottom) 10-15% of the image is going to get cut off later in post, so I need to avoid filling the entire frame with the subject. Just leave a little extra space on the top or bottom, and you're good to go.

 

[David Lal]

Is the lack of a 16:9 aspect ratio on the D5500 going to be a problem when I go to view these images on a PC or a TV. TV's especially all use the 16:9 format. Are they automagically viewed with black areas where the formats don't match? And, wouldn't this be a poorer image to view as it is not making use of all of the resolution in the image....

Rick

Hmmm ....

The lens projects on to the focal plane (film, sensor ... ) a circular image. You (or a design engineer) cuts out from that whatever shape you want. It could be square (e.g. 6x6 medium format), 2:3 or anything else. Personally, I don't like 16:9 and I especially don't like it when a more traditional aspect ratio image (film, TV programme, whatever ...) is just stretched to fit "wide screen".

Those results to my eye are poorer images, very often giving people overly round faces and short fat bodies!

I think you are incorrect in saying all TVs use the 16:9 format. Mine at least do not and I can on all three of them select whatever aspect ratio I want and/or deem proper. As to photographs, I crop nearly all of them to 1:1.3 aspect ratio during postprocessing because that shape is what I prefer. You could do the same, choosing whatever shape you like.

David

 

[nicodimus22]

Personally, I don't like 16:9 and I especially don't like it when a more traditional aspect ratio image (film, TV programme, whatever ...) is just stretched to fit "wide screen".

Those results to my eye are poorer images, very often giving people overly round faces and short fat bodies!

I agree...that does look like crap. However, that's TV. It's not what happens if you crop your images to 16:9 from these cameras. They just get about 10-15% chopped off the top or bottom, with no stretching or distorting of the image. As long as you keep that in mind while you're shooting, you won't chop off anything that you want to keep, and nothing will get stretched.

I think you are incorrect in saying all TVs use the 16:9 format.

Pretty much all modern TVs are 16:9. There are the old standard-def tube TVs that are 4:3, and there are a couple of weird aspect ratios for computer monitors too, but most monitors made in the last 10 years are 16:9 too.

--
http://www.naturecratephoto.com

 

[fulano]

Is the lack of a 16:9 aspect ratio on the D5500 going to be a problem when I go to view these images on a PC or a TV. TV's especially all use the 16:9 format. Are they automagically viewed with black areas where the formats don't match? And, wouldn't this be a poorer image to view as it is not making use of all of the resolution in the image....

Rick

You could trade in your D5500 for a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100, which has a native 16:9 format (as well as 4:3, 3:2, and 1:1). In any case, even a "4k" TV can't make use of the full resolution of a D5500, as I understand it. My D7000, with a mere 16 megapixels, generates 4928 x 3264 JPEGs while a UHDTV display is 3840 x 2160 pixels.

 

[arrr]

You can use FastStone to quickly crop everything to 16x9. It's free and very easy to use.

Personally I shoot everything in RAW and process a neutral jpeg with native 4x6 before I start working them. I crop everything to taste when I decide how I want to display them.

Is it safe to say 16x9 is the new display default? Even our phones display 16x9.

 

[ZorSy]

It will take time before 3:4 (or 24x36 reference as a matter of fact) goes away. I do not recall correctly the first 'wide' film camera (probably some Kodak), but back then it was a problem getting the print in that format as majority of processors were dealing with 3x4 frame. Even short-lived 126 format was a pain. I do understand OP's question - it's not just about cropping, rather framing. OVF doesn't have lines for 'correct' 16:9 framing. I often frame my shots without 16:9 in hindsight and that bites me at the back as they are framed too tight to crop in post to suit viewing in HD format. Just recently I started to take it with a bit of slack for later cropping (mainly because 24MP is a lot of pixels and allow me comfortable printing in 12x18". But coming from 10MP in the past (and the same printers), every pixel was important as no room for cropping.

Cameras with EVF have that advantage as they just black out the top/bottom (I do prefer OVF, just to say). It would be easy to incorporate lines in OVF to indicate this format, even so as most OVF have the LCD overlay. Hybrid OVF are the most acceptable compromise, yet not many options there. At least, that clunky Nikon LV (in stills mode) could have it as an option.....I wish Nikon people listen from time to time....

 

[smoothh2o]

Is the lack of a 16:9 aspect ratio on the D5500 going to be a problem when I go to view these images on a PC or a TV. TV's especially all use the 16:9 format. Are they automagically viewed with black areas where the formats don't match? And, wouldn't this be a poorer image to view as it is not making use of all of the resolution in the image....

Rick

You could trade in your D5500 for a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100, which has a native 16:9 format (as well as 4:3, 3:2, and 1:1). In any case, even a "4k" TV can't make use of the full resolution of a D5500, as I understand it. My D7000, with a mere 16 megapixels, generates 4928 x 3264 JPEGs while a UHDTV display is 3840 x 2160 pixels.

Well, I can't trade the D5500 in b'c I just bought it to replace a Lumix FZ-100. I got tired of the small sensor problems and wanted something that I could use for the next 10 years. I added the 18-300 Nikkor (the new one) to it to be a 'one lens' solution. I thought 450mm effective would be suffice for trips we want to take (Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Europe) in retirement.

I am really liking the interface on the Nikon, I never could find anything on the FZ-100, may be different for the newer Lumix.

Rick