True Rule of Thirds Grid?

[jsphoto1]

I know that by going into the menu of my Nikon camera (the D750) I can place a grid in my viewfinder. What's kind of frustrating, though, is that the lines are not placed at 1/3 points in accordance with the popular "rule of thirds" composition principle -- even my Samsung Galaxy phone does that! They seem more like 80% or so. There isn't any way to change the placement of the lines, is there?

 

[MoreCowbell]

n/t

 

[jsphoto1]

Okay, well I guess that sums it up pretty well. Not that it really matters, but I have to ask -- if the rule of thirds is the dominant philosophy when it comes to the placement of components of an image, why would Nikon bother to create a grid, but one that completely defies it? Sure, one could always still eyeball it, but if accuracy is of concern, isn't that kind of a problem?

 

[Craftsman70]

Okay, well I guess that sums it up pretty well. Not that it really matters, but I have to ask -- if the rule of thirds is the dominant philosophy when it comes to the placement of components of an image, why would Nikon bother to create a grid, but one that completely defies it? Sure, one could always still eyeball it, but if accuracy is of concern, isn't that kind of a problem?

While I agree with what you are saying, Nikon probably didn't put the grid in for the rule of thirds but rather to give people a reference point for lining things up.

Would it have been better if it was in thirds? Probably for those who follow the rule but for those who don't, these lines are just as good as the others.

 

[briantilley]

Okay, well I guess that sums it up pretty well. Not that it really matters, but I have to ask -- if the rule of thirds is the dominant philosophy when it comes to the placement of components of an image, why would Nikon bother to create a grid, but one that completely defies it? Sure, one could always still eyeball it, but if accuracy is of concern, isn't that kind of a problem?

The "rule of thirds" can be a useful guide to those who are learning the art of composition, but it's not something to be followed slavishly to the millimetre. I prefer to look at the overall scene and compose the image in a pleasing way. Or "eyeball it", if you prefer

 

[jsphoto1]

Oh, I never said it was, and, for sure, especially when it comes to any art form, rules are meant to be broken! But it does seem to have some basis in psychology, and, again, it just seems like if Nikon is going to create a grid feature at all, it should do so with the most popular alignment technique in mind. As I said in my original post, even Samsung and Motorola (my old phone) seem to get this, and they're not even really in the photography business! Not sure about iPhones.

PS. Certainly not that I'm going to change for that reason, but does anyone know if Canon and Sony do the same thing?

 

[briantilley]

Oh, I never said it was, and, for sure, especially when it comes to any art form, rules are meant to be broken! But it does seem to have some basis in psychology, and, again, it just seems like if Nikon is going to create a grid feature at all, it should do so with the most popular alignment technique in mind. As I said in my original post, even Samsung and Motorola (my old phone) seem to get this, and they're not even really in the photography business! Not sure about iPhones.

PS. Certainly not that I'm going to change for that reason, but does anyone know if Canon and Sony do the same thing?

If it helps, the Nikon Z9 does have a 3x3 grid option

 

[jsphoto1]

Oh, I never said it was, and, for sure, especially when it comes to any art form, rules are meant to be broken! But it does seem to have some basis in psychology, and, again, it just seems like if Nikon is going to create a grid feature at all, it should do so with the most popular alignment technique in mind. As I said in my original post, even Samsung and Motorola (my old phone) seem to get this, and they're not even really in the photography business! Not sure about iPhones.

PS. Certainly not that I'm going to change for that reason, but does anyone know if Canon and Sony do the same thing?

If it helps, the Nikon Z9 does have a 3x3 grid option

If I win the lottery, yes, it definitely helps!

Well, anyway, we'll see what happens in the future, but it's interesting to know that maybe they finally got the message!

 

[RafaelD7]

Given that the intended purpose of the grid is to help the user align vertical or horizontal features of the image, and not necessarily to aid in composition, I would say more lines is better than fewer. So, 4x4 is better than 3x3.

 

[teejaywhy]

I threw my D750 in the bin because of this.

When viewing other's photos, I actually measure the subject location and if more than 5% off from the rule of thirds, I downrate.

 

[TITCHY]

it has always been apparent that most photos in general look better if the main object within the photo was placed off centre, and that generally for landscape in particular placing main objects in the left or right third of the image meant that the results looked better (less contrived. ) but I do not think for a minute that this is how it always has to be, in fact there are many scenarios where the object is better placed in the centre .

and in any case the so called rule of thirds is more of an advice rather than rule. if you hade a grid with two definitive lines separating left/centre/right of the image and you went out of your way to always place the main focus(object) bang on one of the lines you would soon find your images getting increasingly repetitive and become less interesting (if not downright boring) as a result .

Nikon's grid with 4 lines is perfectly set out for the purpose it was intended ,that of keeping horizontal and vertical alignment right in your images.

 

[Don89]

Rule of thirds is just a suggestion. If you know the rules, you’re free to break them.

Compose to taste. Win.

 

[michaeladawson]

Rule of thirds is just a suggestion. If you know the rules, you’re free to break them.

Compose to taste. Win.

Not only is it a suggestion, but it’s an approximation. Things don’t need to go exactly on the “lines”. It’s easy to tell when things are roughy around the thirds lines if you are so inclined to look.

When you look through the viewfinder you should be seeing your composition and it should look pleasing. I wouldn’t be wasting my time trying to line up objects on thirds lines. If you can’t see the composition I doubt a thirds grid is going to help.

 

[Antal I Kozma]

Okay, well I guess that sums it up pretty well. Not that it really matters, but I have to ask -- if the rule of thirds is the dominant philosophy when it comes to the placement of components of an image, why would Nikon bother to create a grid, but one that completely defies it? Sure, one could always still eyeball it, but if accuracy is of concern, isn't that kind of a problem?

The "rule of thirds" can be a useful guide to those who are learning the art of composition, but it's not something to be followed slavishly to the millimetre. I prefer to look at the overall scene and compose the image in a pleasing way. Or "eyeball it", if you prefer

I agree with Brian. I worked in visual design for decades, spent my life behind the camera and worked in other mediums equally. The rule of thirds is one component in the tool chest of the artist. It is not to be followed blindly and exclusively. However, it is a good basic tool.

There are several other components to consider in visual design, like the so called Golden Rule, based on the Fibonacci sequence. Then how colours work within the scene, are they compliment each other or is there a dominant colour that takes over the scene? Ho does the lighting work in the image? Etc, etc....

Best to all, AIK

 

[Reggie Stration]

I threw my D750 in the bin because of this.

When viewing other's photos, I actually measure the subject location and if more than 5% off from the rule of thirds, I downrate.

Surely you jest? Art isn't mathematics.

 

[Don89]

Rule of thirds is just a suggestion. If you know the rules, you’re free to break them.

Compose to taste. Win.

Not only is it a suggestion, but it’s an approximation. Things don’t need to go exactly on the “lines”. It’s easy to tell when things are roughy around the thirds lines if you are so inclined to look.

When you look through the viewfinder you should be seeing your composition and it should look pleasing. I wouldn’t be wasting my time trying to line up objects on thirds lines. If you can’t see the composition I doubt a thirds grid is going to help.

--
Mike Dawson

This pretty lady cares nothing about the rule of thirds. She cares about beauty.








--
I am the copyright owner of my work. Please don’t take or alter my images.

 

[briantilley]

I threw my D750 in the bin because of this.

When viewing other's photos, I actually measure the subject location and if more than 5% off from the rule of thirds, I downrate.

Surely you jest? Art isn't mathematics.

I suspect the remark was meant as sarcasm.

 

[Craftsman70]

I threw my D750 in the bin because of this.

When viewing other's photos, I actually measure the subject location and if more than 5% off from the rule of thirds, I downrate.

Surely you jest? Art isn't mathematics.

To a certain extent, art is mathematics as much that we find pleasing to look at is somewhat based on mathematics - ie patterns and in particular, repeating patterns or symmetry.

 

[TGelgen]

My cheapo D610 offers that option, I assume you 750 does as well.

 

[jsphoto1]

My cheapo D610 offers that option, I assume you 750 does as well.

Hmm, interesting. You would think so, but I certainly can't find it, and according to all of the other responses here, it sounds like the answer is no.