When should I use the 3:2 resolution mode?

[ZivG77]

I asked myself for some time what is it good for.
Should I use it whene I want to develope 10/15 photoes?
Or is there another reason?

I did't notice other digicams offer this mode (so if my assumption is right they probably should crop or distort images to print a standart 10/15cm pic).

I don't think this topic was ever talked about on this forum, does anyone have some information on this?

 

[michaelmichael]

its for use if you don't feel like cropping.

thats all.

other d.cams that dont have this - you're expected to crop to meet the 3:2 ratio, if you're aiming for more compatible print sizes anyhow (6x4 only).

--
michael
my Sony f707 & accessories: http://www.shout.net/~chan/gear/

 

[Steve Cavigliano]

Ziv,

The only time I use it is during family shoots, when I know I'm going to be printing lots of 4x6's. It saves memory (smaller files) and editing time. I just re-size, don't need to crop and I don't lose any of the image.

Steve

I asked myself for some time what is it good for.
Should I use it whene I want to develope 10/15 photoes?
Or is there another reason?
I did't notice other digicams offer this mode (so if my assumption
is right they probably should crop or distort images to print a
standart 10/15cm pic).
I don't think this topic was ever talked about on this forum, does
anyone have some information on this?

--
http://www.pbase.com/slo2k

 

[Brian Semotiuk]

I wouldn't use the 3:2 and it sounds like more of a gimmick. I guess if all you ever wish to do is print 4x6 then that is fine. But if you want to re-size pictures for Web etc. then 4:3 is better. The 4:3 can also be better for cropping to 8x10. You can always re-crop for 4x6 print afterwards using Photoshop or Thumbs Plus.

I asked myself for some time what is it good for.
Should I use it whene I want to develope 10/15 photoes?
Or is there another reason?
I did't notice other digicams offer this mode (so if my assumption
is right they probably should crop or distort images to print a
standart 10/15cm pic).
I don't think this topic was ever talked about on this forum, does
anyone have some information on this?

 

[ZivG77]

Thank you all.

I just took some pics last week intended for printing, (a family ocation) I usualy save my pics only in soft copy, and I took them in the 3:2 mode guessing that this mode is meant for that meaning, I was very afraid that I made a mistake.

Thanks to your answers I'm more relaxed now and I think I will start to use this mode more frequently becouse it seems like a big advantage in any ocation that involve people that might want a printed copy.

Almost a year since I bought the F707 and here I am still finding new applications and using some options for the first time and have discovery enjoiment that means that this is the best 900$ I ever spent.

 

[Jared-5]

I use 3:2 mode almost all the time. I've been switching to 4:3 lately when I'm shooting something for eBay, because they allow 400x300 pixel uploads.

After that, I go back to 3:2. You'll notice that the sensors on the pro DSLR cams are 3:2 ratio, so it's not just a Sony thing.

--

• Jared -

DSC-F707

 

[Jian]

I shot @ 3:2 all time, even when I had the Sony S70. I don't like go thru cropping all my photos in Photoshop if I want 4 x 6 prints.

I asked myself for some time what is it good for.
Should I use it whene I want to develope 10/15 photoes?
Or is there another reason?
I did't notice other digicams offer this mode (so if my assumption
is right they probably should crop or distort images to print a
standart 10/15cm pic).
I don't think this topic was ever talked about on this forum, does
anyone have some information on this?

--
Sony DSC-F707 & Canon S100
http://www.pbase.com/zuffy

 

[Yehuda Katz]

Ziv,

I'm printing my 10x15 at Tzamtzam shop for NS 0.85 each.

Where you print yours?

Shana Tova, Yehuda

Thank you all.
I just took some pics last week intended for printing, (a family
ocation) I usualy save my pics only in soft copy, and I took them
in the 3:2 mode guessing that this mode is meant for that meaning,
I was very afraid that I made a mistake.
Thanks to your answers I'm more relaxed now and I think I will
start to use this mode more frequently becouse it seems like a big
advantage in any ocation that involve people that might want a
printed copy.
Almost a year since I bought the F707 and here I am still finding
new applications and using some options for the first time and have
discovery enjoiment that means that this is the best 900$ I ever
spent.

 

[Stephen Waits]

Only if you're too lazy to crop the images properly before printing. The 3:2 mode doesn't use the entire sensor. Why not always capture the maximum amount of information possible? This affords you the most flexibility when you get the images into your "digital lab" (using Photoshop or similar).

--Steve

 

[Dave37]

I would like to always use the entire sensor. With that in mind, is there a simple way to crop to 3:2? I mean something like a template that you put over the picture that can be resized but maintain a 3:2 aspect ration. Once I had it in the right spot I could hit the "crop" button and know I had done it correctly. Otherwise, it always seems to me to be a lot of work.

Any suggestions on what tool is easiest and how to use it?

Thanks

Only if you're too lazy to crop the images properly before
printing. The 3:2 mode doesn't use the entire sensor. Why not
always capture the maximum amount of information possible? This
affords you the most flexibility when you get the images into your
"digital lab" (using Photoshop or similar).

--Steve

 

[Khanh M]

Dave,

You can always reacord and "Action" in PS and assign it a hot key...

I do this for resizing my images and creating a frame for it....I hit Shift F2 (my assigned hotkey) and it resizes, creates a background and frame for my pic...nice and simple..

Try reading in the PS help file for creating actions..

Regards,

Khanh

Any suggestions on what tool is easiest and how to use it?

Thanks

Only if you're too lazy to crop the images properly before
printing. The 3:2 mode doesn't use the entire sensor. Why not
always capture the maximum amount of information possible? This
affords you the most flexibility when you get the images into your
"digital lab" (using Photoshop or similar).

--Steve

 

[Stephen Waits]

I would like to always use the entire sensor. With that in mind,
is there a simple way to crop to 3:2? I mean something like a
template that you put over the picture that can be resized but
maintain a 3:2 aspect ration. Once I had it in the right spot I
could hit the "crop" button and know I had done it correctly.
Otherwise, it always seems to me to be a lot of work.

Any suggestions on what tool is easiest and how to use it?

I use Photoshop's Crop tool. Select the tool (I think the hotkey is "C"). In the options set your aspect ratio, such as "width = 4 in" and "height = 6in" or whatever's appropriate for you. Then drag across your image. Adjust what you dragged until satisfied, then press enter. It's cropped.

--Steve

 

[Dave37]

Thanks for the tips. They're just what I was looking for.

Dave

I would like to always use the entire sensor. With that in mind,
is there a simple way to crop to 3:2? I mean something like a
template that you put over the picture that can be resized but
maintain a 3:2 aspect ration. Once I had it in the right spot I
could hit the "crop" button and know I had done it correctly.
Otherwise, it always seems to me to be a lot of work.

Any suggestions on what tool is easiest and how to use it?

I use Photoshop's Crop tool. Select the tool (I think the hotkey
is "C"). In the options set your aspect ratio, such as "width = 4
in" and "height = 6in" or whatever's appropriate for you. Then
drag across your image. Adjust what you dragged until satisfied,
then press enter. It's cropped.

--Steve

 

[Andrew L]

I don't think it's being lazy, I'd say it's applying intelligent thinking.

Why take a 4:3 picture that has to be cropped - just for the sake of using the entire sensor - when the picture you really wanted in the first place is 3:2 in shape? You'll end up spending time to throw away redundant picture area that you didn't want to begin with.

Either route, you will end up with a picture that has used the same area of the sensor. You won't have lost anything.

The only time the 4:3 route might be applicable (when aiming for a 3:2 picture) is when you don't have sufficient confidence in your ability to frame the picture correctly at the time of shooting.

I actually welcome the extra frames that shooting in 3:2 lets you squeeze onto the memory stick.

Andrew.

Only if you're too lazy to crop the images properly before
printing. The 3:2 mode doesn't use the entire sensor. Why not
always capture the maximum amount of information possible? This
affords you the most flexibility when you get the images into your
"digital lab" (using Photoshop or similar).

--Steve

 

[Stephen Waits]

I don't think it's being lazy, I'd say it's applying intelligent
thinking.

I completely disagree. It's not smart to NOT capture all possible data. Ok, so if you maybe don't frame it "perfectly" for a 3:2 frame, it gives you some breathing room. What if, you get THAT ONE MAGIC SHOT OF A LIFETIME? 3:2 mode is going to limit your ability to print at 5x7 or 8x10 (which is much closer to 4:3 than it is 3:2).

Overall, I stick by my advice - never use 3:2.

--Steve

 

[Yehuda Katz]

The ONLY time I used 3:2 was when I had to reproduce more than 100 4x6 photos. I was using a tripod so I could use very exact framing.

Otherwise I find it ridiculous not to shoot at the FULL available area, and crop later as needed (if any).

Yehuda