The 3:2 image aspect ratio, which started as the 35mm film format, is still the norm today for a range of DSLR cameras with APS-C or full-frame sensors, and also on specific makes of mirrorless camera systems. The ratio is typically the most popular set of dimensions for photographers to shoot and work with, with enough room for the images to be cropped in post-processing if needed.
It still makes me wonder, though, what it was like to be a photographer back in the early days when 35mm film rolls were the film in use, the 3:2 aspect ratio was the image format to print with, and photographers had only the choice of a fixed lens on their camera to work with.
The image aspect does make for very versatile compositions, it is well-suited for a variety of subjects, including landscapes, portraits, and environmental shots. While providing a balanced frame that can effectively capture both the subject and its surroundings, as used for documentary photography or creative storytelling. The 3:2 ratio is also well adapted to physical photo print sizes, such as 6x4-inch prints, where the images can be printed without significant cropping or loss of detail.
To experience the ratio, and the constraints it set, if any, I did a street shoot recently, not with a vintage 35mm SLR camera mounted with a legacy manual focus lens, but rather with a more modern counterpart, a 2x crop-sensor Micro 4/3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2, mounted with an autofocus Lumix G 14mm 1:2.5 Asph. lens.
While the DMC-GH2 has a feature that allows the camera to capture images in different aspect ratios while retaining the same image diagonal, the lightweight and compact Lumix G 14mm 1:2.5, is officially recognized as the world's lightest interchangeable prime lens.
Though still short of the equisentials of the art and craft, and the flirts of a wiser street photographer, these are the images I manage to capture, a valuable lesson to lay the roots on.
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