In this video, Sony Artisan Miguel Quiles explores the different aspect ratios available on Sony cameras and how you can choose the right one for your next project. The aspect ratio of an image is the ratio of its width to its height, displayed on your camera as two numbers separated by a colon. The aspect ratio you set your camera to capture in will change the resulting image quality, so it’s important to know which one is right for your particular shooting scenario. See more about camera and lens basics in our online Techtionary HERE. 

Sony Artisan Miguel Quiles explores how to select and use the right aspect ratio for your shot and its effect on image quality.

To understand how your choice of aspect ratio affects your image, Quiles takes a look at the different options available on a Sony Alpha 7R IV. “The majority of Sony mirrorless cameras have four different aspect ratios that you can choose from: 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1.”

“The native aspect ratio on most digital camera sensors is 3:2, so choosing that as your aspect ratio gives you the maximum resolution that is offered by your camera since it’s using the entire sensor. In the case of the Alpha 7R IV, you’re getting a maximum image size of up to 9504 pixels x 6336.”

He goes on to explore the maximum image size output for the other aspect ratios on the Alpha 7R IV, and declares that in order to choose which one is right for you, you have to decide what their purpose is and where they’ll be posted. 

“When it comes to choosing the right aspect ratio, it really all depends on where your photos or your videos are going to end up. Generally speaking, I prefer using the native aspect ratio of 3:2, and then deciding in post-production if I want to conform it to one of these other ratios. No matter what you’re going to be losing pixels, but I personally prefer having the flexibility of making that choice later on.”

Watch the full video below and find more photograhpy basics in The Techtionary HERE.