Are digital camera CCD sizes still not a true 6x4 ratio

leigho

leigho

leigho

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I need to replace my 4 year old Minolta A1. I've decided to go with a simpler camera because I don't need all the functions of a bridge or SLR. I have one question that I can't seem to get an answer to online. When I bought the A1 I remember that, due to the legacy of digital cameras using Camcorder CCDs, they didn't take a photo that could show the whole image on 6x4 paper. I think 6x4 1/4 was needed to see the whole image. Is this still the case or have things moved on? If so what size CCD do I need to be looking for to get true 6x4 images.

TIA

Leigh
 
Most compact cameras use the 4:3 format, most DSLRs use 3:2. Only the very high end DSLRs (Canon 5D) use 4:3.

But whatever you have it shouldn't be a problem as photo printing companies (use photobox) give the option of 6x4" or 6x4.5" print, amongst others.
 
Intriguing question.
In theory, virtually any digital photo can be expanded (or compressed) to fill whatever size print you want. Of the course the problem of expansion is that eventually the pixels become more obvious and the image doesn't look so great.
Having said that, I know of people using 4Mpixel cameras and blowing pictures upto 16" in size. The implications are that even a camera phone would have sufficient resolution to easily fill a 6x4 print, though I wouldn't want to comment on the probable quality.

Ref CCD sizes. These vary quite dramatically. Compact camaras tend to have small CCDs, and they grow in size, so that a camera like a Canon 5D has the same size sensor as a 35mm film camera does. There are bigger medium and full format digital equivalents, but they do have appropriate price tags.
In general, it's recognised that having a big CCD is a good thing, as squeezing more and more pixels into a sensor typically has a side effect of creating more digital noise.
 
Thanks for the answers. I do use Photobox for online printing and I know they do the larger size to fit it all in but it's my home prints where that I end up with a little bit of the top and bottom missing. Of course I had forgotten the obvious suggestion of Mr_Sukebe about resizing them although that does lose some of the convenience of just being able to click and print.

Thanks again.
 
My camera (s90000 and I know other Fuji's have the option of shooting in 3:2 via accessing the 'F' the image menu, Handy for when I know I want to take a true 4x6 photo and not think about cropping it down the line - or clicking and printing as you put it ;)
 
robertgilbert86 said:
Most compact cameras use the 4:3 format, most DSLRs use 3:2.
Click to expand...
True.
Only the very high end DSLRs (Canon 5D) use 4:3.
Click to expand...

No, all Canon (and Nikon) DSLRs are 3:2, including the 5D. The 3:2 ratio matches that of 35mm film (and in the case of the 5D is actually the same size as well, hence 'full-frame').

The 4:3 sytem is used by most Point & Shoot cameras. It is also used by Panasonic and Olympus in their DSLR systems.

It is believed that the 4:3 ratio originated for digital cameras as monitor resolutions (eg 800x600, 1024x768) and regular-aspect televisions use this ratio.
 
robertgilbert86 said:
Most compact cameras use the 4:3 format, most DSLRs use 3:2. Only the very high end DSLRs (Canon 5D) use 4:3
Click to expand...
I'm curious as to why you think the 5D (and I assume the 1D and 1Ds) have a 4:3 sensor?
 
It is believed that the 4:3 ratio originated for digital cameras as monitor resolutions (eg 800x600, 1024x768) and regular-aspect televisions use this ratio.
Click to expand...

To be more precise I understood it was because the first digital camera manufacturers used CCDs from their Video Camera ranges and these used the 4:3 ratio for the reason you say. Why they never got around to changing it when it all started taking off we'll never know :(
 
AdWright said:
The 4:3 sytem is used by most Point & Shoot cameras. It is also used by Panasonic and Olympus in their DSLR systems.
Click to expand...

Not quite. :) The Four Thirds system is a different thing to the 4:3 ratio sensors used in point and shoot cameras.
 
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