Why do all digital cameras take pictures in 6x4.5?

[GoofyWaterCoaster]

When I shrink down my pictures to size to print on my computer, all of the pictures are in 6x4.5 inches, and you can only print in 6x4

Why do cameras not take pictures in 6x4 inches?

[handicap18]

I believe it has to do with the ratio size of the sensor. How wide by how long.

A frame of film is 36mmx24mm this gives an aspect ratio of 3:2 (then 6x4, 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, etc...).

dSLR's sensor sizes for 1.5 crop (Nikon, Pentax, Sony) are approx 23.7 x 15.5 therefor giving it pretty much the same 3:2 ratio of a frame of film.

Olympus dSLR's use 4:3 ratio (8x6, 12x9, 16x12, 20x15, etc...)

Most PnS camera's are also have the 4:3 ratio , though it depends on the specific manufacturer. There are about 6 or 7 different PnS sensor sizes. So the specific ratio will change slightly, but not much.

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=sensor%20sizes

[OU1247]

Snapfish.com gives you the option of a true digital print or a 4x6 print.
I always get the true print. It is not much smaller.

[Code]

Snapfish.com gives you the option of a true digital print or a 4x6 print.
I always get the true print. It is not much smaller.

4x5.3 to be exact

[GoofyWaterCoaster]

I believe it has to do with the ratio size of the sensor. How wide by how long.

A frame of film is 36mmx24mm this gives an aspect ratio of 3:2 (then 6x4, 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, etc...).

dSLR's sensor sizes for 1.5 crop (Nikon, Pentax, Sony) are approx 23.7 x 15.5 therefor giving it pretty much the same 3:2 ratio of a frame of film.

Olympus dSLR's use 4:3 ratio (8x6, 12x9, 16x12, 20x15, etc...)

Most PnS camera's are also have the 4:3 ratio , though it depends on the specific manufacturer. There are about 6 or 7 different PnS sensor sizes. So the specific ratio will change slightly, but not much.

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=sensor%20sizes
Wow, I creepily understood that.

Is there any way to change the aspect ratio on a Canon Powershot A560?

[handicap18]

Wow, I creepily understood that.

Is there any way to change the aspect ratio on a Canon Powershot A560?

No. The aspect ratio has to to with the physical size of the sensor. The only way to change the aspect ratio of a frame of film is to cut it. I guess you could physically change the size of the sensor, but it would then be ruined as would the camera.

The sensor is what it is.

Another example of aspect ratio is TV's. Non HDTV's (the one's you grew up with) have the 4:3 (pretty much square) ratio. HDTV's are 16:9 (widescreen). The only way to change the aspect ratio of your old tv is to buy a new one.

[ukcatfan]

Wow, I creepily understood that.

Is there any way to change the aspect ratio on a Canon Powershot A560?

Not likely. Some p&s cams offer it, but all it is doing is a crop of the image, so you will lose some image size. You can always crop it yourself to the 3:2 ratio before sending to the print shop using even basic software. If you know that you are always going to do that then it helps to keep that in mind while shooting. You will be losing part of the shot at the top or bottom.

[JR6ooo4]

Not likely. Some p&s cams offer it, but all it is doing is a crop of the image, so you will lose some image size. You can always crop it yourself to the 3:2 ratio before sending to the print shop using even basic software. If you know that you are always going to do that then it helps to keep that in mind while shooting. You will be losing part of the shot at the top or bottom.

Right, I was going to say the same thing. You can crop it to that ratio, even automatically with many programs. But shoot a little wide so you don't lose anything important.

Mikeeee