Actually I believe medium format film is 4"X5" film, which is why the D3 has the 4:5 option. So 3:2 wasn't the only option back in the film days, but it definitely does linger on from the 35mm days.
I don't know that monitors still typically display at 4:3 any more though. Most monitors and laptops I see sold these days are wide screen format and that appears to be the future. I haven't owned a 4:3 aspect monitor in years.
I am not sure that I agree with the idea that the "very nature of pictures take by Digital Cameras.... etc." I think that was true of many point and shoot models where people typically upload them to share sites, email them etc. rather than print them. But 3:2 is still the most common ratio for DSLR cameras. My point and shoot does 4:3 or a Widescreen 16:9, which is most definitely aimed at HDTV and Widescreen monitors. Both my DSLR's are 3:2 aspect however.
Canon, Nikon, Sony and other DSLR cameras still use 3:2 tied to the 35mm days as you state. There are some exceptions (Canon 1DS Mark III and Nikon D3), where they have masking for other aspect ratios. I believe Panasonic and Olympus use the four thirds format as a whole. There may be others I am not aware of.
But that being said I don't think the DSLR market is currently aimed at the the 4:3 aspect ratio of the older monitors or the 16:9 ratio of HDTV or other widescreen monitors. I think they are still designed primarily for print and consistency with the 35mm aspect ratio that has been in use on SLR's since the 30's.
Maybe I am missing the point of what you are trying to suggest. If so I apologize. It is late and I should be in bed 
Quote:
Originally Posted by newPerspective
In the days of 35mm film only, your only option was 3:2. All film roles are at the ratio of 3:2. Then came the age of digital cameras. And the very nature of pictures taken by Digital Cameras is to give the capabilty of loading them into the computer and storing/mainupulating them as digital files. Typically monitors display at 4:3 ratio. Soon followed the HD TVs and Plasma screens which display at 16:10 ratio
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Nikon D700/D90/F100 - 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8 VR, 105mm f/2.8G VR Micro, 18-200mm VR, 70-300mm VR, 50mm 1.4, 1.7X TC, Tamron 17-50mm, Sigma 150-500mm, Tokina 12-24mm, SB900/SB-800, Gitzo GT2331 Tripod w/ ball head, Manual Focus - Nikkor 80-200mm f/4, Vivitar 1 70-210mm (Komine) f/2.8, Nikkor-Q 135mm 2.8, Nikkor-H 28mm f/3.5
Last edited by Cuchulainn; 10-15-2008 at 08:06 AM.
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