Shooting for crop/composition

[bulldog413]

I was hoping some folks could school me on this:

I shoot Canon 7D, own a 1-020, 50mm and 18-135. Here's the question...

I'm wondering what people do when shooting with any lenses, and then dealing with the printed output. I use Aperture and Photoshop. When I want to upload to print, I always have to crop. Even if I selet "export: 8x10", I still end up cropping. Not always with smaller sizes, but always with 8x10.

Should I compose a picture assuming I'm gonna crop? If anyone uses Aperture, is there a way to export the whole picture in the constrain of the chosen size?

2 cents, please.
Thanks

[IABoomer]

There's no way around it. The aspect ratio of your camera sensor is 3:2 but an 8x10 image is 4:5. After a quick Google search, it looks like you can use the live view and select a different aspect ratio, so the screen will show crop lines for 4:5 (8x10).

[bulldog413]

aha! Thank you for that. I only recently went from the Sony 850 to the 7d, so I'm still learning and not always thinking about or still discovering all the features available. I just adjusted my settings so I'll have that available always. Mucho appreciato!

[NicolaB]

Hi

As IABoomer says, the screen is set for close to a 4x6 so you can print what you shoot. However, I do portrait and lifestyle type shots so I need to leave room to crop so I can decide what size I, friends and eventually customers would like to print, whilst leaving room to make sure the composition is spot on and no limbs are missed.

For example today, a friend wanted one print in two different sizes. Having left room for the crop this was possible.

In other words I would recommend you learn to see your images through the view finder and visualise them at what ever your most commonly sized print is. I aim for 10x8 and it is a skill I have a long way to go with - but I know it will be worth it.
hth

[bulldog413]

Thanks. Nicola. Funny, was thinking about this again this morning. I have set my camera so that I see the crop. What would the size be if I printed the original image without crop?

The other part that bothers me about this is that when i'm shooting headshots, I have to tell clients that not all the shot is IN the shot and will be cropped. They get it, but I just wish that I could set it and frame what I see. Oh well. I'm getting used to it...

[NicolaB]

IABoomer are you Ian? I have always assumed you are. Am I right in thinking the result of a full frame camera would be a 4"x6"? It may be 4.5"x6"

I will do some more surfin' tomorrow to see.

[IABoomer]

No.

IA = Iowa, where I'm from.
Boomer = a nickname I picked up in my car stereo days.

Typically "full frame" refers to digital sensors that have the same area as a full frame of 35mm film, basically 36mm x 24mm.

4.5" x 6" or 4" x 6" would be considered a "medium format" if my understanding of the nomenclature is right.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

4.5" x 6" or 4" x 6" would be considered a "medium format" if my understanding of the nomenclature is right.

Nope. 120 format (2.25"x2.25") is medium format. 120 refers to a 12-shot roll, 220 is a 24-shot roll (on square bodies). Some are 6x7cm (namely Mamiya).

4x5" is large format, as is 8x10". There are larger, but theyre very very rare.