Question about how to properly take a photo for a particular image size?

[cheekie210]

I have a Canon XTi dSLR and I usually shoot all my photos in camera RAW. I edit them in Photoshop CS3. I have been trying to edit my photos and make them 8x10 images, but find that I have to crop too much off my photos to make them fit the sizing. Is there a setting I could put my camera on before I take a shot that may help with post processing? I'm new to photography and would appreciate any advice I could get. Thanks!

[Doug Pardee]

No, you just have to learn to judge what the 8x10 proportions look like in the viewfinder.

If you're really really serious about 8x10 photography, you can order a new focus screen from Katz Eye with 8x10 crop lines marked on it. That'd cost you $150 (US). You're probably not that serious.

[LoveDSLR]

I don't think Canon XTi has the feature like the Nikon D3 that can change the camera image size to 5:4 ratio.

You can try what I did with my 6x6 film Hasselblad by outlining a 5:4 grid on the viewfinder screen with artist masking tape (narrow, translucent type) or use other focusing screens with 5:4 grid lines.

[work2well]

Did I miss the point or something?
I would have thought that the simplest way would be just to print onto 8x10 paper, or resize to the required dimensions.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by work2well

Did I miss the point or something?
I would have thought that the simplest way would be just to print onto 8x10 paper, or resize to the required dimensions.

The OP wants to know if there is a way of pre-visualizing how the proper dimensions would be BEFORE shooting, to best accomplish the composition.

Many P&S cameras shoot in a weird hybrid of the 4x6/5x7 format, but have guides for the 2:3 ratio. Unfortunately the only DSLR with a similar function is the D3, which has a 5:4 (8x10) ratio crop mask in the viewfinder as an option.

[Elmo]

With an XTi that should not be an issue as you do not see the whole captue area in the niewfinder. But in essence just leave a little room on the long sides. What you are looking for is 2x2.5 not 2x3. But what is someone wants a 11x14 your size is still off. The only solution is always leave a little room for cropping.