Should I set a different aspect ratio in-camera, or shoot RAW/JPEG and crop later on a Canon 750D?
Asked 12/4/2015
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I use a Canon 750D (APS-C DSLR) and I'm trying to decide the best workflow for aspect ratio.
Is it better to:
- shoot JPEG in a chosen aspect ratio such as 1:1 or 3:2, or
- shoot RAW and crop later in Lightroom?
I mainly shoot portraits and landscapes. What are the pros and cons of choosing the aspect ratio in-camera versus cropping later?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
5
As the sensor is 3:2 that's the natural size to choose when shooting. Cropping can be done in post, where you have any option you want. If you crop when you shoot you waste pixels. In my experience it is best to crop later if possible and to capture as much as possible - sometimes you find a composition ( framing ) in post you were not expecting when you shoot. I also advocate framing a little loosely when you shoot, as this makes post production easier and gives you more scope for correcting errors.
You have the option on the 750D to shoot RAW+JPEG ( simultaneously ), so it is not an either or.
In general JPEG alone on DSLRs sometimes offers faster or longer continuous shooting, while RAW allows you the maximum latitude to adjust images later.
Originally by user46861. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user46861
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For the 750D, the sensor’s native aspect ratio is 3:2, so the most flexible approach is usually to capture the full frame and crop later if needed.
Why crop later:
- You keep all available pixels instead of throwing some away in-camera.
- You can choose any crop and placement afterward, rather than being locked into a centered in-camera crop.
- RAW files keep the full uncropped image, giving you more latitude for editing and reframing.
- The 750D’s optical viewfinder shows about 95% coverage, so the full capture may include a little more than you saw anyway.
When in-camera aspect ratio can help:
- If you already know the final format you want (for example 1:1), composing with that in mind can be useful.
- If the camera can preview that framing in live view or in JPEG output, it may help visualization.
A good compromise is RAW+JPEG if your camera supports it: use the JPEG for convenience and preview, while keeping the RAW for maximum flexibility. Also, many photographers frame a little loosely to leave room for cropping and small composition corrections later.
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