Why do my Canon 5D Mark II RAW files appear to have different pixel dimensions in portrait vs. landscape?
Asked 5/8/2015
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On my Canon EOS 5D Mark II, RAW files seem to show different image sizes depending on orientation. Landscape images appear as 5616×3744, while portrait images show 3753×5634 in darktable. EXIF tools report the same image size for all files, and the sensor-related fields also appear identical regardless of orientation. Why would the reported dimensions change between portrait and landscape, and is this a camera issue or a software issue?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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The EOS 5d mkII generates 5616x3744 JPEGs, while its sensor actually has 5634x3753 active pixels - hence the difference.
So I'd suspect the difference must be in the workflow. In case of landscape photos, you're viewing EXIF information originating from camera (perhaps the preview JPEG in RAW); portrait photos have to be rotated and/or demosaiced by your RAW tool that doesn't have to follow size convention of the camera, and you're viewing EXIF of the result. That single larger landscape image was also demosaiced in computer (perhaps some adjustments were applied?).
Originally by user4390. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4390
11y ago
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This is almost certainly a software/display issue, not the camera changing resolution.
The 5D Mark II records the same RAW data regardless of whether the camera is held horizontally or vertically. The camera’s standard output size is 5616×3744, while the sensor has slightly more active pixels around the edges. Different software may report either the camera’s cropped image area, the full active-pixel area, or the dimensions after rotation/demosaicing.
What likely happened is:
- landscape files were being shown using the camera/embedded JPEG dimensions, and
- portrait files were being shown after your RAW software rotated or processed them, exposing the slightly different active-pixel dimensions.
The fact that exiftool reports the same image size for all files strongly suggests the RAW files themselves are consistent. The occasional landscape file showing the larger dimensions also points to a workflow difference rather than anything orientation-dependent in the camera.
So yes: this is most likely a darktable reporting or interpretation quirk, not a real change in captured resolution.
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