Question About the Smatphone

[Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos]

I was wondering if a smartphone’s camera sensor has a 4:3 aspect ratio, does that mean that mean that one should switch from the default 16:9 ratio in order to use the sensor fully? A kind of a “D’oh!” question, but more important, I was wondering how much of the sensor’s area then does the phone use in the 16:9 aspect ratio?

[David Mullen ASC]

Are you talking about stills? Because the default ratio on my iPhone 4S is 4x3 for stills, in fact, I don't see a way to get any other aspect ratio without cropping after the photo is taken, but maybe some other smart phones have a 16x9 photo option.

 

As for video, HD is 16x9 so that's what the phone records, you can't record 4x3 video. I suppose some phones might record an older 4x3 standard def video codec...

[Peter Gilabert]

I have no idea, but it may interest you to know you can get a cheap app called Video Pro which will give you the option to record video in 4:3 aspect, which is pretty fun.

[Peter Gilabert]

Oops I meant Filmic Pro.

[David Mullen ASC]

But since HD codecs are all 16x9, would that mean a 4x3 image with black borders on the sides?

[Peter Gilabert]

David, essentially, yes.

I enjoy it because it mimics my Reg 16 camera I have. I know many people get a film camera than get obsessed with having a Super 16 aspect ratio and I won't argue against it, but I am embracing the complete black border 4:3 look.