Cropping: With the camera? Or with an editor?

[Mario Xavier]

Which do you prefer? Cropping with the camera or afterwards in an editor?

Is it possible to always crop only using the camera?

[Donald]

Is it possible to always crop only using the camera?

In my opinion, No.

I like using 16:9; 7:5; 4:5 and 1:1 aspect ratios. These are not available directly from my 40D. So I have to compose the image in camera knowing how the finished version is going look. So, in summary, I think composition is something you do before you press the button. Cropping is something you do in post-processing.

[rpcrowe]

I crop to the best that I can in camera. I use a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and a 70-200mm f/4L IS on a pair of 1.6x cameras so I have a 17-200mm focal range available at my finger tips. Factor in the 1.6x factor and I have a comparative focal range of about 27.2 to 320mm. That allows me to do MOST of my cropping in the camera. I really do a minimum of cropping in post production.

However, the ratio of a 1.6x crop camera to an 8x10 inch or 8.5 x 11 inch print is different, so a bit of cropping is usually needed no matter how closely I frame my shot.

Doing most of my cropping in the camera preserves my image quality and allows me very good quality with my 1.6x equipment. Of course, using top-line lenses contributes to image quality also.

[Mario Xavier]

So, in summary, I think composition is something you do before you press the button. Cropping is something you do in post-processing.

That really sticks.

I crop to the best that I can in camera. I use a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and a 70-200mm f/4L IS on a pair of 1.6x cameras so I have a 17-200mm focal range available at my finger tips. Factor in the 1.6x factor and I have a comparative focal range of about 27.2 to 320mm. That allows me to do MOST of my cropping in the camera. I really do a minimum of cropping in post production.

However, the ratio of a 1.6x crop camera to an 8x10 inch or 8.5 x 11 inch print is different, so a bit of cropping is usually needed no matter how closely I frame my shot.

Doing most of my cropping in the camera preserves my image quality and allows me very good quality with my 1.6x equipment. Of course, using top-line lenses contributes to image quality also.

What about with a fixed focal length lens? Does that effect your judgment any since you can't zoom in on a subject?

[Colin Southern]

I think it partly depends on what you want to do with the image. If it's only ever going to be displayed online then one can crop in post processing quite agressively, and still "get away with it". Personally, I try to get it right in-camera as best possible, but I usually err a little on the wide wide because if the customer wants a canvas print then I need the extra margin around the outside to wrap the image around the edge of the frame (which is preferable to wrapping body parts around the edge of the frame).

[rpcrowe]

"What about with a fixed focal length lens? Does that effect your judgment any since you can't zoom in on a subject?"

When I shoot with prime lenses, I most often will use multiple cameras. I have four primes, 50mm f/1.8 Mark-I which I seldom use since I purchased the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens; 90mm f/2.8 Tamron macro; 300mm f/4L IS; and 400mm f/5.6L. Just about the only lens which I will use without a back-up focal length is my macro and when I carry that lens, I am concentrating on macro shooting.

Before the advent of decent zoom lenses for 35mm still cameras, photojournalists generally carried several cameras. I had a photojournalist friend in Vietnam (I was a cinematographer) who regularly carried four 35mm cameras, three Nikon SLR's and one Leica rangefinder. He had his carrying straps fabricated because at that time you could not purchase a strap outfit for multiple cameras. He carried cameras with 28mm, 50mm, 90mm and 135mm lenses. That was a load to carry but, gave him the focal length flexibility close to today's zoom lenses.

The standard method with prime lenses, unless you are standing in the serendipitous "right spot" for your focal length, is to either "zoom with your feet" which is often not possible or use the next widest focal length you have with you and crop to what you desire in post processing.

[Peter Ryan]

The above cover most situation but if you are shooting architecture you will probably find the building will lean due to perspective distortion and when correcting later in post production you will need to leave around 10 – 15% more room around the subject to ensure the end result does not see the top of the building too close or even out of the frame.

[Mario Xavier]

The above cover most situation but if you are shooting architecture you will probably find the building will lean due to perspective distortion and when correcting later in post production you will need to leave around 10 – 15% more room around the subject to ensure the end result does not see the top of the building too close or even out of the frame.

If it's not troublesome, could you give me a visual of what you mean?

[Peter Ryan]

Hi Mario,

This is not a great exmple but one I took recently. The first shot was as taken in camera and the second has been adjusted to correct for perpective distortion (lens distortion). In doing so the light at the top of the pole is now out of the image and I lost a bit off the left side of the building. I hope this helps to visualise what I meant. If not let me know and I will take another more dramatic example for you.

[Ross]

Oh No, Peter. I think you are talking about correcting distortion, but not about cropping. This example is not typical of cropping technique. Is it ok if you post another out? Please.

[Dick Jenkins]

Mario, I don't know of a picture that I have ever taken where I did not crop it in post processing. Trying to perfectly frame the scene during the picture taking just adds another thing I need to consider. Most of the time I am limited in the amount of time I have to frame a scene. I tend to be a bit more generous in what I want included and when cropping after the fact I'll tweak my rule of thirds by being specific about my final size then positioning the crop within the scene.

[Mario Xavier]

Thanks Peter! I understand what you mean now. Thanks very much for the visual.

Dick, I'm sorry I can't visualize your workflow since I not good at PP but it sounds like your method is a way of cropping without losing quality?

[Peter Ryan]

Oh No, Peter. I think you are talking about correcting distortion, but not about cropping. This example is not typical of cropping technique. Is it ok if you post another out? Please.

Hi Ross,

You are correct but I was referring to how closely you crop the shot in camera - if you crop too tight in-camera you do not have enough room to correct for lens distortion, as any correction re-aligns the image by cropping.

[Shadowman]

I would think you would limit your in camera editing only as far as you are willing to drain the battery.

[Peter Ryan]

I would think you would limit your in camera editing only as far as you are willing to drain the battery.

Hi John,

When I say 'Crop in Camera' I am really talking about how you frame the shot not do any post processing. If you are shooting something that needs correction for lens distortion then I would frame it much looser, give it breathing space, to allow me to correct for the distortion later.

[Shadowman]

Hi John,

When I say 'Crop in Camera' I am really talking about how you frame the shot not do any post processing. If you are shooting something that needs correction for lens distortion then I would frame it much looser, give it breathing space, to allow me to correct for the distortion later.

Peter,

Your example is a standard technique that we usually follow and I like to call having your back against a wall. Meaning, you are limited to how well you can frame because something is obstructing you from getting the entire object within frame. If you were far enough away from the object then your only consideration would be in which section (left, right, middle) of the frame would you place the object.