4:3 vs 16:9: How to Choose the Resolution When Taking Photos or Videos

In the past ten years, the TV screens become wider and wider. The displayer and the multi-media devices gradually change the aspect ratio from 4:3 to 16:9. What’s more, the digital camera changes a lot as well, which contains not only 4:3 but also 16:9 and the panorama mode.

Aspect ratio, a key element in photography, refers to the relationship between image width and its height. It can affect the image composition, the shooting method and the size of an image.

The aspect ratio is mainly determined by the dimension of the camera sensor. In the past, the camera was only provided with one shooting proportion. But the current digital camera is provided with several styles, such as square, rectangle and panorama modes. The 4:3 and 16:9 proportions have been the popular aspect ratios.

①  4:3

4:3, the commonly-used aspect ratio, is applied in the camera with small sensor, such as small cameras and smart phones. It is also used in the Micro 3/4 system camera. Compared with their structures, this kind of camera is more compact than that of the ordinary digital camera. It is also smaller and lighter.

Originally, 4:3 was the standard aspect ratio in movies. Then, it was used in TVs and the early PC displayers. Nowadays, it is gradually replaced by 16:9, a newly popular video proportion.

②  16:9

The width of the 16:9 proportion is wider than others, so it can capture wider area than any other resolution. Many people choose 16:9 to take photo when they need a panorama picture.

In the late 2000, 16:9 became more popular than 4:3 and now it is the standard aspect ratio of TVs and online videos. Taking the advantage of its wider vision, it is applied in most of HD videos, especially some HD movies. What’ s more, it is accepted by almost all manufacturers of PC displayers and laptops.

All in all, the composition of an image is determined by the aspect ratio. The dimension of horizontal and vertical frame lines can affect the shooting angle and the shooting distance.

Therefore, you should adjust the aspect ratio if you want a fabulous picture.

As for beginners, how to select the aspect ratio when taking photos and videos? In fact, it is determined by your camera and your photo style.

① About shooting proportion

4:3 is the best choice in static photography because it can capture as much as information from a picture. Otherwise, you may miss the top and bottom parts of the picture if you select the 16:9 proportion. For example, in the following image, the green area is the captured image with 4:3 proportion and the red area is captured with 16:9 proportion.

If you merely want to take some ordinary photos, the 4:3 proportion can fulfill your requirements. And you can select the 16:9 proportion if you need a panorama picture.

② About recording proportion

The 16:9 proportion is suitable for documentary films, advertisements, films and other videos that require few special effects. Since the 16:9 proportion is basically used in the current PC displayers, black edges won’t occur in the screen when you play a video in 16:9 proportion. Especially when you need to upload the videos to YouTube or other video websites, it is suggested that you select the 16:9 proportion.

On the other hand, how to convert the proportion if your video proportion is not 16:9? At such situation, you can use Renee Video Editor Pro to make it.

You have two ways to convert the proportion of videos, one is to cut the video in desired proportion, another is to adjust the video resolution.

According to the fixed proportion, you can cut the 4:3 or 16:9 video but some parts of the video will be cut.

① Download and install Renee Video Editor Pro, then select [Video Toolbox].

② Click [Add Files] to select the target video and set the output format in [Output Format].

③ Click [Rotate & Crop].

If you want to change the video from 16:9 to 4:3, select [4:3] in the [Proportion] selectbox.

If you want to change the video from 4:3 to 16:9, select [16:9] in the [Proportion] selectbox. You can also adjust the crop box to set the desired video screen. After that, click [OK] to finish.

You can also enhance the video resolution. In this method, you will add black edges to the video but the video screen will not change.

① Download and open Renee Video Editor Pro and select [Video Toolbox] > [Add Files].

② Click [Output Settings] after selecting the target video.

③ You can select [Customized] in the [Video Size] selectbox. If you don’t understand the common resolution in the 16:9 and 4:3 proportions, you can click here to get detailed information.

The resolution from 16:9 to 4:3:

The resolution from 4:3 to 16:9:

Finally, click [OK] > [Start] to convert the video!