Compact digicam with 3:2 aspect ratio and orientation sensor

[my88wa]

I'm looking for a compact digicam with the following features:

1. 3:2 aspect ratio
2. Orientation sensor

My budget is US $500. I'm not interested in DSLRs or the Kodak brand. Is there anything like it on the market?

[my88wa]

There's the Lumix DMC-LX1....

"Virtually all compact cameras use sensors with a 4:3 aspect ratio (giving a picture shape similar to a standard television). The LX1 has a sensor that is roughly the same height as a standard 6 megapixel CCD, but is considerably wider, giving the option of 16:9 shooting (16:9 is the shape of a widescreen television), and increasing the total number of pixels to just over 8 million. This is the first time a consumer stills camera has been equipped with such a wide sensor (although 16:9 modes are not unusual on stills cameras, they are achieved by cropping some of the top and bottom off the picture)."- quoted from http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasoniclx1/

Are there any others?

[my88wa]

I'm willing to concede the orientation sensor. Is there any true 3:2 aspect ratio compact camera around?

Your advice is appreciated.

[E.T]

my88wa wrote:

Is there any true 3:2 aspect ratio compact camera around?

Outside DSLRs... no.
Even that Pana isn't 3:2 camera.
(3:2=1.5 that pana is ~1.78 )

So that leaves options of cropping later or camera which could do it and have 3:2 output selectable...
But KonicaMinolta A2 is only camera I know to have 3:2 mode. (3264 x 2176)

[my88wa]

E.T wrote:

Even that Pana isn't 3:2 camera.
(3:2=1.5 that pana is ~1.78 )

I know but it's heaps better than cropping from 4:3 aspect ratio for 6x4 printing.

Maybe I'll wait for the Lumix DMC-LX2 which is launching next month....

[E.T]

my88wa wrote:

I know but it's heaps better than cropping from 4:3 aspect ratio for 6x4 printing.

Now for that print size cropping doesn't matter any, there's plentily enough of megapixels in every camera for that to be possible.


And if you mean you need real wide angle...
28-112mm (equiv.) range when used in 16:9 mode, though if you use the more conventional 4:3 or 3:2 modes you lose the wideangle: in standard 4:3 mode the focal length equivalent is 34-136mm
You would actually get narrower FOV from that Pana after cropping to 3:2 than after cropping from 4:3 28mm shot.

[my88wa]

E.T wrote:

my88wa wrote:

Now for that print size cropping doesn't matter any, there's plentily enough of megapixels in every camera for that to be possible.

You are right but I'm interested in a simple P&S, I'm not interested in post-processing hundreds of photos for 6x4 printing.

[algold]

Fuji S9000/9500 has a selectable 3:2 option (3696x2464 pixels), but this is just a 9MP with NORMAL compression only(there is no FINE setting, file size is 2.2 MB) and in-camera cropping. And this camera is not exactly compact.

Jst my $0.02.

[rinniethehun]

88,

Maybe I'm the one that's confused...when you say, "I'm not interested in post-processing hundreds of photos for 6x4 printing.", what post-processing are you referring to? If you take a photo with a camera that has a 4:3 aspect ratio you can print a 4x6 without doing any post-processing. So....?

the Hun

[E.T]

6:4 has 3:2 aspect ratio...
Well, some photolabs propably automatically crop from top and down of 4:3 shot... other might not crop it which would leave white strips to left and right edges of paper photo.


But same way 16:9 woud require cropping (=narrowing horizontal FOV) or then leaving white strips to top and down of paper photo.


algold wrote:

Fuji S9000/9500 has a selectable 3:2 option (3696x2464 pixels), but this is just a 9MP with NORMAL compression only

Now that's weird... have to wonder who designed camera if you can't select JPEG quality when using different aspect ratio.

Checked my A2 and after selecting 3264 x 2176 (3:2) TIFF and all JPEG qualitys are available, also RAW is selectable but image size row get's greyed with that which is logical. (but in RAW+normal JPEG-mode 3264x2176 is selectable)
Also mount of cropping is showed in EVF/LCD.