What Aspects Should I used as a Time lapse Photographer?

The age of screen is here so if you don’t want to read further that’s my conclusion. So 16:9 is the way to go. If you still with me then thank you.

The full frame sensor is based on a 3/2 35mm film format. It is the most popular format we have right now and that’s simple it been around since the analogue age. Most printer support this aspects ratio. So if you shoot this kind of format then you can print as what you see on your screen. No crop requires.

On other hand the new kid in town is 4/3 ratio. That’s the Micro Fourth Thirds System sensor use. It’s fourth time smaller than the 35mm film format. But we shoot digitally so it could be scale to as large as you want without compromise quality.

One to One or Instagram format is a square ratio. It mainly use as a special effect for viewing only. That’s make Instagram special when it first came out. It’s just an effect okay nothing special and they now have other aspects ratio.

16:9 is the future of the aspect ratio. The “Age of Screen” is on the 16:9 ratio. This is our TV, computer screen and smart phones aspect ratio. Yes and we spend most of our time on this devices. The big question is which format should you select when yo shoot time lapse?

I have two answer for you, the first is for new comers to time lapse photography. Just shoot in 16:9 ratio as you can make the video straight away from time lapse sequence. No crop in your video. Simply enjoy the time lapse video.

For the second group, I say shoot to your sensor maximum ratio. For me personally I shoot in 4/3 Micro 4/3 aspects ratio. After the sequence is finished I do more post processing if I have the computer power. Right now I don’t have the computer power but once I have the computer power I will definitely shoot in full sensor aspect ratio.

I love doing Ken Burn effect on my time lapse. Yes with a big sensor like M4/3, 16 Megapixel I can do pan and zoom in effect. Mainly software driven method. And remember 4K video is only 8 Megapixel so 16 is way too much for 4K and even with 16 Mega Pixel I still have plenty to play with in post-processing.

Nowadays I shoot everything in 16:9 to save time and I want instant feedback. Still could play around with a 12 megapixel image if I want to in post once I have upgraded my computer.