645 Cropping Magic

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

As a 6x6 shooter, I had always considered 645 to be a bit of an unsexy format.

Well, fate has moved me into the Mamiya 645AFD system, and I was playing around with cropping in PS and discovered it is actually quite sexy. Just the tiniest sliver of cropping for a natural 5x7 shape, and only about 7% crop to get an 8x10 shape. See attached samples; black is the full frame.

Not bad! I hereby apologize for my previously ill 645 karma.

 

[brucemuir]

I agree,
I eschewed the lowly 645 for years untill i wanted a quicker 120 rig.

All the BS about it not being larger enough than 135 is a laugh.

 

[MattKing]

A 12 x 16 enlargement is very nice, and the 6 x 4.5 format fits it perfectly.

 

[BainDarret]

I shot weddings with a Pentax 645 for years.
It was perfect for 8x10s and 5x7s.
Just the slightest bit of cropping was all that was needed.
Great negs and you could print at speed!

 

[brian steinberger]

I'm a huge fan of the 6x4.5 format. I print full frame, 6x8" on 8x10 paper and 9x12" on 11x14 paper. They look great with 1" borders. I find the 35mm ratio too long and 4x5 and 6x7 too close to square. 6x4.5 is my favorite rectangle ratio.

 

[mweintraub]

One thing I learned is that no matter what format you shoot in is to leave room. You never know what end print format you want to print to. It could be 4x6, 5x5, 5x7, 8x10, etc

Plus!: Frames will crop edges.

 

[ntenny]

I agree,
I eschewed the lowly 645 for years untill i wanted a quicker 120 rig.

All the BS about it not being larger enough than 135 is a laugh.

Me too; same exact situation. Now it's largely put my 35mm gear out of work.

9x12 has the same cropping virtues in a larger negative.

-NT

 

[ROL]

Just the tiniest sliver of cropping for a natural 5x7 shape...

I'm all for cropping to whatever composition floats your boat – I almost always crop (or shoot to crop) my 5x7 negs to 4x5, 3x5, or 1:2. But why is 5x7 a natural shape? Magazine double page spreads?

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

But why is 5x7 a natural shape?

I don't know why it's a natural shape. It just feels good to me when I have a full length portrait in a 5x7 ratio. I like mid length and tighter portraits in a 4x5 ratio.

Does anyone know where the photo 5x7 ratio came from?