Aspect Ratio Crop Calculator

Going 3:2 to 16:9 (or to 8×10) is a crop, not a squeeze. This fits the target aspect inside the source and reports the pixel rectangle, how many pixels remain, and the percent lost. Compose with the crop in mind — a test shot in the camera’s 16:9 mask beats discovering a missing head in the edit.

Inputs

Units

Results

Cropped width: 6,000px
Cropped height: 3,375px
Pixels kept: 20,250,000
Pixels discarded: 15.6%

Recommended gear

Field monitor
A monitor with 16:9 / 1:1 overlays is how you avoid cropping ears off in post.
Typical range: $200–$800
CFexpress card
Shoot the full sensor and crop later if you have the card speed. In-camera 16:9 is smaller files but baked.
Typical range: $80–$250

Calculation method

Compare source aspect (width/height) to the target (tw/th). If the source is relatively wider, keep full height and set crop width to height times tw/th. If the source is taller, keep full width and set crop height to width times th/tw. If that rectangle would exceed the source, it is clamped. Pixels kept are crop width times height; percent lost is the rest of the original pixel count.

Exact formula

If source is wider than target, cropHeight = height, cropWidth = height × tw/th. Else cropWidth = width, cropHeight = width × th/tw. Clamp to source. percentLost = 100×(1 − cropPixels/sourcePixels). Limits: Content-aware crop, rotation and anamorphic pixel aspect omitted.

In-camera aspect vs post

In-camera 16:9 on some bodies is a true readout crop (you cannot recover). On others it is a JPEG mask on a 3:2 RAW. Know which you own.

Social crops

4:5 and 9:16 throw away more of a 3:2 still than 16:9. Shoot a little wider than feels right if the post is vertical.

Frequently asked questions

3:2 to 16:9, how bad is it?

A 6000×4000 file becomes 6000×3375. You lose the top and bottom — about 15.6% of the pixels. That is a lot of sky or feet. Frame loose.

Print 8×10 from 3:2?

8×10 is 4:5. You lose the long sides. Do not compose a couple against both edges of a 3:2 viewfinder if the order is 8×10.

Anamorphic?

Desqueeze first (pixel aspect), then crop. This tool assumes square pixels.

Disclaimer — no professional advice, no liability

This is a geometric fit, not a composition tool. It will not protect faces. Use the camera’s aspect mask or crop overlays, then check a test shot.

These calculators, pages and any related content are provided “as is” and “as available”, solely for general educational and informational purposes. They are simplified mathematical estimates, not a light-meter reading, a studio plot or a shooting prescription, and they do not constitute professional photographic, cinematographic or optical advice.

Results can be wrong, incomplete or inapplicable to your camera, lens, sensor, filter, lighting or use case. You must independently verify every figure, assume all risk, and confirm settings on a test shot before a job that can miss the image, damage gear or injure someone.

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Aspect Ratio Crop Calculator

Inputs

Results

Recommended gear

Calculation method

Exact formula

In-camera aspect vs post

Social crops

Frequently asked questions

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