What ratio to crop to?

[Calypso b]

Hello all,

I am editing some point and shoot photos for a friend. I noticed something weird. When I go to crop them, they are not a 2:3 ratio like the photos that come from my camera. Is this common? What ratio do you crop to?

 

[Juice]

Depends on the print. Obviously my 2x3 format camera can't fit pictures in an 8x10 frame, so I crop to whatever print I'm trying to get into.

Maybe I don't really understand your question...

 

[Big Mike]

Many P&S type cameras don't use the 2:3 ratio. Actually, many of them allow the user to choose the ratio.

I crop to the ratio that I need/want. If I'm printing an 8x10, I crop to 4:5. If I'm printing a 4x6, I leave it or crop to 2:3.
If I'm just uploading to the web, I'll choose whatever crop I think fits best, which may include a freehand crop.

 

[KmH]

Most P&S cameras have an image sensor that is closer to being square, and have a 4:3 native aspect ratio.