There isn't one single "standard" ratio, but the most common are 3:2 (for DSLRs, 35mm film, prints like 4x6, 8x12), 4:3 (smartphones, Micro Four Thirds, older monitors), 16:9 (HD video, widescreen screens, landscapes), and 1:1 (square, popular for social media like Instagram). The best ratio depends on your camera and intended use, with 3:2 and 4:3 being versatile for general photography and printing, while 16:9 suits cinematic or landscape shots, and 1:1 is great for social media posts, notes Photography Life.
The 4:3 aspect ratio describes a width of four units and a height of three units. These can be inches, lines, or pixels, depending on the object with that aspect ratio. When you divide the values, that is the width by the height, you get 1.33 (4 divided by 3 is 1.33).
The difference between 4:3 black bars and 16:9 is just extra FOV which in 99.9% of cases is irrelevant to actual gameplay at a high level and the 4:3 can keep you more focused on a playing area with less distractions in your peripheral vision.
4 x 6 inches.
This is perhaps the most common photo size in print. This size of photo fits perfectly into a 3:2 aspect ratio. If you take a photo using this ratio, you shouldn't have to crop out any of the image to make it fit. This size is ideal for framed photos, greetings cards and postcards.
Aspect ratios are usually referred to in their smallest equal ratio, similar to fractions. In the case of the 4x6, we would say that it's a 2:3 aspect ratio, as both numbers can be divided by 2.
But what is the 3x4 photo size in inches or pixels? Here are the photo's size equivalents in other popular measuring units: 30 x 40 mm (millimeters) 1.18 x 1.57 in (inches)
4:3 in the pro scene
Just because most pros use 4:3 doesn't mean it's inherently better than 16:9. But, the level of dominance of 4:3 in the pro scene does mean something more than just blind nostalgia. There is something more about 4:3 that draws pros into using it.
16:9 is the native aspect ratio of most high-definition widescreen LCD monitors and TV's (16:9 and 16:10 are very similar). It is 78% wider than it is tall, and fully one-third wider than a 4:3 screen.
🎬 Why Everyone's Obsessed with the 4:3 Aspect Ratio Again 🎬 In an age of ultrawide screens and 6K cameras, you'd think 4:3 would be long gone. But filmmakers are embracing it again—and not just for the aesthetics. The tighter frame offers a sense of intimacy, focus, and nostalgia that's hard to replicate in widescreen.
For TV, the original screen ratio for broadcasts was in 4:3 (1.33:1). Largely between the 1990s and early 2000s, at varying paces in different countries, 16:9 (e.g. 1920×1080p 60p) widescreen displays came into increasingly common use by high definitions.
Here's how to measure aspect ratio on a monitor:
Consider the Golden Ratio a useful guideline for determining dimensions of the layout. One very simple way to apply the Golden Ratio is to set your dimensions to 1:1.618.> For example, take your typical 960-pixel width layout and divide it by 1.618. You'll get 594, which will be the height of the layout.
Most photographers choose to shoot in 3:2 aspect ratio in the camera, a standard ratio of an image based on 35mm film. But if you're planning to shoot just for social network purposes, choosing 4:5 in your camera may work in your favor.
If your primary use for a portable monitor is watching movies, streaming videos, or gaming, a 16:9 monitor is likely the better choice. Its compatibility with most media formats ensures a seamless viewing experience without any distortion or letterboxing.
For Instagram, 4:5 is generally better for portrait feed posts (filling more screen) and 9:16 for Stories/Reels, while 16:9 (landscape) takes up the least space in the feed, often requiring letterboxing or cropping, making 4:5 or 1:1 (square) more common choices for feeds. Choose 9:16 for vertical full-screen content (Stories, Reels), 4:5 for tall feed posts, 1:1 for square posts, and 1.91:1 (or 16:9) for wider landscape images, understanding it fills less screen.
Best Aspect Ratios for Photography
For example, 16:9 would be perfect if you were shooting panoramic vistas. Additionally, take into consideration 1:1 if you choose to post your photos on Instagram. In the case of standard photographs, 3:2 or 4:3 would work well. Consider your camera kind before selecting a format.
Neither 4:3 nor 16:9 is universally "better"; the ideal aspect ratio depends on the content and platform, with 16:9 being the modern standard for widescreen TV, movies, YouTube, and most gaming, offering immersive views, while 4:3 provides a more square, vintage feel, excellent for traditional photos, older content, or creating a focused, intimate aesthetic for certain video styles, notes Reolink and Podcastle.ai.
The 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio for most consumer devices, including TVs, gaming monitors, and laptops. However, the 16:10 aspect ratio offers more vertical space, making it ideal for productivity tasks like coding, working with spreadsheets, and design work.
Often associated with the classic era of film and television, the 4:3 aspect ratio, also known as the Academy ratio, was the standard for many years. Its nearly square shape offers a sense of intimacy and focus, making it ideal for character-driven stories and close-up shots that require a personal touch.
The resolution 1920×1080 (1080p) is quite a bit wider than it is tall. The ratio of its width to height is 16 to 9, represented as an aspect ratio 16:9.
The 4:3 aspect ratio means the frame is 4 units wide and 3 units tall. It's more square than widescreen, and you've probably seen it in older TV shows, early movies, or footage from older camcorders. This format gives you a closer, more intimate frame. It works well when you want the focus tight on your subject.
How to Resize the Image to 3x4:
How to resize an image