What's Wrong With Your Current Camera? | Frequently Asked Questions

Most Digital SLR viewfinders have a 2x3 aspect ratio. Compose an image full frame and you will be able to print that image with virtually no resizing in 2x3, 4x6, 8x12, 16x24, etc., sizes.

As you can see, the natural format of the viewfinder is an 8x12 format, not 8x10. To further complicate matters, you capture 2-5% more image than you see through your viewfinder. Most of you have figured all this out and are aware you need to frame in from the sides of the viewfinder to compose an 8x10... but how far? Without lines designating the exact 8x10 area, you are guessing. Not only are you guessing, you’re losing valuable time thinking where those lines should be when you should be concentrating on your subject.

By default, many of you compose the image smaller than needed, which causes two problems. The smaller image uses less pixels, needing more magnification, affecting final image quality, and, it still leaves you resizing the image later on.

Conversely, sometimes you shoot the image too tight, overshooting the actual 8x10 area. That’s when the real trouble begins, as most of you know, and reconstruction is in order.

So here is what you have to work with ... a user unfriendly viewfinder with no way of knowing precisely where to frame for an 8x10 image, or any other format we install, and no way to do it consistently. Does it surprise anyone how much time you spend resizing and retouching?

CropLines™ Works

We add CropLines™ directly onto the focus screen with no effect on any camera function, or camera warranty. When you look through the eyepiece of your camera, you will see CropLines™ as an integral part of your viewfinder. When the camera is used in the horizontal position, the lines run from top of the screen to bottom, one on each side so the image is centered. They are thin, they are black, they are precise. When you want to compose, frame within them, you will have consistently centered and sized images. So accurate in fact, you can batch file your images shot as 8x10, or you can send them directly to your lab, and have them print straight to 8x10.

Format Masters™

I have spoken mostly about the 8x10 format. We can install any format lines to your specifications, all of which work the same way. CropLines™ offers ”custom screens,” which have multiple formats on one screen. We design masks for school/sports photographers, hobbyists, specialty applications, etc., and take great pride in our ability to produce clean, simple, balanced, easy to use designs that remain nonintrusive when looking through the viewfinder.