Why you should stop shooting video in 16:9 aspect ratio

Why You Should Stop Shooting Video in 16:9 Aspect Ratio

Introduction

As a content creator in 2022, it can be overwhelming to produce content for multiple platforms. Each platform has its own format requirements—YouTube prefers horizontal video, while TikTok and Instagram favor vertical. This poses a significant challenge when trying to repurpose content across different platforms.

The Struggle

A common struggle is the need to shoot horizontal content for YouTube and then create additional vertical content for TikTok and Instagram. Often, when amazing horizontal content is cropped for vertical use, it ends up looking poorly framed and unprofessional. The anxiety of needing to be present on all platforms is real, and managing different formats can be tedious and time-consuming.

Our Initial Solutions

We experimented with shooting skits, first in horizontal format for YouTube and then in vertical for TikTok and Instagram. This approach required duplicating efforts and often resulted in inconsistent performances. Our next idea was to use two cameras simultaneously—one for horizontal and one for vertical—but this solution involved significant data management and editing efforts.

The Breakthrough

Our breakthrough came when we discovered the anamorphic shooting option on our Lumix cameras. Shooting in 4x3 anamorphic on the Lumix S5 or the GH6 allowed us to capture video with sufficient resolution for both horizontal and vertical cropping. For instance, a 4x3 shoot on the Lumix S5 provides a resolution of 3320a x 24.96, which is sufficient to crop both 16x9 and 9x16 formats without compromising quality.

Real World Example

We used this 4x3 workflow for a recent skit. Here’s how it benefited us:

• 4x3: The original format, giving plenty of vertical and horizontal space.
• 16x9: Cropped easily from 4x3 for YouTube.
• 9x16: Cropped seamlessly for TikTok and Instagram.

The Benefits

This method massively simplifies the workflow and ensures content quality remains high across all platforms. For newer cameras like the Lumix GH6, the resolution is even higher (5.8K), providing extraordinary flexibility for cropping and reframing in post-production.

Motivation & Performance

Repurposing content boosts your chances of engagement across platforms. For instance, a skit that garnered only 5,000 views on YouTube received 400,000 views within the first few hours on Instagram and TikTok. This kind of success helps maintain motivation for creating more content.

Conclusion

Even if you aren't focusing on multiple platforms, having extra space to crop or reframe in post-production is invaluable. It gives you room for creativity and ensures you can optimize your content for any platform, maintaining quality and consistency.

Keywords

• Content creation
• Horizontal video
• Vertical video
• Anamorphic shooting
• Lumix S5
• Lumix GH6
• Post-production
• Cropping
• Social media platforms
• Workflow optimization

FAQ

Q: What is the main struggle for content creators in terms of video formats?
A: The main struggle is managing different video formats for different platforms—horizontal for YouTube and vertical for TikTok and Instagram—without compromising quality.

Q: What were the initial solutions tried to address this issue?
A: Initially, we shot the same content twice, once horizontally and once vertically, and later tried using two cameras, one for each format. Both methods had their downsides in terms of consistency and editing workload.

Q: What is the advantage of shooting in 4x3 anamorphic format?
A: Shooting in 4x3 anamorphic format provides ample resolution for both horizontal and vertical cropping, facilitating easy and high-quality repurposing of content for multiple platforms.

Q: Which cameras offer this 4x3 anamorphic shooting mode?
A: Lumix cameras, particularly models like the S5 and GH6, offer this mode. The GH6 provides even higher resolution (5.8K) for greater flexibility.

Q: How does this method impact content performance across platforms?
A: Repurposing content effectively increases visibility and engagement across platforms, as highlighted by an example skit that performed significantly better on Instagram and TikTok compared to YouTube.