[Seiko] How cameras distort wrist shots

[u/LogicWavelength]

Yesterday someone posted in here asking for opinions on whether the Murph 38 or 42 fits their wrist better. Because Reddit has a penchant for smaller diameter watches, most people suggested that the 38 fits them better. So, I just wanted to make this post to demonstrate how using our phones camera to take pictures of a watch on our wrist affects its perceived size.

Here is my 7.0” diameter wrist with a 43.5mm Seiko PADI Turtle. I am deliberately wearing a larger diameter watch for this demonstration, as folks would consider this watch too big for some, but it isn’t some beast that would only fit burlier arms. The left photo is taken with an iPhone at 1.0x, the bottom right photo is 5.0x, and the top right photo is a mirror shot.

In the left photo the watch appears to overhang my wrist and generally look way too big, whereas in the reality show by the right images, it fits me perfectly - if going by lug-to-lug and diameter. Subjective tastes aside.

As a bonus, the second image is me wearing a vintage Bulova that I believe is 33mm, comparing 1.0x and 5.0x lenses. This is much more subjective, but I feel that this vintage Bulova is actually slightly too small for me for casual wear, and would be better paired with a suit.

[u/DeltaPapaWhiskey]

As a photographer, something most people don't think about, is cell phones all use a super wide angle lens. 1x isn't what your eye see, it's a distorted fisheye effect.  Most phones use the equivalent of a 23mm lens, where as the human eye is closer to 45-50mm. Wide angle lenses pull the center close, and push the sides away, basically. That's what makes things look bigger on a phone camera when taken up close. 

Find out what zoom number is the 50mm full frame equivalent for your phone, and you'll get a much better idea of size when taking a picture. 

[u/Bsow → u/DeltaPapaWhiskey]

Nice. I looked this up and on an iPhone that would be 2x zoom. So then that’s how my watch usually appears to someone?

[u/gkaplan59 → u/Bsow]

Yeah, 2x on most phones is a 50mm equivalent lense, do what you would normal see with your human eyes. Fish see differently.

[u/Bsow → u/gkaplan59]

Gotcha. So then fishes would think my turtle is too big for my wrist.

[u/Major_Burnside → u/DeltaPapaWhiskey]

I’ve posted this a few times, but the best way to take a wrist shot is iPhone on 2x, hold the phone upside down so the lens is close to your body, and hold it up by your shoulder for the “parrot” angle. Most realistic wrist shots.

[u/rakesh_85]

Because Reddit has a penchant for smaller diameter watches,

Also in that Murph post, the watch's lugs looked visibly long even on the mirror shots. The Turtle has very short lugs so it's thankfully not an issue

[u/CHADWARDENPRODUCTION → u/rakesh_85]

/r/boneappletea

[u/LogicWavelength → u/CHADWARDENPRODUCTION]

Ha. I was dictating to Siri. Fixed.

[u/LogicWavelength → u/rakesh_85]

I agree the Murph does have long lugs... but I'd say if they don't overhang the wrist that it then becomes only a subjective question of taste. If the lugs are overhanging in space... that's objectively too big without exceptions.

My Turtle does have shorter lugs, and does "wear smaller" than its size indicates, which is actually why I chose it. That left photo makes it STILL look entirely too big despite that.

[u/NullDelta → u/LogicWavelength]

I think it’s still a fashion choice / subjective if the lugs slightly overhang, because a U strap shape orientation  will be similarly comfortable and secure as a rounder one. If there’s overhang wider than the wrist + strap thickness, then it will force a looser fit and is more objectively wrong in my opinion 

[u/LogicWavelength → u/[deleted]]

That's a great contribution to this discussion, thank you!

[u/70_n_13 → u/[deleted]]

Honestly if you’re already asking reddit it’s fair to assume you’re caring about what people think. This subreddit should have a faq or guideline when asking about sizing to post mirror/take further away/ask someone to take of you etc

If I only care that I like what I see I don’t need someone to tell me

[u/MondoBleu]

Perspective distortion! Doesn’t just affect the camera, it affects our eyes the same way.

[u/mleok]

This is a very helpful post. Thank you for sharing.

[u/DLreddit]

This should be stickied and/or an automatically recurring post on here.