diff --git a/src/openseadragon.js b/src/openseadragon.js
index 461f9d22..e20926bd 100644
--- a/src/openseadragon.js
+++ b/src/openseadragon.js
@@ -252,6 +252,9 @@
   * @property {Boolean} [autoResize=true]
   *     Set to false to prevent polling for viewer size changes. Useful for providing custom resize behavior.
   *
+  * @property {Boolean} [preserveImageSizeOnResize=false]
+  *     Set to true to have the image size preserved when the viewer is resized. This requires autoResize=true (default).
+  *
   * @property {Number} [pixelsPerWheelLine=40]
   *     For pixel-resolution scrolling devices, the number of pixels equal to one scroll line.
   *
@@ -987,6 +990,7 @@ window.OpenSeadragon = window.OpenSeadragon || function( options ){
             maxZoomPixelRatio:      1.1, //-> higher allows 'over zoom' into pixels
             pixelsPerWheelLine:     40,
             autoResize:             true,
+            preserveImageSizeOnResize: false, // requires autoResize=true
 
             //DEFAULT CONTROL SETTINGS
             showSequenceControl:     true,  //SEQUENCE
diff --git a/src/viewer.js b/src/viewer.js
index 7143443d..3e318528 100644
--- a/src/viewer.js
+++ b/src/viewer.js
@@ -2824,13 +2824,31 @@ function updateOnce( viewer ) {
         return;
     }
 
+    var containerSize;
     if ( viewer.autoResize ) {
-        var containerSize = _getSafeElemSize( viewer.container );
+        containerSize = _getSafeElemSize( viewer.container );
         if ( !containerSize.equals( THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize ) ) {
-            // maintain image position
-            var oldBounds = viewer.viewport.getBounds();
-            var oldCenter = viewer.viewport.getCenter();
-            resizeViewportAndRecenter(viewer, containerSize, oldBounds, oldCenter);
+            if ( viewer.preserveImageSizeOnResize ) {
+                var prevContainerSize = THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize;
+                var bounds = viewer.viewport.getBounds(true);
+                var deltaX = (containerSize.x - prevContainerSize.x);
+                var deltaY = (containerSize.y - prevContainerSize.y);
+                var viewportDiff = viewer.viewport.deltaPointsFromPixels(new OpenSeadragon.Point(deltaX, deltaY), true);
+                viewer.viewport.resize(new OpenSeadragon.Point(containerSize.x, containerSize.y), false);
+
+                // Keep the center of the image in the center and just adjust the amount of image shown
+                bounds.width += viewportDiff.x;
+                bounds.height += viewportDiff.y;
+                bounds.x -= (viewportDiff.x / 2);
+                bounds.y -= (viewportDiff.y / 2);
+                viewer.viewport.fitBoundsWithConstraints(bounds, true);
+            }
+            else {
+                // maintain image position
+                var oldBounds = viewer.viewport.getBounds();
+                var oldCenter = viewer.viewport.getCenter();
+                resizeViewportAndRecenter(viewer, containerSize, oldBounds, oldCenter);
+            }
             THIS[ viewer.hash ].prevContainerSize = containerSize;
             THIS[ viewer.hash ].forceRedraw = true;
         }