An ultrasonic diagnostic transducer array (16) is provided for providing electronic focusing in the longitudinal plane (L) and elevational (E) focusing. Elements (e₁,e₂...) of the array (16) are subdiced in the elevational direction (E) to provide subelements (1-2,2-2,3-2...) with aspect ratios varying in proportion to their distance to the central longitudinal axis of the array. Such variation affords varying electro-mechanical coupling coefficients to the subelements such that the intensity of the transmitted energy is centered about the central longitudinal axis. In a second embodiment (not represented) elements exhibit extensions in the elevational direction which vary in proportion to their displacement from the longitudinal center of the array. The extended elements are acoustically separated into subelements in the elevational direction to provide elevational focusing or spatial compounding of the transmitted acoustic energy.