Digital Camera Zoom

Understanding Digital Camera Zoom Lenses

Executive Summary By Michael Huddleston

There are two types of zooms used with digital camera zoom :
optical and digital zoom

Optical Zoom

An optical zoom changes magnification by moving glass in the lens, changing the image falling on the sensor. Using an optical zoom maintains picture quality.

Zoom Ranges and 35mm Equivalents

Optical zoom lenses usually have a specification called “equivalent in 35mm.” This tells you the zoom range of the digital camera zoom compared to a 35mm film camera. Typical 35mm equivalent zoom ranges you will see listed are 35mm-70mm or 35mm-105mm.

28mm…..wide angle
35mm……slight wide angle
50mm…..normal perspective
70mm…..slight telephoto
105mm…..moderate telephoto
135mm…..strong telephoto
200mm+…..extreme telephoto So, a 35mm-105mm equivalent zoom lens changes from a slight wide angle to a moderate telephoto. A 28mm-200mm equivalent lens changes from a wide angle to an extreme telephoto.

A 35mm-105mm equivalent zoom is adequate for most users.

Optical Zoom as 2x, 3x, 5x…

A 28mm-105mm would be approximately a 4x zoom, and a 35mm-350mm would be a 10x zoom.

Digital Zoom

A digital zoom of digital camera zoom does not change, magnification.

Choosing Digital Zoom Or Optical Zoom

With many digital cameras you are sure to get both optical and digital zoom. Optical zoom works in something like the zoom on a 35-mm film camera. The optical zoom is updated, the quality of the images. Digital zoom operates differently. The reason the quality of the photograph was reduced, sometimes a lot.

A full-size image of an object with the digital zoom, but it is likely that this picture becomes a little bit too blurred i.e. the details are lost. Indeed, the function of the digital zoom camera might be better in this case with the digital zoom off if possible. So you can automatically or zoom out to suggest that the digital zoom is often an extension of the optics.

Digital zoom has its place. It can be used if the fate of your photo is the Internet. If your goal is to print the picture, then you are more to be at an advantage if you power off the zoom.