rocker21

What is the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom? I know higher the optical zoom the better quality you get and that when you start using digital zoom you start to lose quality, but why is this?

tiggapooh

That's an excellent question. I would like to know that myself.

tiggapooh

That's an excellent question. I would like to know myself.

moon123

When buying a camera, look at the digital zoom - that's what's important, going to get you closer to the subject.

technt77

Amen - I have a Sony Mavica, nothing too special, but the zoom makes it outstanding.

technt77

Amen - I have a Sony Mavica, nothing too special, but the zoom makes it outstanding.

rocker21

But isn't that also what begins to distort the picture? (And what is this, the thread for duplicate posts or what?!?!!)

davidemarsh01

Optical zoom lenses physically extend to magnify your subject. A motor controls the lens movement. When you press the switch to "W" or "T," the subject is either magnified or reduced in size. The "W" stands for "wide-angle" (reduce). The "T" stands for "telephoto" (magnify).



Digital zoom crops your image and magnifies the result of the cropping. This magnification process is called interpolation. To make the cropped area bigger, digital zoom makes up, or interpolates, pixels to add to the image, which may give less than satisfactory results.
Using the digital zoom allows you to get closer to your subject when you want to be discreet about taking pictures, like at a graduation or a religious ceremony. Sacrificing image quality to capture the moment is more important than not getting the picture at all.
If you plan to use this mode, purchase a telephoto lens attachment so you don't have to use the digital zoom. Of course, you may use the digital zoom along with the telephoto lens attachment.
Setting up your digital zoom features depends on the type of digital camera you have. In general, the camera will allow you to zoom continuously from optical to digital or stop the optical zoom and then press the zoom switch a second time to engage digital zoom. Check your camera manual to determine your zoom settings.

dextermarkus

Optical zoom lenses physically extend to magnify the subject, whereas digital zoom crops the photos and magnifies the result of the cropping. Use optical zoom always.

diagurzula

The Optical zoom lenses actually expand to enlarge the subject, whereas digital zoom crops the photos and magnifies the effect of the cropping. Use optical zoom forever.