Understanding the zoom on a digital camera can be very confusing for many casual photographers. Camera manufacturers make certain information very clear, such as megapixels and screen size.

However, zoom is something that is not so clearly advertised and therefore most buyers are not familiar with this facet of their cameras. However, your camera’s zoom can have a big effect on the quality of your shots.

There are generally two types of zoom in digital cameras: optical and digital. The following will help explain how these zooms differ from each other and which one will best suit your needs.

optical zoom

An optical zoom works by measuring the change in focal length (the distance between the center of the lens and the image sensor) of the lens. For example, when you move the camera lens further from the image sensor, the image sensor captures less of the subject and enlarges, resulting in increased zoom.

If your camera has optical zoom, you may have full control over where the zoom stops (known as soft zoom). However, many digital cameras have limited zoom settings, offering between four and seven zoom positions.

digital zoom

Digital zoom is a process in which the photograph is digitally cropped and enlarged. This is usually achieved by enlarging or removing pixels, which unsurprisingly reduces the quality of the image. Therefore, it is the lower of the two types of zoom and is only suitable in certain circumstances.

In most cases, you can perform digital zoom functions in post-production, giving you more control over image quality loss. If you don’t have access to photo-editing software, it’s a good idea to shoot in high resolution when using digital zoom, so the quality loss isn’t too significant.

What do the zoom measurements mean?

When shopping for a digital camera, you’ll notice that the zoom measurements are indicated by a number next to an “x.” The higher the number, the greater the possibility of scaling. For example, 10x offers a much higher magnification than 3x.

However, this is where it gets a bit confusing, because not all measurements of a camera’s 10x optical zoom are created equal. Manufacturers measure the ends of the lens and the multiplier or “x” is the difference between the largest and smallest measurements. For example, a camera with a minimum magnification of 35mm and a 10x optical zoom will have a maximum magnification of 350mm.

Digital camera manufacturers often combine optical and digital zoom measurements to display a large figure on the front of the case. This isn’t exact, so it’s important to read the fine print to find the optical zoom figure.

When looking at the zoom on a digital camera, it is recommended that you do some research to ensure that you are purchasing a camera that provides a good quality magnification.

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