Questions & Answers
Digital versus optical zoom in camcorders: How do they work side by side? I understand that a high optical zoom (when used) delivers a clear picture while a high digital zoom (when used) delivers an unclear picture. What I want to know is, do these 2 different features work dependantly or independantly from each other? Are there camcorders that come with both high optical zooms and low digital zooms at the same time? Or does having a high optical zoom inevitably impose the camera with a high digital zoom? And, if this is the sad but true case, can the digital zoom be deactivated during shooting, leaving active only the optical zoom, so that zooming is done optically instead of digitally, for the sake of capturing a clear and well defined picture, instead of a fuzzy, pixelated image? By the same token, just for knowledge purposes, can the optical zoom be deactivated while leaving active only the digital zoom?
Typically, the optical zoom would be used 1st until it has reached the upper limit, then the digital zoom takes over at that point. Therefore, the digital zoom is more of a supplement to the optical zoom.
Here's a good explanation of digital zoom:
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Digital_Imaging/Digital_zoom_01.htm
What is the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom on a digital camera? I want to be able to zoom in and take clear pictures, so do I buy a camera with more optical or digital zoom?
get optical zoom. optical zoom is a real zoom, where the lenses make the image larger. digital zoom is taking the whole picture, selecting a small part of that, and then enlarging that part without an increase in picture quality.
What's the difference in a zoom lens and a macro lens for a camera? I am wanting a zoom lens for my Pentax camera (K-Mount) to take cose up pictures of animals, etc. that are far away. What's the difference between a 200m zoom and a 200m macro lens? Is the regular zoom the same as a wide angle?
Zoom means adjustable focal length.
Macro means ability to focus on very close objects.
lenses can be either, neither, or both.
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