Digital Camera Zoom

Digital Camera Zoom - Understanding the Measurements

Executive Summary by Joan Yankowitz

Understanding digital camera zoom can be very confusing for many casual photographers. Typically, there are two types of zoom on digital cameras: optical and digital.

Optical Zoom
If your camera has optical zoom, you may find that you have complete control over where the zoom stops (known as smooth zoom). However, many digital cameras have limited zoom settings, which offer between four and seven zoom positions.

Digital Zoom

Digital zoom is a process where the photograph is cropped and magnified digitally.

What do Zoom Measurements Mean?
For example, a camera with a minimum magnification of 35mm, and an optical zoom of 10x, will have a maximum magnification of 350mm.

Often, digital camera manufacturers will combine the measurements of both optical and digital zoom to show a large figure on the front of the box. When looking at digital camera zoom, it is recommended that you do some research to ensure that you are purchasing a camera that provides good quality magnification.

The Best Zoom Digital Camera Buying Guide

Executive Summary by Chris Campbell  

One of the most important features that consumers look at when buying a digital camera is its zoom range capability. The main advantage is that you need a smaller lens, and you can fit a high zoom range into a small camera which can still be carried around conveniently.

 Superzoom cameras offer such large zoom ranges that they are almost impossible to match with film cameras. The lenses are large, yet small enough to be able to have a small, compact camera, that is convenient for users to carry around.

Manufacturers are continuously competing to come out with the camera with the best zoom range. Seven cameras, which are probably the best digital zoom cameras include:

Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD

Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd

Canon Powershot SX10 IS

Nikon Coolpix P80

Olympus SP-565UZ

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Sony Cybershot DSC-H50

Some other important features that these cameras contain include electronic viewfinder, full control when taking photos.