Difference Between Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom

Digital Zoom vs Optical Zoom

The difference between optical zoom and digital zoom is that optical zoom can produce a better quality of image than digital zoom. But this doesn't mean that we will neglect digital zoom as a feature of a good camera.

Modern digital cameras offer digital and optical zoom. These two confuse the average camera user. Now let's identify the difference between the the two features of camera.

Optical Zoom

 

Optical zoom works like a zoom lens on a 35 mm film camera. The length of the lens on the camera changes and makes the subject closer to you. It keeps the good quality of the picture.

When to use Optical Zoom

 

If you are planning to print the pictures, you better find a camera with greater optical zoom and disable the digital zoom. Your shots will be in good quality even they are not taken close up.

Digital Zoom

 

Digital zoom works by taking the picture and cropping it to fit what you needs. This causes the image quality to be reduced and sometimes unfocused. It is suggested to turn off digital zoom feature of your camera to prevent automatic zooming.

When to use digital zoom?

 

Digital zoom is perfect for images for web use. It can be used if the destiny of your photo is for blogs, social network sites, emails, etc. Photos online can be a much lower quality than in print.

 

Digital and Optical Zoom Tip

 

If you really want a closer view of a subject, try to move closer if possible, a foot or two will do the trick. If you can't do this just set the camera to take a picture at its highest file size. In this way you can get a higher quality of the image and you can crop the picture to get what you need while keeping the good quality of the picture.

List of Digital Cameras with High Optical Zoom Feature

The digital cameras and camera lenses from Amazon below will improve optical zoom and quality of your photos.