Optical-vs-Digital and the 'X's measure?

[Taallyn]

Does that 30,000x lens have image stabilization? I sure hope so.

[Jamesc359]

It depends upon the model. The 2000LE is the budget model and doesn't have it. But the 3000XE does, and it also comes with a faux vinyl carrying case.

[Taallyn]

Oooooo. I wonder how many faux contributed hides for it.

Save the faux!

[Mr.Intensity]

Originally Posted by mrodgers

The lens or the manual should state what the zoom actually is on a camera stating "XX ZOOM!!!" everywhere. For example, my camera is 10x zoom. But you can read in the manual that the lens is 38-380 mm. The "10x zoom" only means that it is 10 times the widest angle, which is 38 mm.

My first digital camera was strictly point and shoot, no manual settings. It was 3x optical/5x digital, bought in 2002. I wasn't into photography, only wanted to take digital pictures back then, but the first think I read was never to use the digital zoom for the reasons posted already.

After reading a bit about photography and more than simple snapshot photo taking right before my daughter had her Christmas program at school, I found it quite comical seeing all the people holding their cameras out at arms length and being able to see on their screens, moving into the digital zoom range, as well as using a flash 200 feet from where the kids were performing.

...and yet another can of beans exposed (awesome input here; i.e.,) Don't just read the stickers-lol read the manual to see exactly what your getting... into. Thanx mrogers

[neilwood]

Apologies if my post sounded harsh but tbh thats all you can really expect from digital zoom - very harsh images.

I would imagine that those parents at the Xmas program got their cameras home, downloaded the pics and wondered what had happened to the brilliant image they saw on a 2.5 inch LCD. I doubt they would be printable at any decent size.

People wonder why photographers buy DSLR cameras with fixed focal length lenses or small zoom ie 3x (18-55 etc) when they can get a P&S with 12x or 15x. Only thing is the compromises that have to be made for those high zoom lenses reduce optical quality dramatically. Its very, very hard (read DAMN expensive) to produce a lens that will give very high image quality at both ends of the scale when using large zoom ranges - hence the reason that most high end lenses are either fixed focal length or short zoom range (18-55 or 70-200 etc).

Again apologies if i sound like im ranting but i guess im annoyed about the way manufacturers manipulate peoples perceptions of what they are getting (ie 3xoptical/5x digital = 15x zoom - only works if you dont care about image quality).

[neilwood]

Originally Posted by Mr.Intensity

I love your 'shoot-from-the-hip' approach here So then; I'll exhaust my 3X, stop, and start marching forth, to the subject- until I can step up from my point & shoot.

And i would agree with this - there is always manual zoom (your feet!).

[Mr.Intensity]

Originally Posted by neilwood

Apologies if my post sounded harsh but tbh thats all you can really expect from digital zoom - very harsh images.

I would imagine that those parents at the Xmas program got their cameras home, downloaded the pics and wondered what had happened to the brilliant image they saw on a 2.5 inch LCD. I doubt they would be printable at any decent size.

People wonder why photographers buy DSLR cameras with fixed focal length lenses or small zoom ie 3x (18-55 etc) when they can get a P&S with 12x or 15x. Only thing is the compromises that have to be made for those high zoom lenses reduce optical quality dramatically. Its very, very hard (read DAMN expensive) to produce a lens that will give very high image quality at both ends of the scale when using large zoom ranges - hence the reason that most high end lenses are either fixed focal length or short zoom range (18-55 or 70-200 etc).

Again apologies if i sound like im ranting but i guess im annoyed about the way manufacturers manipulate peoples perceptions of what they are getting (ie 3xoptical/5x digital = 15x zoom - only works if you dont care about image quality).

Oh, My sincere thanx, is what's in order here! Imagine (me) a newbie desperately trying to figure out "what in the hell am I reading wrong (or) missing in the manual - That could account for the poor photographer that I am?" Am I just stupid...Is this camera defective?" { it says:" 3X optical and a combined range of 18.9X !} I was ready to shoot from the next county pahhlease

[Mr.Intensity]

Originally Posted by Taallyn

"Technically", a 600mm pro-level prime telephoto lens is a 1x lens. But is has much greater magnification ability than the 17x 18-200mm Nikkor lens.

Sometimes I think photography has way too many mathemagic involved in it.

Is this to say that "the pro 600 lens w. only 1X zoom but greater magnification" could actually be classifide a microscope?

boy oh boy...Now my manual also tells me: In addition to my opt. + digital "combined" 18.9X focal range -"If I want to get even closer, I can use my Macro setting whoa! Does NASA and the Hubell people know about this??