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

[Mr.Intensity]

Hi, I'd love any clarification and tips on these.

A.) I read that digital zoom is a waste: It gets me a lot closer but never seems to be in focus. So I never leave optical zoom range...could I?

B.) I have 3X optical zoom: Is there a standard distance represented by 'X'
~Thanx~

[wulf]

"Digital zoom" is the equivalent of cropping the image to a smaller pixel size back on your computer. However, your computer will give you finer control over the positioning so, unless you need to print a shot straight from the camera, you are better off sticking to optical zoom. It is possible that some digital zooms may also resize the picture back up to the original dimensions, which would be a very bad idea, definitely making the results pixellated.

3x just means that your lens lets you make something appear three times closer if you go from no zoom to full zoom.

Wulf

[neilwood]

Digital zoom is pretty much a waste of time as in the vast majority of cameras, the image degradation is appalling. Having used P&S with that option, it looks ok on the LCD but wait til you get back and view it normal size.

Try to always stick with Optical zoom!

[smc1377]

Originally Posted by wulf

3x just means that your lens lets you make something appear three times closer if you go from no zoom to full zoom.

And to further expand on this, an 18-55 is a 3X zoom as well as a 100-300 lens.

18mm x 3 = 54mm (close enough to 55mm)
100mm x 3 = 300mm

So while both lens are 3X, they both are drastically different on how far they can "zoom".

So yeah, the "X" means nothing more than the factor you multiply the wide end to get the telephoto end of the zoom.

[Mr.Intensity]

Originally Posted by wulf

"Digital zoom" is the equivalent of cropping the image to a smaller pixel size back on your computer. However, your computer will give you finer control over the positioning so, unless you need to print a shot straight from the camera, you are better off sticking to optical zoom. It is possible that some digital zooms may also resize the picture back up to the original dimensions, which would be a very bad idea, definitely making the results pixellated.

3x just means that your lens lets you make something appear three times closer if you go from no zoom to full zoom.

Wulf

Thanx a ton Wulf, You give a very good visual, plus situational insight. That's great for one who can never see clear enough
,

[Mr.Intensity]

Originally Posted by neilwood

Digital zoom is pretty much a waste of time as in the vast majority of cameras, the image degradation is appalling. Having used P&S with that option, it looks ok on the LCD but wait til you get back and view it normal size.

Try to always stick with Optical zoom!

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.

[Mr.Intensity]

Originally Posted by smc1377

And to further expand on this, an 18-55 is a 3X zoom as well as a 100-300 lens.

18mm x 3 = 54mm (close enough to 55mm)
100mm x 3 = 300mm

So while both lens are 3X, they both are drastically different on how far they can "zoom".

So yeah, the "X" means nothing more than the factor you multiply the wide end to get the telephoto end of the zoom.

Boy, you opened up a rookie's understanding. Now I want to start shooting with this old Minolta ST-T202. I got a Macro 1:2.8 MD f=28mm and a Rokkor 1:17 f=50mm MC ! (who needs digital zoom?)

[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.

[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.

[Jamesc359]

Originally Posted by Taallyn

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

It does, but at the same time it makes sense where the average consumer is concerned. I mean, try explaining that a camera has a 7.9mm - 23.7mm lens and how that is the equivalent to a 35mm camera's 38mm - 114mm lens, to a parent that knows absolutely nothing about photography -doesn't care to either- and just wants to take hoards of snap shots. It's just much easier to get people to buy a 3x/5x/20x/30,000x zoom camera, because after all, a larger number must be better.