Optical Zoom vs. Digital Zoom on your
Digital Camcorder
It is important to understand the differences
between optical zoom and
digital zoom, however,
especially as camera manufacturers typically
tout the higher digital zoom range, and downplay
the lower optical zoom range (especially if it
is lower than similar competitive models).
How to use "Zooming" on your Digital Camcorder
The zoom feature on your digital video camera
allows you to move your point of view closer
to your subject. For example, if you
are on a family vacation and want to get a
closer look at an animal that is too far away to
clearly see with the naked eye, you will typically need
to use your camcorder zoom feature.
Optical Zoom
When comparing optical and digital zoom, it is more
important to opt for the camcorder with a higher optical
zoom than a higher digital zoom. In general, the higher the
optical zoom range, the better
picture quality will be when you need to use
the zoom. The range capacity of a camcorder with
optical zoom depends on the camcorder model and its lens
system. This zoom takes the image and optically enlarges
it, displaying the exact image 4x to 10x (or more)
larger than the original.
Digital Zoom
Digital zoom, on the other hand, is a function that uses the pixels
the camcorder sensors pick up to enlarge the
image without capturing more information.
Think of the same effect as when you magnify a digital
picture from a digital camera. Because digital zoom uses
computing power to
recreate the picture, loss in picture quality
(also called digitization) at far
distances will occur.
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Buying a Digital Camcorder
Digital Camcorder Features
Optical vs. Digital Zoom on Video Cameras
Choosing a Tripod for your Digital Camcorder
Recommended Digital Camcorders
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