What & # 039; is the difference between the optical and ...

Manufacturers like to try to make things easier for you when shopping for a digital camera, especially emphasizing some measures of their models, how many megapixels and large LCD screen sizes.

However, these figures do not always tell the whole story, especially when looking for a zoom digital camera. Manufacturers measure the capabilities of digital cameras zoom in two configurations: optical zoom Digital Zoom vs. It is important to understand that the zoom lens, since the two types of zoom are very different. In the battle of optical zoom and digital zoom, a - optical zoom - it is always helpful to photographers.

In most digital cameras, the zoom lens moves is used outwardly extends from the camera body. However, some digital cameras produce set the zoom while the lens on the camera. Read on to find more information to help, the best zoom camera that will help to end the debate optical zoom vs digital zoom can find!

Optical zoom

The measure of the real optical zoom increase the focal length of the lens. Focal length is the distance between the center of the lens and the image sensor. Move the lens further away from the image sensor in the camera increases the approach because a smaller portion of the scene onto the image sensor, the increase is achieved.

When the optical zoom is used, some digital cameras have a zoom smoothly, which means that you can get at any point along the entire length of the zoom stop to a partial zoom. Some digital cameras use various stops along the length of the zoom, it is usually limited between four and seven partial zoom positions.

Digital Zoom

Measuring digital zoom in a digital camera, to put it bluntly, is cause useless in most cases. Digital zoom is a technology in which the camera takes the photo and then cut and enlarged to create an image of the first artificial level. This method requires amplification or suppression of individual pixels, which can lead to a deterioration of the image quality.

Most of the time, you can perform functions at a digital zoom and photo editing software on the computer after shooting. If you do not have the time or access to editing software, you can use the digital zoom to shoot in HD and then an artificial close by pixels and crop the image below to have a lower resolution suits your printing needs. Obviously, the benefits of digital zoom is limited to certain circumstances.

Zoom can understand

When looking at the specifications for a digital camera, both measures of optical and digital zoom as a number and "X" as 3x or 10x are displayed. A higher number means a higher magnification capability.

Note that "10X" Measurement of optical zoom camera is not all the same. Manufacturers measure an extreme capability optical zoom lens to another. In other words, the "multiplier" is the difference between the smallest and the largest measurement of the focal length of the lens. For example, if a 10x optical zoom in a digital camera has a minimum focal length of 35 mm, the device would have a maximum focal length of 350 mm. However, if the digital camera has wide angle capabilities and minimal additional equivalent of 10x optical zoom 28 mm only a maximum focal length of 280 mm.

The focal length in the specifications of the camera are recorded, usually in a format similar to the "35mm equivalent 28mm-280mm. Film" In most cases, a measure of 50 mm is considered "normal" without increase, without wide-angle capability .

Interchangeable lenses

Digital cameras for beginners and advanced users typically only offer an integrated lens. More digital SLR (DSLR), however, the use of interchangeable lenses make. With a DSLR, if your first lens zoom not have the ability or wide angle you want, you can purchase additional lenses offer at wide angle zoom to purchase more or better options.

Digital SLR cameras are more expensive than point and shoot models and are for intermediate and advanced photographers in general.

Most DSLR lenses is not an "X" for a measurement of the zoom. Instead of the focal length and collection, often under the name of the lens DSLR. DIL (interchangeable lens) cameras, the mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are listed lens wearers also by the focal length, but as a number of X-Zoom.

Some disadvantages of zoom lenses

When choosing a point and shoot camera with a large optical zoom is for many photographers who sometimes some minor drawbacks desirable.

• Noise. Few entry level, inexpensive cameras suffer from lower quality by the noise of the image when the lens is extended up to the possibility. The noise from the digital camera is a set of isolated pixels that are not register properly, usually appear as purple edges in an image.
• Pincushioning. Maximum Zoom pincushioning sometimes causes a distortion effect with the left and right ends of the image appear longer. Slightly curved horizontal lines appear in the direction of the center frame. Again, this is a problem in the rule for beginners, limited budget cameras with large zoom.
• The slower response time of the shutter., If the extension of the maximum zoom is used, the shutter speed slows down response times, which can result in blurred images. You can also lose a spontaneous photo by slower shutter response. We only need to focus a digital camera on the image at maximum zoom, which explains the slow response time of the shutter. These problems are amplified when the maximum zoom is shot in low light.
• Requires a tripod. A long zoom lens can result in increased movement of the camera. Some digital cameras can correct this problem with image stabilization. You can also use a tripod to prevent blur from camera shake.

Do not be fooled

Highlighting the characteristics of their products, some manufacturers combine digital zoom with optical zoom measures, so that they present a large number of combined push the front of the box.

However, you need only the number of optical zoom, which can be placed in a corner of the back of the box, looking at a number of different specification numbers. You may need to do some research to find the measure optical zoom of a particular model.

In the case of camera lenses Digital zoom is useful to read the fine print. Zoom understanding, and make you purchase your digital camera.