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Wednesday 12.3.2025 / 03:09
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afterdawn.com > forums > digital video > digital camcorders > optical zoom versus digital zoom
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Optical Zoom versus Digital Zoom
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donex7
Newbie
_ 		15. June 2009 @ 07:33 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Recently I was planning to buy a video cam. But i always confused of what is an optical zoom means against a digital zoom. Should i prefer the optical zoom over the digital zoom when choosing a video cam? Is a 5x optical zoom better than 10x digital zoom video cam? Please anybody help me understand which is better to consider between optical and digital zoom. Thanks everyone.

Donex7
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ddp
Moderator
_ 		15. June 2009 @ 22:02 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
moved to correct forum as not a hdtv issue.
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davexnet
Senior Member
_ 		16. June 2009 @ 14:18 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Optical zoom is the highest quality.

It's because it's real zoom, provided by the lens and optics.
Digital zoom is an interpolation, or digital enlargement provided by the
electronics. It results in a softer, fuzzier picture compared
to the optical zoom.
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donex7
Newbie
_ 		17. June 2009 @ 21:34 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
To Davexnet;

Thank you for good insight. So now I know I should choose optical zoom over digital zoom in buying my first videocam.

My best regards..
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kylera
Newbie
_ 		18. June 2009 @ 04:23 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Another word of advice: you'll often see absurd numbers for digital zoom...something like 400X. Ignore it, as the picture becomes fuzzier and more pixellated as you zoom in; it's a nice marketing ploy.

Most camcorders these days have a hybrid zoom option, like 20X optical + 400X digital. The digital takes over once the optical zoom hits its limit, so when you buy and set your camera up, it's always a good idea to disable the digital zoom, if the camera has such an option.
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donex7
Newbie
_ 		21. June 2009 @ 09:20 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Hi there Kylera

Yeah you're right on telling me about 400X digital zoom. It's the main thing that attracts me of buying video camera thinking that I could zoom it like a pro. That is why I have to ask people like you and Davexnet and others who knew very well about camera.

I saw a canon cam featuring a 10x optical zoom plus a 400x digital zoom. I saw another sony cam featuring 12x optical zoom and 200x digital zoom. I do not know which is better.

So thanks a lot of your time and advice..

Best regards..
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