Camera technical help

[GARY3306]

Good one for Duncan this, but lots of people may be able to answer my question, and it is this; what is the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom? I know that optical zoom is the better one to use, but why is it? If digital zoom isn't as good, then why have it? Thanks in advance guys and gals.

[chunkster]

your absolutely right gary ..............better ask duncan LOL

[Brake buster]

as a keen photographer with over 120 camera's , lol , i can explain the difference,

digital zoom is where software increases the image size by artificially zooming in and then reconstructing the image to the same size but with less detail

optical zoom is a process of the glass within the lens of a camera moving closer or further apart altering the power of the lens, the image captured will be at full resolution even when fully zoomed in

most digital cameras with a moving lens will quote optical and digital, this means the lens will optically zoom in ( say 2 or 3 times ) and then you can digitally increase the size of the image ( sometimes uto 10 times ) with software, however as mentioned, the higher the digital magnification the less the quality of the final image

a simple way to explain digital zoom is.........if you zoom in twice as close, the image will have half the quality........

that said, if ur using a 7 meg camera and digitally zoom in 2x, you will still have a 3.5 meg image, so its a compromise of quality over getting closer


optical zoom is preferential over digital zoom

hope this helps

BB

[bruceybonus]

I presume thats why the larger optical zoom cameras are far more expensive BB ?but the quality is far better?

[Brake buster]

I presume thats why the larger optical zoom cameras are far more expensive BB ?but the quality is far better?

it has a lot to do with it,

i however have gone away from the ' compact ' and have bought into the digital SLR range, a Nikon D70 at the moment, with about 3 different lenses for it
about £1500 worth so far

if you want to learn all about digital camera's go to the following site, i am known as ' MyPix ' on there

The Photography Forums

its in the UK and free to join and has all levels of photographers with all levels of kit

BB

[maffyoo]

hmm, im trying to make my mind up at the moment. although id love a 22 MP hasselblad i cant quite justify £15K on a digital camera..

currently cant decide between the

Canon EOS 350D
Nikon D70s
Minolta Dynax D7 or the imminent D5 with lens kit
Pentax *ist DL

the canon has the highest resolution 8.1 MP but reviews are hit and miss, as with the Nikon, people love or hate it. Pentax seems to be on the money but a lot of places say to wait for the Dynax D5 .... any experts with any pointers. My brother has an EOS 1Ds which takes amazing pictures so im tempted by the canon but some reviews are a bit critical of ultimate picture quality ... just cant decide

[Brake buster]

the 350D is better then the original 300D, and it just gets on a par with the D70, which is a better all rounder, however the 350D does have a higher MP output, but the size of the MP doesnt mean everything,

of all the ones you listed i would either go for the 350D or the Nikon D70.........but wait, the new nikon D70s is out now, and has a larger viewscreen etc with a greater range of exposure settings and other advantages,
also dont be fooled into the ' Canon has a better range of lenses ' they do make more current digital lenses, but any Nikon F Mount lens from the last 30 odd years will fit the D70 or D70s

just my opinion

BB

[GARY3306]

Thanks BB, why don't the sites that do reviews explain things like that? I now fully understand the difference and the implications of both. I have decided on the Sony Cybershot P200, an outstanding camera IMO.

[maffyoo]

the 350D is better then the original 300D, and it just gets on a par with the D70, which is a better all rounder, however the 350D does have a higher MP output, but the size of the MP doesnt mean everything,

of all the ones you listed i would either go for the 350D or the Nikon D70.........but wait, the new nikon D70s is out now, and has a larger viewscreen etc with a greater range of exposure settings and other advantages,
also dont be fooled into the ' Canon has a better range of lenses ' they do make more current digital lenses, but any Nikon F Mount lens from the last 30 odd years will fit the D70 or D70s

just my opinion

BB

this is where it gets complicated, ive just read the ridiculously complex review of the nikon d50 on dpreview.com ( this is the last page http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50/page26.asp ... 26 pages !!! )
now for me this review tells me that this is the camera i want. im no lord lichfield but want something that can take good shots for a reasonable outlay. your point about lenses is also interesting as it opens up more possibilities with the nikon... i may take a closer look at the d50 as its even cheaper !

cheers

[Brake buster]

the D50 is a fine camera, but it is their ' budget ' version of the D70/D70s, its about the same as the Canon 300D was,
that said it will do everything you want it to for quite a low cost,

y best advice is to shortlist the camera's you like the look of that meet your criteria, and then get 'hands-on' in a proper camera shop, jessops or london camera exchange etc , you will then see the differences between then all,
the D70 is the largest of them all, then i think its the D50 and the 300D , and i think the 350D comes in as the smallest,

for someone with gorrilla like mits i went for the biggest at the time, lol


Gary.....the Sony cybershot is a great little camera full of features with optical and digital zoom i think, my brother-in-law has one,

hope this helps in some way, and make sure you pop by the link in my other post, it will help anyone get the best out of their new or existing kit

BB