Tech-Ease: Images Questions and Answers

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What is the difference between optical and digital zoom?

Most digital camera vendors advertise the combined (digital and optical) zoom of a particular model, often touting a maximum zoom of 10-12 X. This is a marketing gimmick that is used to make their models sound more impressive. In reality, you should really worry about the optical zoom capabilities of your camera, which is usually 3 X, or 3 times.

The optical zoom is achieved by using your camera's lens. The digital zoom, on the other hand, is achieved by cropping and enlarging the image once it has been captured by the digital camera's sensor. You can achieve the same result by using an image editing application such as Photoshop once you have transferred your images into your computer. Using Photoshop or another image editing application, you will have more control over what part of the image is cropped and enlarged, and this is the preferred method of achieving digital zoom of your images. Digital zoom often results in lower quality pictures when it is enabled on your camera, and you should disable it whenever possible. Most digital cameras allow you to do this easily.

Additional Websites

Kodak.com: Taking Great Pictures

Webmonkey: Graphics

Sitepoint: GIF, JPG, and PNG - What's the Difference

Scantips.com

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Tech-Ease for Windows is your source for just-in-time answers for classroom technology questions. A companion Tech-Ease for Mac site is also available. This collection is a part of the Educational Technology Clearinghouse and is funded in part by a grant from the Florida Department of Education. Copyright 2008 by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida.

			Quick answers to real classroom technology questions. An online service of the Educational Technology Clearinghouse.
ETC HOME	TECH-EASE HOME	IMAGES FAQ	SEARCH
What is the difference between optical and digital zoom? Most digital camera vendors advertise the combined (digital and optical) zoom of a particular model, often touting a maximum zoom of 10-12 X. This is a marketing gimmick that is used to make their models sound more impressive. In reality, you should really worry about the optical zoom capabilities of your camera, which is usually 3 X, or 3 times. The optical zoom is achieved by using your camera's lens. The digital zoom, on the other hand, is achieved by cropping and enlarging the image once it has been captured by the digital camera's sensor. You can achieve the same result by using an image editing application such as Photoshop once you have transferred your images into your computer. Using Photoshop or another image editing application, you will have more control over what part of the image is cropped and enlarged, and this is the preferred method of achieving digital zoom of your images. Digital zoom often results in lower quality pictures when it is enabled on your camera, and you should disable it whenever possible. Most digital cameras allow you to do this easily.			Additional Websites Kodak.com: Taking Great Pictures Webmonkey: Graphics Sitepoint: GIF, JPG, and PNG - What's the Difference Scantips.com
ETC HOME	TECH-EASE HOME	IMAGES FAQ	SEARCH
Site Map \| Submit a Question \| About Tech-Ease \| Privacy Policy \| ETC Home Tech-Ease for Windows is your source for just-in-time answers for classroom technology questions. A companion Tech-Ease for Mac site is also available. This collection is a part of the Educational Technology Clearinghouse and is funded in part by a grant from the Florida Department of Education. Copyright 2008 by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida.