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Zoom Lens
Zoom lenses help us to magnify our
subject matter. A zoom lens will
allow you to change the
magnification of an image without
physically moving closer to the
subject. The zoom lens is the best,
and most convenient, tool for
composing and framing a picture,
especially when shooting wildlife.
Most digital cameras of the compact
rangefinder type and the
single-lens-reflex type come with a
wide range of zoom lenses from 3x to
10x on up. These lenses range from
wide-angle to telephoto.
In addition to optical zoom, digital
cameras have digital zoom. Digital
zoom is particularly useful because
it allows us to magnify the captured
image in playback mode.
Optical Zoom vs. Digital Zoom
Optical zoom is a true zoom. A 3x
zoom magnifies an object until it is
3 times bigger than normal without
losing image quality.
Digital zoom enlarges an image using
fewer pixels. This produces a jagged
outline.
The difference is illustrated in the
following pictures, taken
respectively with digital zoom and
optical zoom:
|
picture taken by digital
zoom |
picture taken by optical
zoom |
 |
 |
When choosing a digital camera, you
may ignore the size of the digital
zoom. As for the optical zoom, in
general, the longer the better.
However, keep in mind that a longer
zoom lens increases the danger of
camera shake during exposure. |
