Understand Camera Zoom Lenses

ManuIacturers like to try to make things easy Ior you when you're shopping Ior a digital camera,
especially by highlighting certain measurements oI their models, such as large megapixel
amounts and big LCD screen sizes.
However, such numbers don't always tell the entire story, especially when looking at zoom
lenses on a digital camera. ManuIacturers measure zoom capabilities oI digital cameras in two
conIigurations: Digital and optical. It's important to understand the zoom lens, because the two
types oI zooms are vastly diIIerent Irom each other. Only oneoptical zoomis consistently
useIul Ior photographers.
With most digital cameras, the zoom lens moves outward when in use, extending Irom the
camera body. Some digital cameras, however, create the zoom while adjusting the lens only
within the camera body.
Optical Zoom
Optical zoom measures the actual increase in the Iocal length oI the lens. Focal length is the
distance between the center oI the lens and the image sensor. By moving the lens Iarther Irom the
image sensor inside the camera body, the zoom increases because a smaller portion oI the scene
strikes the image sensor, resulting in magniIication.
When using optical zoom, some digital cameras will have a smooth zoom, meaning you can stop
at any point along the entire length oI the zoom Ior a partial zoom. Some digital cameras will use
distinctive stops along the length oI the zoom, usually limiting you to between Iour and seven
partial zoom positions.
Digital Zoom
The digital zoom measurement on a digital camera, to put it bluntly, is worthless under most
shooting circumstances. Digital zoom is a technology where the camera shoots the photo and
then crops and magniIies it to create an artiIicial close-up photo. This process requires
magniIying or removing individual pixels, which can cause image quality degradation.
Most oI the time you can perIorm Iunctions equal to a digital zoom with photo-editing soItware
on your computer aIter you shoot the photo. II you don't have time Ior or access to editing
soItware, you can use digital zoom to shoot at a high resolution and then create an artiIicial
close-up by removing pixels and cropping the photo down to a lower resolution that still meets
your printing needs. Obviously, the useIulness oI digital zoom is limited to certain
circumstances.
Understanding Zoom Measurement
When looking at speciIications Ior a digital camera, both the optical and digital zoom
measurements are listed as a number and an "X," such as 3X or 10X. A larger number signiIies a
stronger magniIication capability.
Keep in mind that not every camera's "10X" optical zoom measurement is the same.
ManuIacturers measure the optical zoom Irom one extreme oI the lens' capabilities to the other.
In other words, the "multiplier" is the diIIerence between the smallest and largest magniIication
measurements oI the lens. For example, iI a 10X optical zoom lens on a digital camera has a
minimum magniIication equivalent to 35mm, the camera would have a 350mm maximum zoom.
However, iI the digital camera oIIers some additional wide-angle capabilities and has a minimum
28mm equivalency, then the 10X optical zoom would only have a maximum zoom oI 280mm.
The zoom range should be listed in the camera's speciIications, usually in a Iormat similar to
"35mm Iilm equivalent: 28mm-280mm. In most cases, a 50mm lens measurement is considered
as "normal," with no magniIication and no wide-angle capability.
nterchangeable Lenses
Digital cameras aimed at beginners and intermediate users typically only oIIer a built-in lens.
Most digital SLR cameras, however, can make use oI interchangeable lenses. With a digital SLR,
iI your Iirst lens doesn't have the wide-angle or zoom capabilities that you want, you can
purchase additional lenses that provide more zoom or better wide-angle options.
Digital SLR cameras are more expensive than the point-and-shoot models, and they're usually
aimed at intermediate or advanced photographers.
Some Zoom Lens Drawbacks
Although choosing a point-and-shoot camera with a large optical zoom lens is desirable Ior many
photographers, it sometimes presents a Iew minor drawbacks.
O oise. Some beginner-level, inexpensive cameras suIIer Irom lower image quality
because oI noise when the lens is extended to the maximum zoom capability. Digital
camera noise is a set oI stray pixels that don't record correctly, usually appearing as
purple edges in a photo.
O !incushioning. Maximum zoom also sometimes causes pincushioning, which is a
distortion where the leIt and right edges oI the photo appear stretched. Horizontal lines
appear slightly curved toward the middle oI the Irame. Again, this problem usually is
limited to beginner-level, inexpensive cameras with large zoom lenses.
O Slower shutter response time. When using the maximum zoom magniIication, the
shutter response time sometimes slows, which may cause blurry photos. You also could
miss a spontaneous photo because oI the slower shutter response. It simply takes the
digital camera longer to Iocus on the image at the maximum zoom setting, which
explains the slower shutter response time. Such problems are magniIied when shooting at
maximum zoom in low light.
O #equires a tripod. Using a long zoom lens can cause increased camera shake. Some
digital cameras can correct this problem through image stabilization. You also can use a
tripod to prevent blurry photos Irom camera shake.
Don't Be Fooled
When highlighting the speciIications oI their products, some manuIacturers will combine the
digital zoom and optical zoom measurements, allowing them to showcase a large combined
zoom number on the Iront oI the box.
You, however, need to look only at the optical zoom number, which might be listed in a corner
on the back oI the box, along with a host oI other speciIication numbers. You might have to do a
little searching to Iind the optical zoom measurement oI a particular model.
In the case oI digital camera zoom lenses, it pays to read the Iine print. Understand the zoom
lens, and you'll make the most oI your digital camera purchase.