Digital Zoom Comparisons

Moderators: Moderator, Global Moderator

Post Reply
Tami
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 0
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2004 1:05 pm

Digital Zoom Comparisons

Post by Tami »

Sparked from a conversation in chat, here is a comparison of built-in digital zoom quality.

The moss photo was taken using full digital zoom; my camera has a total zoom capability of 36x.

Using full digital zoom at about a 15 foot shoot distance; notice that the photo has retained a high pixel quality.

[attachment=2205]attachment[/attachment]

In comparison, this photo of the eagle was taken at about 1/4 mile shoot distance also using full digital zoom. This is why, if you're going to do alot of outdoor photography it is best to have a DSLR camera which will allow for the use of telephoto lenses. I've included both a resized and original size version of the picture.

800x600 version:

[attachment=2206]attachment[/attachment]

full 1200 x 1600 version:

[attachment=2207]attachment[/attachment]

The main reason for image quality loss is that when you use digital zoom, the camera is trying to focus on one part of the whole picture and enlarge it, in this case it's taking the eagle and trying to add in the right pixels so that it is 36x bigger than what the sensor actually sees. Due to the camera's attempt at pixel matching, it loses all of the smaller detail pixels such as the eagle's beak and eyes, because the pixels for the eagle's white feathers are greater in number, making the sensor match those pixels to fill in the areas it can't "see" clearly. Cameras with a higher total zoom will probably take a better quality photo, but that is not guaranteed as it is effected by many things such as distance, image detail and lighting.
Image

[color=\"#41211C\"]It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it

[/color]
us3rX
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 6:11 am

Digital Zoom Comparisons

Post by us3rX »

Nice comparison, should have mike climb up the tree to get a closer shot <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... iggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' />
Yeah i see what your saying about the digital zoom... i want a new camera <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... >/blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> that i can change lens and etc on... nice photos tho.

us3rX <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /ph34r.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':ph34r:\' />
[align=center]

Image

"Time is never wasted, when your wasted all the time" ~ Radio Dj/Unknown Source

"Death is the inevitable end to the suffering of the living." ~Unknown

"You were born an original. Don't die a copy" ~Murdoc Niccals

[/align]
Tami
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 0
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2004 1:05 pm

Digital Zoom Comparisons

Post by Tami »

He couldn't climb the tree, it was in the middle of a lake lol

Yeah, the next cam I buy will be a DSLR most certainly.
Last edited by Tami on Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image

[color=\"#41211C\"]It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it

[/color]
us3rX
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 6:11 am

Digital Zoom Comparisons

Post by us3rX »

Couldnt or wouldnt? i am sure mike knows how to swim lol

heres my digital zoom maxed out >.>

[attachment=2218]attachment[/attachment][attachment=2217]attachment[/attachment]

First image is the photo maxed out on the zoom and the second is a satilite photo from here
On the second photo to the far right of it is where i was standing and to the far right is where the truck was... and no this isnt an "upto date" photo... i think msn is far behind cause that old gas station on the bottom right is down the street and thats an open area <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... >/blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />

Once again... i want a better camera <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... #>/cry.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':(\' /> <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... >/blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />

us3rX <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /ph34r.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':ph34r:\' />
[align=center]

Image

"Time is never wasted, when your wasted all the time" ~ Radio Dj/Unknown Source

"Death is the inevitable end to the suffering of the living." ~Unknown

"You were born an original. Don't die a copy" ~Murdoc Niccals

[/align]
Josh
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 0
Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2004 2:54 pm

Digital Zoom Comparisons

Post by Josh »

Zoom pics look so horrible tbh... I haven't seen a single camera that can take a nice zoom image. they're all blurry and stuff lol
[align=center]

Image

“If you stop learning, you stop living.” ~Tami Quiring

“It's the rare man who understands the value of a single perfect rose.”

[/align]
Tami
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 0
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2004 1:05 pm

Digital Zoom Comparisons

Post by Tami »

Jer does your cam have different settings like sports, landscapes, portrait, etc.? Sometimes the digital zoom works better in different settings.
Image

[color=\"#41211C\"]It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it

[/color]
us3rX
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu May 06, 2004 6:11 am

Digital Zoom Comparisons

Post by us3rX »

Yeah it has those, i was using the LandScape one <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... >/blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> since i was taking other photos... but yeah ill try different settings. <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... >/blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />

us3rX <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /ph34r.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':ph34r:\' />
[align=center]

Image

"Time is never wasted, when your wasted all the time" ~ Radio Dj/Unknown Source

"Death is the inevitable end to the suffering of the living." ~Unknown

"You were born an original. Don't die a copy" ~Murdoc Niccals

[/align]
Post Reply

Return to “Photo &amp; Camera Discussion”