Why do most inexpensive digital cameras....

[BULLman]

have only 3x digital zoom?

 

I don't want to spend a lot for a camera, but I am finding a lot of cameras with 6+ megapixles, but only 3x zoom. I have a 2mp Kodka easyshare with 3x zoom and it doesn't seem enough.

 

Need something simple and about $100. Saw a new Kodka ES that took quick pictures, had optical and digital zoom, but was $200.

 

What's optical vs digital zoom?

 

Thanks for the advice. Please advise me.

[Tony_K]

In really simple terms

 

Optical zoom is with lens (best quality)

Digital zoom is really just blowing up the last optical zoom (quality goes down quite a bit)

[BULLman]

In really simple terms

 

Optical zoom is with lens (best quality)

Digital zoom is really just blowing up the last optical zoom (quality goes down quite a bit)

 

Is a camera with both opitcal and digital zooms better than one with just digital zoom?

[David]

Digital zoom is largely a gimmick. You can do all that AFTER you take the shot. Optical zoom is all that really matters, and that's limited by space requirements.

[BULLman]

Digital zoom is largely a gimmick. You can do all that AFTER you take the shot. Optical zoom is all that really matters, and that's limited by space requirements.

 

I recently saw a Polaroid digital camera at the outlet store with 3x Digital Zoom and 4.x Optical Zoom, 6 mp for $79 at the outlet store. Most of the camera at that price, seem to only have very little Digital Zoom [3x] even though they have 5+ mp.

 

Need something that is point and shoot, stupid easy to use, I would like to have 10x zoom [i don't if you can add the digital zoom and optical zoom together or if they are totally un-related ]

 

Oh, and it can't be cheap enough. Am I asking too much

[Paul Mihalka]

I have a feeling that today mp is cheap but shows a good number for marketing, while increasing optical zoom is expensive and snapshot people don't use it and don't value it.

[BULLman]

I have a feeling that today mp is cheap but shows a good number for marketing, while increasing optical zoom is expensive and snapshot people don't use it and don't value it.

 

You're probably right.

[VinnyR11]

If cost is very important and you're not blowing up your photos to 8X10 or larger, and especially if you show your photos digitally i.e. digital frames, Kodak Gallery, or e-mail; a 3X optical zoom in a 6 meg camera should be more than fine.

 

As others have said, you can, and IMO should, do your enlargements on almost any editing software. You're not going to find large optical zooms for low prices, and digital zooms are useless IMO if you have any type of editing software. You'll have much more flexibility and better results doing your "zooming" (cropping and enlarging)after the fact.

[randy]

as noted above 3X and 4X OPTICAL zoom is fine with a 6meg pixel camera. The "zoom" affect you can get once you download the pic to your computer and use the editing software is amazing.

[AviP]

Always look at the optical (lens) zoom when evaluating a camera and not the digital (software) zoom. Optical is real, digital is not. Optical is clear, digital is usually pixelated. Optical is costly, digital is a freebie.

[BULLman]

If cost is very important and you're not blowing up your photos to 8X10 or larger, and especially if you show your photos digitally i.e. digital frames, Kodak Gallery, or e-mail; a 3X optical zoom in a 6 meg camera should be more than fine.

 

As others have said, you can, and IMO should, do your enlargements on almost any editing software. You're not going to find large optical zooms for low prices, and digital zooms are useless IMO if you have any type of editing software. You'll have much more flexibility and better results doing your "zooming" (cropping and enlarging)after the fact.

I remember on Jacquline's quest to Alaska, she took a picture of a moose that looked like she was really close it - while, in fact she was at a safe distance away. I'm not sure of the camera she used, or, if she used camera tricker, or, if she had expensive equipment. It is Jacqueline were talking about Hi Jacqueline

 

Again, I might be on a quest for the perfect jacket that is comfortable in Florida summers, Michigan winters and is waterproof - doesn't exist. Right tool for the job.

 

Thanks for everyone's imput.

[Husker Red]

Because of a small lenses limited light gathering abilities, you may not be happy with the results of a higher than 3x zoom picture anyway. Not a lot of light getting through the small lens at high zoom, so the shutter has to stay open longer which likely results in a blurry image. It's difficult to hand-hold a small point and shoot camera still enough to get decent images at more than 3x zoom. Plus you are probably shooting somthing far enough away that it's out of that camera's flash range, so no help there.

[BULLman]

I don't want to spend a lot of time retouching the pictures with photoshop, either.

 

Polaroid i634 is the camera I was looking at for $80 at the outlest store. If not it was pretty close. Had optial and digital zoom, 16mb storage.

 

 

Features

6.0 megapixel resolution

2.5" bright color TFT LCD for previewing images before you shoot

3x optical zoom

4x digital zoom

Takes video clips with audio

Audio tag lets you tag audio to any image

AV output

Image compression in JPEG (EXIF 2.2), DCF, DPOF, AVI, TIFF

PictBridge compatible

16MB built-in storage

SD compatible for expanded memory

Dynamic contrast enhancer

Extended battery life

Ultra red-eye reduction

16:9 mode

Ten scene modes for customized images

Off/Auto flash/Red-eye reduction/Fill

Auto white balance settings

Electronic self timer

Battery level indicator

PC & Mac compatible

Accessories

Protective skin

Wrist strap

USB cable

AV cables

2 "AA" batteries

Photo editing software on CD-ROM

 

 

[stubble!]

Sone quick thoughts for you:

 

Check out dpreview.com for reviews of any camera you're considering. Also check out flickr and pbase.com, both will allow you to search for photos taken with a particular camera. This is a nice way to get a feel for what people do with them.

 

Turn off all digital zoom in the menu.

 

Don't worry about on-board storage. 16mb is enough for only a few photos. Allow $20 for a memory card. (SDHC support is preferable when looking for a camera)

 

Look for last year's nice Canon on craigslist.

 

[Twisties]

I don't know exactly which camera Jacqueline has, but obviously one of the mega-zooms. They are not in your price range.

 

Frankly, after listening to your comments my advice would be do one of the following:

 

1. Keep your existing camera and save up for a mega-zoom, or

2. Buy a used mega-zoom on ebay or craigslist.

3. Save up and buy a good quality point and shoot with about 6x optical (I think you are going to want more like 15 to 21x with image stabilization, based on your comments).

 

Pixel count is not everything by a long shot when talking image quality. The advantages of going from one inexpensive unit to another, merely for an increase in pixel count, are really probably minimal.

 

The mega-zooms do not have great image quality. At the same price point there are some fine units with less zoom (but more than 3x) that perform pretty well. It's all a bunch of compromises. If you want lots of zoom for wildlife shots like J did then you really need to spend more, carry a bigger heavier package, and contend with some compromises in image quality (though still probably better than the $80 unit).

 

What I mean by mega-zoom:

 

Cnet best mega-zooms

 

Don't forget wide angle. Some of the newer mega-zooms also have good wide angle (down around 28mm) capability. This is very useful for scenic vistas, indoor photography, etc. You will use the wide angle more than the extreme zoom, and many reviewers feel it is more valuable.

 

Don't forget, with pixel count increases come memory card increases, hard drive storage increases, processing time increases, etc. You will definitely need a bigger memory card.

 

[SageRider]

Adding on to Twisties comments on Mega-Zooms, I owned a Canon S2-IS which was a 5MPixel 12X optical zoom unit. I soon became very frustrated with the camera and have replaced with a Canon Rebel XSi digtal SLR.

 

My problems with the S2-IS:

 

SLOW!!!! Absolutely worthless for taking quick pictures or action shots as the action was always over before the camera was ready to shoot.

Worthless LCD viewfinder and in daylight, a worthless LCD display. I pretty much had to point and pray that I got a desirable image.

 

For air shows, I typically had to fix focus at infinity as auto focus would be too slow and/or unable to acquire subject.

 

I consistantly was able to take better pictures with my Canon SD400, a compact 5MPixel point and shoot than with the S2-IS.

 

In my opinion, if one is interested in an S5-IS and plan on shooting other than landscapes, spend the extra dollars and get into a digital SLR.

 

It will take some time to learn the new XSi camera, but the camera isn't the limiting item anymore. I am.....

[Twisties]

Adding on to Twisties comments on Mega-Zooms, I owned a Canon S2-IS which was a 5MPixel 12X optical zoom unit. I soon became very frustrated with the camera and have replaced with a Canon Rebel XSi digtal SLR.

 

My problems with the S2-IS:

 

SLOW!!!! Absolutely worthless for taking quick pictures or action shots as the action was always over before the camera was ready to shoot.

Worthless LCD viewfinder and in daylight, a worthless LCD display. I pretty much had to point and pray that I got a desirable image.

 

For air shows, I typically had to fix focus at infinity as auto focus would be too slow and/or unable to acquire subject.

 

I consistantly was able to take better pictures with my Canon SD400, a compact 5MPixel point and shoot than with the S2-IS.

 

In my opinion, if one is interested in an S5-IS and plan on shooting other than landscapes, spend the extra dollars and get into a digital SLR.

 

It will take some time to learn the new XSi camera, but the camera isn't the limiting item anymore. I am.....

 

I agree with some of what you've said, but Bullman is obviously not ready to go dSLR. Some of the mega-zooms are much faster now than S2, which is about 4 generations old now. I had three Fuji mega-zooms and the newer ones were reasonably fast and had pretty good focusing systems. My mom has the Sony DSC.... I think H5, and loves it. She is a former SLR owner. The displays and viewfinders are getting better.

 

While the mega-zooms are not dSLRs, they will get him some real zoom, and some start as low as $200. Still double his desired price, but maybe something he can think about.

 

The major knocks against current model mega-zooms are:

 

Lens artifacts (flare, purple fringing)

Poor image quality in lower light situations without flash.

Distortion at widest angle settings.

 

Frankly, it is doubtful that the Polaroid you are looking at is any better.

[Selden]

A friend recently asked me if she should get her point and shoot fixed (baby damage). I told her if it was more than 6 months old, replace it. Rapid obsolescence is the nature of the digital camera industry at this time, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

 

Wide angle (28mm equivalent) is more important to me than long zoom, although my Panasonic TZ5 has both -- with very low barrel/pincushion distortion throughout its 10X range, unlike the 3X Nikon S1 that it replaced, which exhibited both terrible barrel distortion and corner vignetting at wide angle. The Panasonic is faster in all ways than the Nikon. Still not so hot in low light conditions, but I can fit it in the chest pocket of my jacket, which I would not be able to do with an SLR. However, even the Nikon with "measly" 5 megapixel resolution took pictures sharp enough to be blown up to roughly 20"x30" for an exhibit, and look very good at a viewing distance of 2-3 feet.

[BULLman]

Mega Zoom maybe be what I wanted... but methinks it will be mega-$$$.

 

I want something inbetween my Kodak EasyShare 2 mp 3x digital zoom that I bought in 2003 and the mega zooms.

 

I actually do like my kodak, especially since I got some rechargeable AA batteries.

 

I've taken some pictues at work [printing shop] and I was thinking of getting something better.

[Matts_12GS]

Dan, I bought one of these brand new Canon A570 last year at best buy for about twice that much.

 

It's been a nice camera, easy to use, the IS is great.

 

7.2 MP is a nice middle ground resolution for printing, it's also got an optical viewfinder so you can frame images w/o having to use the LCD if you don't want to.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Edit, I see this has been replaced by an 8 MP which about half the world is selling for $110 or so.

[artig]

I was looking for a fairly inexpensive point and shoot camera with good zoom and preferably using common AA rechargeable batteries. The Canon A2000 IS has 6x optical zoom, uses 2 AA batteries, has optical image stabilization, and 10 megapixels. There are now several reviews of this camera on various sites. I am very happy with the picture quality so far.

 

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2008_reviews/canon_a2000is.html

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_A2000_IS/

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a2000-review/index.shtml

[Boone60]

For $260, I just bought a:

 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 Digital Camera 10.1 Megapixel 18x Wide-angle Zoom Lens 2.7" LCD Display MEGA O.I.S. Image Stabilization Records RAW Format Up to 13 fps Burst (at 2M) Intelligent Auto (iA) Mode Unique Creative Modes HD Video Record & Output Compact Body

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/573590-REG/Panasonic_DMC_FZ28S_Lumix_DMC_FZ28_Digital_Camera.html?kbid=1173

 

[DavidEBSmith]

Dan, I bought one of these brand new Canon A570 last year at best buy for about twice that much.

 

It's been a nice camera, easy to use, the IS is great.

 

7.2 MP is a nice middle ground resolution for printing, it's also got an optical viewfinder so you can frame images w/o having to use the LCD if you don't want to.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Edit, I see this has been replaced by an 8 MP which about half the world is selling for $110 or so.

 

Yah, the A590 is my new tank bag camera. For $109 shipped I don't have to worry about knocking it around.

[Matts_12GS]

Yah, the A590 is my new tank bag camera. For $109 shipped I don't have to worry about knocking it around.

That's a sweet deal, I may have to get one of those just to leave in the glove box.

[sgendler]

You don't care about digital zoom. Digital zoom is nothing more than zooming into the photo, the same way you can in any image editing program - just resize to larger and then crop. It is basically the equivalent of representing each physical pixel via several pixels on the computer screen/paper. The only thing that matters (unless you plan to print directly from the camera) is the optical zoom, which is magnifying the image via glass lenses before it is captured by the camera, which requires no corresponding loss of quality (though crappy/cheap lenses always have either lower quality across the range or lower quality at either or both extremes, but that loss is far less than the quality loss you get via digital zoom).

 

--sam

 

 

[BULLman]

Dan, I bought one of these brand new Canon A570 last year at best buy for about twice that much.

 

It's been a nice camera, easy to use, the IS is great.

 

7.2 MP is a nice middle ground resolution for printing, it's also got an optical viewfinder so you can frame images w/o having to use the LCD if you don't want to.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Edit, I see this has been replaced by an 8 MP which about half the world is selling for $110 or so.

 

Is Adorama a good vendor to deal with? That price is a little more than the polaroid that I was looking at, and probably a lot better. Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

Thanks everyone for their thoughts. I know there are a lot of photobuffs here and I do appreciate your thoughts.

[SageRider]

Is Adorama a good vendor to deal with?

My experience with Adorama includes:

Buying new lens and returning using their money back offer when the lens did not do what I needed it to do (nothing wrong with lens. I was just asking too much from it.)

This experience led directly to me acquiring my Canon XSi from Adorama.

I also sold some used camera equipment to them and received a fair price.

 

In all transactions, Adorama has been prompt, courteous, and informative through every step of the process. On top of that, they have about the best prices overall that I have been able to find.

 

Needless to say, I highly recommend www.Adorama.com .

 

Another site to check out if you wish to rent before buying expensive camera gear is www.lensrentals.com .

[BULLman]

Thanks. You're making it tougher.

[SageRider]

Thanks. You're making it tougher.

You're welcome!