Digital Zoom Versus Optical Zoom

Many point and shoot digital cameras offer both digital and optical zoom. These two often confuse the average camera buyer, until you know what you’re looking at.

Optical zoom works much like the zoom lens on a 35 mm film camera. It changes the length of your camera’s lens and draws the subject closer to you. The optical zoom keeps the quality of the picture. Digital zoom works differently. It simply takes the picture and crops it then enlarges the part that is left. It causes the quality of the photo to be reduced, sometimes greatly.

What this means in terms of output is you may have a larger view of an object with the digital zoom, but chances are your image will become unfocused. Details will become lost. It is actually best to turn off the digital zoom feature of your camera if possible. This will prevent you automatically zooming in too close as the digital zoom is often an extension of the optical.

There are a couple of things you can do if you want a closer view of a subject but want the quality of your picture to still be good. Try moving in closer when you take the picture. Often only a foot or two will do the trick. If this isn’t possible, you can set your camera to take a picture at its largest file size. This will result in a photo that can be cropped to include only your desired subject, yet allow for an image that is still clear.

Digital zoom has its place. It can be used if the only destiny of your photo is the internet. Photos online can be a much lower quality in the camera and still appear acceptable when sent through e-mail or posted on a web gallery. If your goal is printing, however, seek a camera that has a greater optical zoom and turn off the digital zoom. Your pictures will be better in the end, even if they are not as close up.

Digital Photography Lessons

Here's a great article by Tracy L. Guzman that cover the basics. Get yourself a camera, and practice, practice, practice....

Digital Photography Lessons
By Tracy L Guzman

The best way to get great at photography is to practice. The more work you put into perfecting your talent, the more thrilled you are going to be with the outcomes. being aware of how to practice your photography is one-half the battle. Here are a couple tips to get you started.

Start Out with picking out an item to concentrate with. Choose anything you like. Start taking photos of it while trying out assorted settings to get accustomed to your particular camera. Try them separately. Determine what each feature and setting does on a notepad. After the shoot is finished you should have a great list of stuff to go over. Replicate this procedure in various different locations. Take photographs from all directions and angles. Standing up, sitting down, while laying on the floor, whatever you can dream up. Also, try various lighting scenarios This will teach you what different camera settings do best in every unique environment.

Once you discover how to use your particular digital camera, you can try adding assorted accessories that further enhance your images. With dedicated practise your photos should become progressively more pleasing. Simply continue photographing and practicing and taking outstanding snapshots will become second nature to you.

Prior to trying any of these tactics, you need to be certain that you have a truly outstanding camera. Do plenty of research before buying just any camera. If it doesn't operate good, you will not be able to acquire great pictures no matter how hard you try. One really good camera to start with is the Canon Digital Rebel XSi It is fully featured and easy to use.

Regardless of how fabulous you think your pictures are, without practice you will never really get the best photos that you are capable of producing. Every hobby or craft takes considerable time and practict to obtain perfection. The more time you spend learning the art of photography, the more amazing your pictures are going to be. You need to practice regularly to see a good amount of improvement.

Taking large quantities of pictures and hoping to get that one good shot is the method that most amateur photographers use and on occasion you will accidentally come up with something spectacular. However, by learning how to use your digital camera properly and practicing good photography skills, you can have lots of terrific pictures from every event you shoot.

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