Although digital zoom reduces image quality,
in some cases it is the last resort.
Most travel cameras are integrated with
digital zooming. Without adjustment, when turning optical zoom at maximum
level, the camera will automatically switch on digital zoom.
Basically, digital zoom selects the image’s
center then enlarges it by enlarging present image dots but not via optical
zoom. After that, it crops the image at selected ratio. Because image dots are
enlarged, resulted image has more split pixels and this effect becomes clearer
when you zoom in more. Thus, the more you zoom in, the worse image quality
becomes.
However, in some case you need a close-up
shot and there’s no way to get closer, digital zoom is the last resort.
Image
with no zoom, wide-angle camera, 1/1000s shutter speed, f/3.1, ISO 80
Using
10x optical zoom, 1/500s shutter speed, f/5.6, ISO 80
Using
digital zoom, 1/500s shutter speed, f/5.6, ISO 80
The obvious result of digital zoom is that
visual quality isn’t sleek. Especially, when enlarged, the picture will become
unclear, sharp-less and worst pixelated. However, in new series having
complicated algorithm and technology, this issue has been reduced to produce
acceptable image quality if digital zoom is used at mediocre level.
Image
captured by wide-angle camera with1/550s shutter speed, f/4.0, ISO 100
Image
captured via 30x digital zoom with 1/300s shutter speed, f/6.4, ISO 100
Despite all, digital is just the last
resort. If you prefer images with higher quality, consider cameras having high
optical zoom. Present technology has allowed for up 35x optical zoom with over
800mm focal length.
