Digital vs. optical zoom
Apr 27, 2020 07:20:33 #
I use a Sony RX10-III camera for my casual photography, mostly weekend or on the run snapshots. As most posters here already know, when taking RAW photos, only optical zoom is available, while when taking jpg quality photos, 2x digital zoom is available. Since I usually don't spend time to set up shots with a tripod, is there a difference in the amount of camera shake between full zoom with digital (I believe 1200mm EQ), and full zoom optical only (600mm EQ), with the image cropped with software?
Apr 27, 2020 08:33:14 #
You probably will get a right answer here but why don't you just take two photos of the same subject and see for yourself?
Apr 27, 2020 08:50:18 #
Regardless of optical or digital zoom you will see more of camera shake with a longer equivalent focal length.
Apr 27, 2020 08:54:46 #
BillO
Loc: Eastern Shore Maryland
I am testing the same issue now as well.
From my experience, and also have read, optical zoom is better for quality photo's either in raw or jpg.
Digital zoom works but at longer distances and long zoom lengths, much quality is lost especially in lower light.
Basically, digital zoom is no different than cropping and/or resizing a photo on the computer, at some point the pixels start to blur the shot.
Optical zoom is all in the lens, so as you zoom in, there is little if any, loss of photo definition and quality.
On my Canon, There is a viewfinder indicator that shows when the digital zoom takes over and a loss in image quality.
That may me an oversimplification however, I am still learning but that's the best I have so far.
Bill
From my experience, and also have read, optical zoom is better for quality photo's either in raw or jpg.
Digital zoom works but at longer distances and long zoom lengths, much quality is lost especially in lower light.
Basically, digital zoom is no different than cropping and/or resizing a photo on the computer, at some point the pixels start to blur the shot.
Optical zoom is all in the lens, so as you zoom in, there is little if any, loss of photo definition and quality.
On my Canon, There is a viewfinder indicator that shows when the digital zoom takes over and a loss in image quality.
That may me an oversimplification however, I am still learning but that's the best I have so far.
Bill
Apr 27, 2020 08:56:24 #
Electric Gnome
Loc: Norwich UK
I agree with Howard5252 the best way is to do some test shots. Normally I would think no difference as the focal length optically would be the same, however as using digital zooming would result in a jpeg image, then that would mean the image has been processed by the camera (mini computer) and it may use an algorithm to reduce camera shake. Of course if you took a RAW, cropped it to the same size and processed that in PS there is a shake reduction filter (Filter-Sharpen-Shake Reduction) but you would have to apply it all in post.
Apr 27, 2020 09:00:54 #
BillO
Loc: Eastern Shore Maryland
I might add it is important to understand you particular camera's limitations and and design parameters.
For me, that will come with experience and experimentation.
Everything is a trade off.
For me, that will come with experience and experimentation.
Everything is a trade off.
Apr 27, 2020 09:39:47 #
togajim wrote:
I use a Sony RX10-III camera for my casual photogr... (show quote)
I think that camera has some in camera interpolation going on with the digital zoom, so it's not just making bigger blobs out of the pixels. Probably similar to shooting raw then running an upsizing program on a crop, like bicubic or preserve details in Photoshop. Id guess better results from doing on a computer rather than in camera, but it would be worth a comparison.
Apr 27, 2020 09:48:15 #
BillO
Loc: Eastern Shore Maryland
What I've experienced so far, using the optical zoom to the largest extend and cropping on the computer yields better, clearer results than trying to accomplish very long zoom shots with digital zoom on the camera, especially with the smaller camera sensors. On the short closer shots, the digital zoom doesn't have that much of an issue.
Bill
Bill
Apr 27, 2020 09:51:29 #
Apr 27, 2020 09:59:45 #
Apr 27, 2020 10:00:28 #
I have 2 small high quality cameras with digital zoom - after several attempts with each, found the results disappointing. I don't bother with it anymore. Possibly you will have better outcomes. Testing is likely the key. Good Luck!
Apr 27, 2020 10:17:41 #
Sony calls their digital zoom "clear image zoom". It seems to be significantly better than ordinary digital zoom. The optical zoom alone is better though.
Apr 27, 2020 10:59:10 #
Digital zoom too much and the image will become pixelated.
Digital zoom is zooming (enlarging) in on the image.
Digital zoom is zooming (enlarging) in on the image.
Apr 27, 2020 11:01:10 #
Howard5252 wrote:
You probably will get a right answer here but why don't you just take two photos of the same subject and see for yourself?
Right. With digital photography, there is little reason not to simply experiment to find out first hand what works and what doesn't!
Apr 27, 2020 11:32:11 #
On Sony Cameras you have three choices. optical zoom. clear image zoom and digital zoom. You can chose these in your menu. Optical is useable in all modes. Clear Image Zoom and Digital zoom are only useable in JPEG. Digital Zoom is exactly the same as you would do in your computer during PP. Clear Image Zoom is a Sony proprietary program that does a superior job of simulating optical zoom. I use Clear Image Zoom on all of my Sony cameras : RX100-V, a6000, HX-40v, a7iii, a7Riii and a99ii. You will see the crossover in your viewfinder from optical to CIZ or Digital Zoom on my RX100v. On my a7xx you set the amount of CIZ in the menu from 0x to 2x. As an example here is a shot yesterday with my a7Riii and the Sony 200-600mm with and without Clear Image Zoom. Both were set at 600mm. Try it, you might like it
600mm no CIZ
600MM with CIZ at 1.4X
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