OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

Has anyone used Sony's 'Clear Image Zoom' option which provides for an up to 2X digital image magnification? That is, producing full megapixel images but as if the focal lens of the lens was up to twice what it actually was. It's sort of like a digital '2X lens converter'.

Now I've been using it for about two years now and only with my Sony a6500. Note that it was available on some of my earlier model Sony cameras, just that I never heard anything about it until two years ago. At first, I was a bit skeptical as to whether it was usable or not, but so far, I've been impressed.

Now, does any other camera vendor offer something similar? And if so, does anyone use this feature and what are your results like?

Anyway, here are some images where I've used this feature to gain a full 2X magnification. Some I went out of my way to shoot image with and without this option, just to see what the results were. I have to say, I've been very impressed. And, unlike the traditional 2X lens converter, this has no impact on the final maximum f-stop of the lens. I know, it sounds like you're getting something for nothing, but so far, that's how I'm seeing it.

Note that all of these images, except for a couple where I cropped them in order to try and get comparable images to check their quality, are at full resolution, as they came from the camera. And when using a zoom lens, they were at maximum optical magnification before the 2X option was toggled on. In fact, all of the images that I'm showing utilized a full 2X magnification.

Also note that since I'm using this feature often, I've programmed one of the custom buttons on my Sony a6500 to easily turn it on.

Here's a shot, using the Sun filter, of some Sun spots where I used the 'Clear Image Zoom' option at full 2X magnification - May 2021 - Sony a6500, 400mm X2


Now this is a shot of the moon taken without using the 'Clear Image Zoom' option - April 2021 - Sony a6500, 400mm


Now this is basically the same shot of the moon, but this time taken using the 'Clear Image Zoom' option - April 2021 - Sony a6500, 400mm X2


Now this is a portion of the first image of the moon, cropped to show a detailed area. This is from the image that was NOT taken using the 'Clear Image Zoom' option.


This is a portion of the second image of the moon, cropped to show the same detailed area. This was from the image using the 'Clear Image Zoom' option.


Here's a shot using my 18-135mm lens at maximum zoom, but without using the 'Clear Image Zoom' option - October 2021 - Sony a6500, 18-135mm


Here's the same shot using my 18-135mm lens at maximum zoom, this time using the 'Clear Image Zoom' option - October 2021 - Sony a6500, 18-135mm X2


Here's a shot of Mount Whitney, near Lone Pine, California, again taken with the 18-135mm lens at maximum zoom but without the 'Clear Image Zoom' option - January 2023 - Sony a6500, 18-135mm


Here's the same shot of Mount Whitney, again taken with the 18-135mm lens at maximum zoom only this time using the 'Clear Image Zoom' option - January 2023 - Sony a6500, 18-135mm X2


Here's one of my better shots of the moon taken using my 400mm lens with the 'Clear Image Zoom' option - November 2021 - Sony a6500, 400mm X2

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

It is one of those many things in digital imaging that works better than it should. On my RX100m7 it can sometimes get me some "superzoom" shots that I shouldn't with a pocket sized camera.

This helps a little explaining how: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/sony-clear-image-zoom-most-amazing-shooting-mode-you-never-heard?BI=572&gclid=CjwKCAjwq-WgBhBMEiwAzKSH6FNCfevfTaALrWI0rqOJAtC0KXbnvYVldpOwwBW70vbTXGlIBRz1DhoCB2EQAvD_BwE

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I have found it does best with easy scenes, and can struggle a bit with more challenging situations where it is more difficult to figure out how to add new pixels.

Also, I prefer to use RAW images and CIZ rules out using RAW completely. As a note here, my Olympus cameras have something similar to CIZ, but allow the capture to be RAW + JPEG in which the RAW is saved at the normal 1X and the JPEG is saved at 2X. Sony doesn't allow this operation.

Finally, I have found that using Topaz's Gigapixel AI can produce superior results, and can use RAW files, so this is the route I use.

NickGee Loc: Pacific Northwest

The big unfortunate downside to Clear Image Zoom in Sony cameras is that it only functions when shooting in JPEG mode. Doesn't work with RAW.

gwilliams6

Even top Pros sometimes uses Sony's CIZ for a quick punch-in rather that wasting time changing lenses or stopping to add a 2X TC and lose two stops, during fast happening action scenes.

Many top pro sports shooters are shooting in jpeg for fast live turnaround with instant image transfers of SOOC images to their media outlets ready to go, so CIZ is a valuable tool in their arsenal.

No, "I only shoot raw" for every professional assignment. Just a fact.

Cheers and best to you.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Sorta like using my FX lens with my D500? 750mm equivalent from a 500mm lens?

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

Yea, that 400mm lens that I'm using, that was originally purchased for my 35mm SLR back in 1970. Being a T-mount lens, I've been able to migrate it along to all of my interchangeable lens cameras, including my current mainline camera, the Sony a6500, where, since this is an APS-C format camera, that 400mm lens is effectively 600mm, which when used with the 'Clear Image Zoom' option, makes it act like a 1,200mm lens. Not bad considering that it only cost me $39 (granted, those were 1970 dollars) and it's still working great, 53 years later.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

No doubt because you can accomplish the same effect in PP, most likely with better results.

kvanhook Loc: Oriental, NC

I have Sony but have never tried to use the option. It looks impressive. I would have thought it would degrade the image but it doesn't seem to do that. I think I will try it and see what happens.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

Peos do what is necessary. Jpgs are often good enough for their needs and are faster. CIZ is a time saver but the results are no better than cropping. They may change the processing to some extent in making the JPG, but there cannot be more information than in a cropped 1x shot

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

While that might be accurate in terms of the fact that CIZ does not create additional information, it's still NOT the same as cropping as the 2X images still have the same total number of pixels. Granted, you can use PhotoShop to change the size of an image, giving the impression that an image has more pixels than what came out of the camera, but so far, it appears that the algorithms used by Sony, inside the camera, are doing a very good job and while I'm sure that Adobe is providing powerful tools as well, but at the moment, I like the results I'm getting with CIZ and besides, as many people have pointed out, it's quick and easy, thus it doesn't cost me any time or effort.

dreff Loc: Bow, WA

👍👍

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I've used CIZ with a Sony A7R II, A7 III, A7R V and an A6000. It is not a bad 'zoom' option but I find I get better results using Topaz GigaPixel if I want an enlargement.

bwa

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

I used it a few times. Problem is that it only works in jpeg, and I usually shoot in jpeg. But it does work