My Board

Sparked from a conversation in chat, here is a comparison of built-in digital zoom quality. The moss photo was taken using full digital zoom; my camera has a total zoom capability of 36x. Using full digital zoom at about a 15 foot shoot distance; notice that the photo has retained a high pixel quality. [attachment=2205:attachment] In comparison, this photo of the eagle was taken at about 1/4 mile shoot distance also using full digital zoom. This is why, if you're going to do alot of outdoor photography it is best to have a DSLR camera which will allow for the use of telephoto lenses. I've included both a resized and original size version of the picture. 800x600 version: [attachment=2206:attachment] full 1200 x 1600 version: [attachment=2207:attachment] The main reason for image quality loss is that when you use digital zoom, the camera is trying to focus on one part of the whole picture and enlarge it, in this case it's taking the eagle and trying to add in the right pixels so that it is 36x bigger than what the sensor actually sees. Due to the camera's attempt at pixel matching, it loses all of the smaller detail pixels such as the eagle's beak and eyes, because the pixels for the eagle's white feathers are greater in number, making the sensor match those pixels to fill in the areas it can't "see" clearly. Cameras with a higher total zoom will probably take a better quality photo, but that is not guaranteed as it is effected by many things such as distance, image detail and lighting.

Nice comparison, should have mike climb up the tree to get a closer shot /biggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' />
Yeah i see what your saying about the digital zoom... i want a new camera /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> that i can change lens and etc on... nice photos tho.

us3rX /ph34r.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':ph34r:\' />

He couldn't climb the tree, it was in the middle of a lake lol

Yeah, the next cam I buy will be a DSLR most certainly.

Couldnt or wouldnt? i am sure mike knows how to swim lol heres my digital zoom maxed out >.> [attachment=2218:attachment][attachment=2217:attachment] First image is the photo maxed out on the zoom and the second is a satilite photo from [url=\"http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=33.838403~-84.200034&style=o&lvl=2&scene=1054585\"]here[/url] On the second photo to the far right of it is where i was standing and to the far right is where the truck was... and no this isnt an "upto date" photo... i think msn is far behind cause that old gas station on the bottom right is down the street and thats an open area /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> Once again... i want a better camera /cry.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':(\' /> /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> us3rX /ph34r.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':ph34r:\' />

Zoom pics look so horrible tbh... I haven't seen a single camera that can take a nice zoom image. they're all blurry and stuff lol

Jer does your cam have different settings like sports, landscapes, portrait, etc.? Sometimes the digital zoom works better in different settings.

Yeah it has those, i was using the LandScape one /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> since i was taking other photos... but yeah ill try different settings. /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />

us3rX /ph34r.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':ph34r:\' />