[ GLOSSARY DEFINITION ] Camera

Camera Zoom

How much a camera magnifies a scene; optical zoom keeps detail, digital zoom crops it.

Also known as: Optical Zoom

Full Definition & Technical Explanation

Zoom extends reach. Optical zoom uses lens hardware (2x, 3x, 5x, 10x periscope) and keeps real detail; Digital zoom crops the image and loses quality. Phones list Zoom: Digital when only digital is available.

See telephoto and periscope for optical implementations.

Related Technical Terms

Digital Zoom

Software cropping that magnifies an image but reduces resolution and detail. Camera

Periscope Lens

A folded telephoto module that fits long-focal-length optics in a thin phone. Camera

Telephoto Lens

A long-focal-length lens for close-up zoom shots without digital cropping. Camera

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