Total zoom vs. Smart Zoom: If you're taking a picture from a distance is Sony suggesting using the regular zoom first, and then use the smart zoom to crop the picture?
251728
Missy, Please see: http://www.digitalsecrets.net/Sony/AdvancedKnow5-SZ.html It's a bit complicated, but the simple version is that Sony's Smart Zoom tries to limit your digital zoom to a level that doesn't degrade the image quality significantly. Please note that this doesn't have anything to do with optical zoom. It's simply making sure that you don't over-do the digital zoom to the detriment of the image (which is easy to do with some cameras). I don't use digital zoom as I do that cropping in PhotoShop Elements (not too expensive) or Picasa (free).
2012319
Yes. Zoom and Focus are manual with the inner ring for the later.It s a little bit to freaky not so gradual control.Its endless so no physical connection with lens I guess.
165666
because the lens is a medium telephoto, no, and there is no zoom in or out feature I can find. extension cords are available to place the camera farther away.
756011
Only difference is image stabilization. You might prefer IS on your crop sensor. On full frame the lens is wide enough to not need it. This is a great lens.
881161
very interesting. i've had my TZ5 for a couple of yrs, and used the digital zoom frequently, always in Normal mode, (I know it won't work in iA mode.) Recently, it refuses to work in normal mode-- stays grayed out, even with 3 mp manually set. However, in Scene 1 mode I am able to use digital zoom, just like before, (combined with optical and ez-zoom, giving me a total of 67.5X). I don't understand the change. Any ideas? Firmware update?
2181347
Zoom is motorized and controlled via trigger switch (like on PS zoom cameras). I've had the 45-200mm with mechanical manual zoom via ring. For video, I like the trigger control. It's easier to operate while shooting video and provides smooth consistent transitions zooming in and out. I like manual better for picture taking.
41037
Thanks for the info Corey! I agree that zooming during recording can get a bit nauseating if done too much/too fast but it is a nice feature to have in certain instances. At least the zoom works before/after like it does on my old 3.2MP Cyber-shot. Thanks for clearing that up.
599673
With standard digital zoom, pictures captured by the image sensor of the camera are enlarged using digital signal processing. Therefore, as the magnification level increases, signals to be estimated also increase and can reduce the image quality. When using Clear Image Zoom, however, zoomed images are captured close to the original quality when shooting a still picture. The camera first zooms to the maximum optical magnification, then uses Clear Image Zoom technology to enlarge the image an additional 2x, producing sharp clear images despite the increased zoom ratio. The Smart Zoom feature allows images to be zoomed without losing picture quality. The central part of the picture is trimmed and enlarged without image processing.
1112775
The increase in zoom length is simply the camera cropping the central portion of the image. You can do this with any picture from any camera. But you need to use imaging software on you computer. What Panasonic is offering is a way to do this while you are actually taking the picture, which might allow for better framing or exposure.
1461764
You have to use the T/W button to zoom in and out. This lens does not have a manual mode. It is quick and quiet though.
320129
The zoom here is digital zoom not optical zoom so going much over 2x is pretty useless as quality plummets quickly. The Flip is the only camera Id recommend but the zoom is not too useful. Zooming in and out on any of the cameras is going to be rough and shaky at best. Cameras like this are super easy to operate and give fantastic results. Id say stick with flip and go ultra then if its not your bag resell it as theres a hungry market to buy from you. I have used flip for most all the videos at 90secondsuccess and will be buying another one any day now. Hope this helps. rb
308097
The focus is manual in still and movie. The zoom and focus are combined. You just turn the dial until you get the zoom and focus you like. It works great. We really love this camera. BTW, we have had multiple Kodak and Sony cameras and we like the Fuji camera the best. Hope this helps with your purchase.
424999
You do not use the zoom to focus, you use the focusing ring to focus. Two totally different things. The zoom changes focal length, the focus ring changes focus.By the way, I am a pro photographer since 1965. It will work best with a prime lens. They are sharper than zoom lenses.
1858200
1. You shouldn't be using AF at all when shooting video. 2. That's not digital zoom, it's a mode where the camera uses a smaller portion of the sensor. Smaller sensor = more crop.
719925
I bought this camera for my son as a gift. I did tried a little before I gave it to him. I did not have issue with autofocusing. Of course, it depends on what you are shooting and what lens you have it on. I did remember my son was saying that with the 200 mm zoom lens, the focus may be slower. I bought a Sony NEX7 latter myself. I do not have 200 zoom lens so I can not comment on that. If I need to zoom in for a shot, I use Nikon 70-200 lens on Nikon D700. Sony NEX camera is a great all around camera. I take that everywhere I go. Great image quality.
88548
I am assuming you mean the Sony A 7 - if the olympus lens you are using is a 35 mm it will render a full frame image - no crop
2198471
There is a cropping feature when viewing an image. After pressing the menu button, there is a "Trimming..." function as one of the menu options. Zoom depends on the context. When composing an image prior to capture, you can zoom in/out of the scene. When viewing an image that has been captured, you can use the camera zoom to enlarge the image displayed on the LCD screen.