​​What’s the difference between Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom?

 ​​What’s the difference between Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom?

Zoom is a term that is often used in photography which signifies a change in the apparent distance between the camera and the subject. Zooming in photography is generally of two main types optical zoom and digital zoom. Both the methods use different technologies and produce different qualities in the results.

The main difference between optical zoom and digital zoom is that optical zoom involves a physical camera lens movement, which changes the apparent closeness of the image by altering its focal length whereas in digital zoom, the pixels are enlarged at the center of the screen and the scene being clicked is magnified.

Optical zoom is caused by the physical movement of the lens of the camera. It helps to magnify the scene without affecting the quality of the photo. Optical zoom provides clearer and zoomed photos. Optical zoom works by altering the focal length of the lens, thus bringing the image closer.

On the other hand, digital zoom is a type of inbuilt processing software in the camera that the user can use to zoom in after the picture has been clicked. It is done by enlarging the pixels in the center of the screen therefore it causes a decrease in the quality of the image and less resolution.