[ GLOSSARY DEFINITION ]
Camera
Digital Zoom
Software cropping that magnifies an image but reduces resolution and detail.
Full Definition & Technical Explanation
Digital zoom enlarges part of the sensor image in software, so details soften quickly. Specs may list Zoom: Digital. Modern phones add AI upscaling to limit the loss.
Prefer optical zoom when available. See periscope lenses for high optical reach.
Where Digital Zoom Matters
Smartphones
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Digital Zoom?
Software cropping that magnifies an image but reduces resolution and detail.
What terms are related to Digital Zoom?
Related Camera terms include Camera Zoom, Telephoto Lens, Megapixel.
Related Technical Terms
Camera Zoom
How much a camera magnifies a scene; optical zoom keeps detail, digital zoom crops it.
Camera
Telephoto Lens
A long-focal-length lens for close-up zoom shots without digital cropping.
Camera
Megapixel
One million pixels in a camera sensor; more MP can mean more detail, but sensor size matters more.
Camera