[ 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.
Related Technical Terms
Camera Zoom
How much a camera magnifies a scene; optical zoom keeps detail, digital zoom crops it.
Camera
Megapixel
One million pixels in a camera sensor; more MP can mean more detail, but sensor size matters more.
Camera
Telephoto Lens
A long-focal-length lens for close-up zoom shots without digital cropping.
Camera