Digital zoom work

[Electricseashell]

I went to visit my friend here in the cold north.. and drove past these fellows so I stopped and tried to figure out what you guys are telling me.. about zoom in camera vs using the capture all and edit post process. I get it!!!

[RSStory]

So, if I understand what you did here. You took the original shot then in post did a crop. Is that right?

Generally when we talk about zoom, there is optical and digital and both are in camera. Optical means that the lens did the zoom and digital means that the cameras computer did it. Some point and shoot cameras only have digital zoom. Digital is bad...

Now, to some extent you can zoom in on a shot in post and it can work. There are several things that come into play when doing this. You have to have a sharp well exposed image to start with and then have to be very careful in how you enlarge the image. A couple years ago I tested this with great results. With my canon 10D I took a full length shot of my wife and then I cropped in on just her face and enlarged it to a 24x32 print and it is hanging on my wall. So it can be done, but again it has to be a very well done original shot to be able to do that.

Here is the final version that is in my print portfolio. I will see if I can find the original.

[Electricseashell]

I have the Canon A400 I got into the habit of zooming in on everything that was far away.. always ending up with blurred not so good.. I know this image original is blown out.. I forgot that I had it set for indoor and when I grabbed it out of the bag, I was thinking about the zoom and what I wanted to do. That was let the camera take the picture.. I focused on the deer using the zoom to center and then cleared the digital zoom by backing it off and took the shot. In post processing I did quite a few crops using the house in the back in the frame work of thirds trees etc. but the deer seem to always be blurry.. I think thats because of the blown indoor setting. The idea I wanted to convey was I had alot more to work with by letting the camera take in the data then post processing what I really wanted to focus on.

[RSStory]

That is somewhat backwords though... Generally speaking you want it cropped in camera as close to what you want as possible so that you have the most quality you can get in the final image. As you have done here you captured alot of data that you knew you wouldnt want and then tossed all that data out the window in post. Then, you had to let your computer decide how to get you more pixels just like the camera would have done in the digital zoom. It has to add data to the image. The means that quality is in most cases going to be degraded. This is why most of us preach to get it right in camera as much as possible so that when you are doing your post work you have the most data to work with. In looking at your original, you have a little bit of the snow that is blown out but not too bad. But when looking at the curves you will notice that your shadow side is way off.



You can bring that back in and it does help a bit in the contrast of the image but the deer are still very soft so cropping in and enlarging is just not gonna work. When shooting that I would suggest that instead of backing way off. Try to zoom in as close as you can without activating the digital zoom. But then again, you are limited by your equipment and you may have been just too far away for this shot with that camera.

Scott

[r_fredrick_smith]

The best thing to do is to turn off the digital zoom in the camera. That makes it impossible to use accidentally. Digital zoom is just never worth using in my view, so its better off than on. Also, never do your focusing in the digital zoom mode. It will not be very accurate that way. You are better off to lock the focus at the point where you've already determined how much zoom will be used. With small point and shoots your best bet is to "always" crop in the camera. In other words get it right in the camera. Of course with a subject like the deers, you really can't walk closer since they'll bolt. So for subjects like that you need a different camera with longer zooms.
Cheers,
rfs

[Electricseashell]

So I guess I didnt really get it.. lol but I'm working on it.. they didnt seem that far away I could have hit them with a softball.. lol I just need a better camera..

[Electricseashell]

But when looking at the curves you will notice that your shadow side is way off.

I don't understand that graph at what its representing..

[r_fredrick_smith]

Originally Posted by Electricseashell

So I guess I didnt really get it.. lol but I'm working on it.. they didnt seem that far away I could have hit them with a softball.. lol I just need a better camera..

Typically if I was at that distance I'd be using a 200mm (which acts like a 320mm on the Canon 20D that I use). I have the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 lens. That would have allowed me to frame just the deers.

Normally, great photos can be taken with any decent camera such as the one you have. But ultimately you reach a limit when circumstances don't allow for the proper use of the more limited cameras. One of these is getting close enough to far away (or skittish) subjects to fill the frame.

Consider a dSLR if that's in your budget. They've really come down in price lately. Both Canon and Nikon have some great entry level dSLR models. Of course, keep in mind, that you have to buy the lens extra.

Cheers,
rfs

[clarionite]

Originally Posted by r_fredrick_smith

Both Canon and Nikon have some great entry level dSLR models. Of course, keep in mind, that you have to buy the lens extra.

As RFS is saying here, The lenses are the biggest expense for getting into the DSLR world. As it should be. The body will be replaced sooner or later, the lenses can be carried forward as long as you stay with the same brand when you move forward.

I don't want to scare you off, but I've easily spent twice as much for things other than the camera body. I've probably gone overboard with what I've bought though. I didn't need the L glass (I just wanted it. ) I could have settled for some good Sigma or Tamron glass. Some of their lenses are top notch. I just ended up in a situation where returning a third party lens that had front focusing issues left me in a position to buy some L glass to replace it. After that, I was hooked on it.

The Rebel line has some fine cameras, and they're a little smaller than the XXD series. There are some good lenses in the Canon line up that are half to a third of the L series glass that take great shots too. I can't comment on Nikon because I haven't shot it, but I've got a friend who shoots Nikon and he loves it.

[Electricseashell]

Until my graphic designer daughter gets established and making decent money Im stuck with what I have.. I just dont have the income to upgrade.