Optical vs Digital Zoom
- Optical Zoom takes advantage of the camera’s varifocal lens, allowing the camera lens to physically zoom into the center of the image. This allows the camera to keep its image quality and view at further distances.
NOTE: Optical zoom does not reduce the quality of the picture.
- Digital Zoom allows the user to digitally zoom to any point in the image.
NOTE: This crops the image down to the specific scale that the user zooms to.
NOTE: This will reduce image quality because the camera lenses do not physically zoom.
Comparisons
Optical Zoom:
Digital Zoom:
Optical Zoom Instructions
To use optical zoom, you will need an autofocus/zoom camera, and the Enable PTZ/Autofocus check box will need to be checked within the camera’s settings.
NOTE: You will only be able to use optical zoom in live view.
Browser Client
- Hover your mouse over the image in the live view.
- Use + (zoom in) and – (zoom out) on the upper left of the screen to optically zoom.
Console
- Hover your mouse over the image in the live view.
- Right click the image.
- Use the Zoom In and Zoom Out options to optically zoom.
Phone App
- Select live view.
- Press the PTZ icon in the lower right corner.
- Pinch the image to initiate the optical zoom.
Digital Zoom Instructions
To digitally zoom, you do not need an autofocus/zoom camera. You will be able to digitally zoom in both the live view and search view.
Browser Client and Console
- Hover your mouse cursor over the image.
- Scroll up or down with your mouse wheel to adjust the digital zoom.
NOTE: This can be done in both live and search.
Phone App
To digitally zoom on the app, pinch the image. This can be done in the live and recorded views.