Zoom features and differences

    From optical to digital zooming, a few ways to zoom are available. Here you can learn about these features and the differences between them.
    Note that available camera features, menu naming, and restrictions may vary by model. Also refer to zoom features available as described in the help guide.

    Three on-camera zoom setting options

    Three camera setting options each covering a different zoom range are Optical zoom only, Clear Image Zoom/ClearImage Zoom, and Digital Zoom.

    To prioritize image quality when zooming, set Zoom Range to Optical zoom only. Smart Zoom is also available with the camera set this way.
    To prioritize magnification if slightly lower image quality is acceptable, using Digital Zoom enables you to enlarge subjects much more. The two options available for this setting are Clear Image Zoom/ClearImage Zoom, and Digital Zoom.

    Figure showing the increasing magnification from Smart Zoom to Clear Image Zoom to Digital Zoom
    • [A]: Smart Zoom
    • [B]: Clear Image Zoom
    • [C]: Digital Zoom

    Optical zoom

    With optical zoom, the zoom lens is moved forward or backward to adjust focal length. Image quality is not affected by zooming in or out.
    On some lenses, the maximum aperture f-number varies by zoom position. For details on zoom lenses, see the following page.
    Zoom and prime lenses

    Smart Zoom

    Zooming in with Smart Zoom enlarges subjects without a loss of image quality. The resulting image is cropped.
    Available in still image shooting with File Format set to JPEG and JPEG Image Size/HEIF Image Size set to M or S.

    How to use

    From MENU, select Zoom, then press the left/right side of the control wheel to select the magnification. With a power zoom lens attached, zoom by using the zoom lever or zoom ring. Keep using that control to continue zooming past the limit of optical zoom. The camera will switch to a method of zooming other than optical zoom.

    Note

    • By default, JPEG Image Size/HEIF Image Size is set to L.
    • Smart Zoom is not available when recording movies.
    • Focus Area is disabled, and the focusing frame is indicated by a dotted line. In AF operations, the camera prioritizes the area around the center of the screen.
    • Metering Mode is locked to Multi.
    • Face/Eye Priority in AF, Subject Recognition AF, Face Priority in Multi Metering, and tracking function are not available.

    Clear Image Zoom and Digital Zoom

    These features zoom by applying image processing.

    • Clear Image Zoom
      Image processing with minimal loss of image quality enables you to zoom in up to 2× while keeping images clear and sharp. Available with Zoom Range/Zoom Setting set to Clear Image Zoom/ClearImage Zoom or Digital Zoom.
    • Digital Zoom
      The image processing used for this enlargement causes some loss of image quality. Available with Zoom Range/Zoom Setting set to Digital Zoom.

    To apply image processing in a range that ensures minimal loss of image quality, use Clear Image Zoom/ClearImage Zoom. You can identify the range for each zooming feature by its icon.

    Icon for the Clear Image Zoom range

    Icon for the Digital Zoom range

    How to use

    From MENU, select Zoom, then press the left/right side of the control wheel to select the magnification.
    With a power zoom lens attached, zoom by using the zoom lever or zoom ring. Keep using that control to continue zooming past the limit of optical zoom. The camera will switch to a method of zooming other than optical zoom.
    For further details on using Clear Image Zoom, see the following page.
    Using Clear Image Zoom

    Note

    • By default, Zoom Range/Zoom Setting is set to Optical zoom only.
    • Clear Image Zoom is not available in the following cases.
      • Still image shooting: With File Format set to RAW or RAW & JPEG/RAW & HEIF
      • Movie recording: With Rec Frame Rate or Record Setting set to 120p
      • Slow-motion/quick-motion recording: With Frame Rate set to 240fps or 120fps
    • Focus Area is disabled, and the focusing frame is indicated by a dotted line. In AF operations, the camera prioritizes the area around the center of the screen.
    • Metering Mode is locked to Multi.
    • Face/Eye Priority in AF, Subject Recognition AF, Face Priority in Multi Metering, and tracking function are not available.