film vs. digital zoom on P&S

I would like to know if 3x zoom is the same on digital and film P&S
cameras.
What I mean is if I take a photo of something 100 feet away with a
digital camera that has 3x optical, and from the same spot I use
a 3x zoom on a film camera, is the zoom the same even if on
the digital camera the max is 58mm but on the film it's 130mm?

I am more concerned with a powerful zoom than a digital vs. film debate
or # of MPs, so what is a better value:
film:
CANON Sure Shot 150u Premier Camera Kit 38-150mm (4x) Zoom Lens - $120
CANON Sure Shot Z180u 4.7x Zoom (38-180mm) Lens - $140
KONICA MINOLTA Freedom Zoom 160c Camera with Date Function 37.5 - 160mm
Optical Zoom - $120

digital:
Canon powershot A75 3x 5.4-16.2mm - $200
""""""""""""""" s1 10x 5.8-58mm - $400
HP M305 3x 6-18mm - $150

Mr.Bolshoy Huy wrote:
I'd like to know if 3x zoom is the same on digital and film cameras.

Yes.

What I mean is if I take a photo of something 100 feet away with a
digital camera that has 3x optical, and from the same spot I use
a 3x zoom on a film camera, is the zoom the same even if on
the digital camera the max is 58mm but on the film it's 130mm?

Depends on focal length equivalent. The Canon A75 zoom is
equivalent to 35-105mm in a 35mm film camera. The Canon S1 is
equivalent to 38-380mm. (This is dependent on sensor size etc.)

I am more concerned with a powerful zoom than a digital vs. film debate
or # of MPs, so what is a better value:

Most of the film cameras you mention will not produce great results
at the long end of their zoom range, due to camera shake.

You might want to consider the Panasonic Lumix FZ-20 and the
Minolta models with antishake, both of which are generally
considered better than the Canon S1.

Mr.Bolshoy Huy wrote:
I'd like to know if 3x zoom is the same on digital and film cameras.

Yes.

What I mean is if I take a photo of something 100 feet away with a
digital camera that has 3x optical, and from the same spot I use
a 3x zoom on a film camera, is the zoom the same even if on
the digital camera the max is 58mm but on the film it's 130mm?

Depends on focal length equivalent. The Canon A75 zoom is
equivalent to 35-105mm in a 35mm film camera. The Canon S1 is
equivalent to 38-380mm. (This is dependent on sensor size etc.)

I am more concerned with a powerful zoom than a digital vs. film debate
or # of MPs, so what is a better value:

Most of the film cameras you mention will not produce great results
at the long end of their zoom range, due to camera shake.

You might want to consider the Panasonic Lumix FZ-20 and the
Minolta models with antishake, both of which are generally
considered better than the Canon S1.

Mr.Bolshoy Huy wrote:
I would like to know if 3x zoom is the same on digital and film P&S
cameras.

Yes, but it may not be what you think. That 3X means 3 times closer.
The question is three times closer than what. In the case of a zoom lens it
means the subject will appear three times closer at one end of the zoom than
the other, or if you like three times further away than the other. It does
not tell you anything about how close it really will look.

Most people think it is like a pair of binoculars that may be identified
as 7X or 10X. In that case the 7X will make the subject appear to be 7
times closer. That 3X does not tell you a thing about how it will appear to
the camera.

35 mm film cameras have a 1X (that is the picture will look much like it
did to you ) at about 47 mm. So a 50X150 zoom will be able to take a photo
from about normal to three times closer. Most lenses however are likely to
be something like 35mm to 105mm so they can make something appear further
away than normal (very helpful for indoor groups) or about 2 times closer.

With digital, it gets more complex. There is no one size film for
digitals so what it normal for one digital may be telephoto or wide angle
for another. The accepted method of getting around this is the "multiplier"
effect. So if you have that 35-105 mm lens on a digital with a 1.6
multiplier you will have about the same effect as that 50X150mm zoom on a
film camera.

So to answer your questions about all those cameras you are going to
need to know their multiplier numbers.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Mr.Bolshoy Huy wrote:
I would like to know if 3x zoom is the same on digital and film P&S
cameras.

Yes, but it may not be what you think. That 3X means 3 times closer.
The question is three times closer than what. In the case of a zoom lens it
means the subject will appear three times closer at one end of the zoom than
the other, or if you like three times further away than the other. It does
not tell you anything about how close it really will look.

Most people think it is like a pair of binoculars that may be identified
as 7X or 10X. In that case the 7X will make the subject appear to be 7
times closer. That 3X does not tell you a thing about how it will appear to
the camera.

35 mm film cameras have a 1X (that is the picture will look much like it
did to you ) at about 47 mm. So a 50X150 zoom will be able to take a photo
from about normal to three times closer. Most lenses however are likely to
be something like 35mm to 105mm so they can make something appear further
away than normal (very helpful for indoor groups) or about 2 times closer.

With digital, it gets more complex. There is no one size film for
digitals so what it normal for one digital may be telephoto or wide angle
for another. The accepted method of getting around this is the "multiplier"
effect. So if you have that 35-105 mm lens on a digital with a 1.6
multiplier you will have about the same effect as that 50X150mm zoom on a
film camera.

So to answer your questions about all those cameras you are going to
need to know their multiplier numbers.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"Mr.Bolshoy Huy" wrote in message

I am more concerned with a powerful zoom than a digital vs. film debate
or # of MPs

I would like to point out that digital cameras with long zoom lenses tend to
exhibit "purple fringing" or chromatic aberration. There are optical
tradeoffs that must be made in designing such lenses, and you may not be
pleased with the results.

Before buying a camera with a wide zoom range be sure to check the reviews
to see how it stacks up against other models.

I mention this, not to discourage you from obtaining a wide range of focal
lengths on your camera, but to caution you to decide whether you'll be
satisfied with the results prior to committing to the purchase.

"Mr.Bolshoy Huy" wrote in message

I am more concerned with a powerful zoom than a digital vs. film debate
or # of MPs

I would like to point out that digital cameras with long zoom lenses tend to
exhibit "purple fringing" or chromatic aberration. There are optical
tradeoffs that must be made in designing such lenses, and you may not be
pleased with the results.

Before buying a camera with a wide zoom range be sure to check the reviews
to see how it stacks up against other models.

I mention this, not to discourage you from obtaining a wide range of focal
lengths on your camera, but to caution you to decide whether you'll be
satisfied with the results prior to committing to the purchase.

So, if I understand what you are saying, a digital camera with a 1.5x
multiplier and a zoom lens that would be equivalent to a film camera with a
50-200 zoom lens would have both the same angle of view and magnification
factor. In other words, at the same equivalent focal length settings you
could not tell the difference in a picture taken with both type cameras?


"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Mr.Bolshoy Huy wrote:
I would like to know if 3x zoom is the same on digital and film P&S
cameras.

Yes, but it may not be what you think. That 3X means 3 times closer.
The question is three times closer than what. In the case of a zoom lens
it
means the subject will appear three times closer at one end of the zoom
than
the other, or if you like three times further away than the other. It
does
not tell you anything about how close it really will look.

Most people think it is like a pair of binoculars that may be
identified
as 7X or 10X. In that case the 7X will make the subject appear to be 7
times closer. That 3X does not tell you a thing about how it will appear
to
the camera.

35 mm film cameras have a 1X (that is the picture will look much like
it
did to you ) at about 47 mm. So a 50X150 zoom will be able to take a
photo
from about normal to three times closer. Most lenses however are likely
to
be something like 35mm to 105mm so they can make something appear further
away than normal (very helpful for indoor groups) or about 2 times closer.

With digital, it gets more complex. There is no one size film for
digitals so what it normal for one digital may be telephoto or wide angle
for another. The accepted method of getting around this is the
"multiplier"
effect. So if you have that 35-105 mm lens on a digital with a 1.6
multiplier you will have about the same effect as that 50X150mm zoom on a
film camera.

So to answer your questions about all those cameras you are going to
need to know their multiplier numbers.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

So, if I understand what you are saying, a digital camera with a 1.5x
multiplier and a zoom lens that would be equivalent to a film camera with a
50-200 zoom lens would have both the same angle of view and magnification
factor. In other words, at the same equivalent focal length settings you
could not tell the difference in a picture taken with both type cameras?


"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Mr.Bolshoy Huy wrote:
I would like to know if 3x zoom is the same on digital and film P&S
cameras.

Yes, but it may not be what you think. That 3X means 3 times closer.
The question is three times closer than what. In the case of a zoom lens
it
means the subject will appear three times closer at one end of the zoom
than
the other, or if you like three times further away than the other. It
does
not tell you anything about how close it really will look.

Most people think it is like a pair of binoculars that may be
identified
as 7X or 10X. In that case the 7X will make the subject appear to be 7
times closer. That 3X does not tell you a thing about how it will appear
to
the camera.

35 mm film cameras have a 1X (that is the picture will look much like
it
did to you ) at about 47 mm. So a 50X150 zoom will be able to take a
photo
from about normal to three times closer. Most lenses however are likely
to
be something like 35mm to 105mm so they can make something appear further
away than normal (very helpful for indoor groups) or about 2 times closer.

With digital, it gets more complex. There is no one size film for
digitals so what it normal for one digital may be telephoto or wide angle
for another. The accepted method of getting around this is the
"multiplier"
effect. So if you have that 35-105 mm lens on a digital with a 1.6
multiplier you will have about the same effect as that 50X150mm zoom on a
film camera.

So to answer your questions about all those cameras you are going to
need to know their multiplier numbers.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Jeremy wrote:
"Mr.Bolshoy Huy" wrote in message

I am more concerned with a powerful zoom than a digital vs. film debate
or # of MPs


I would like to point out that digital cameras with long zoom lenses tend to
exhibit "purple fringing" or chromatic aberration. There are optical
tradeoffs that must be made in designing such lenses, and you may not be
pleased with the results.

I thought purple fringing was a wide angle issue?



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