Optical zoom is the visual magnification it works by using lenses and moveable components. The optical zoom can keeps the quality of picture you take. Differently from digital zoom it works by cropping the image around the zoomed area then enlarges the part that is left. It cause the quality of the picture reduce, but sometime greatly

This means that in term of output with the digital zoon, the image left over is made up of fewer pixels. That would mean the photo would be far too blurry and detail will become lost. You should not use digital zoom feature if possible. This can save you maximum zooming range by extension of the optical zoom.

If you want to closer view by avoid digital zoom feature. One thing you can do, you should try to moving in closer only 1 – 2 meter. But if you can not do that, by setting your camera to high definition photo mode or choose high quality picture and use optical zoom cooperate with digital zoom. The picture from this method is still clear. Because of the high definition picture can compensate error from digital zoom.

In new digital camera, advanced digital zoom technology can try to compensate for this error by adding in sharpening and edge detection. From this feature picture can be use if only post them on website. Because this picture can be lower quality and still appear acceptable when show on website. But if you want to print this picture choose different camera type by upgrade mega-pixels and optical zoom feature is the best choice.