How precise is the zoom? The test videos I see it seems to move in large bursts. Am I able to zoom in very small increments?
1803578
Not very small increments, but you can control the zoom if you work the dial with short moves. For a small camera, it does take good clear pictures. I am satisfied with this camera.
1803579
Yes, my experience with the zoom has been very positive. It is very fluid and steady. Love the range on this camera. Takes amazing photos.
1803580
You have to play a little with the zoom lever. It is easy to over zoom if you push the lever to far.
1803581
The zoom is a little touchy but it would zoom in smaller increments when you get the feel of it but the picture quality is great and the camera fits in your pocket which is a big plus
565036
Hello.Would anyone please comment on the zoom function of the camera? I intend to take pictures from a far distance. Thank you. Corinne
160800
Thanks, John. Now if only I had pockets big enough both to purchase the S5 IS *and* to hold its bulk. :-/ So I guess I'm still wondering: Just what the heck IS the reason none of the pocket-size digi-cams seem to allow zooming in video mode? Too expensive? Too noisy? Simply not possible due to some technical constraint? If anyone has a good answer, I'd still like to know. Thanks for the good discussion so far...
2275220
It is very slow taking a picture. When using the zoom I usually find that the subject has moved before the picture is captured. If I take dozens of pictures I usually end up with a handful of useful ones. Very disappointing.
784781
The zoom is amazing. As for wide its goes wide like other cameras. But doesnt do any kind of panoramic that i can tell. Just put it on a stand and turn camera slightly after each shot and you can make your own panoramic.
2097363
Yes, the 890IS can zoom while filming, no problem. It's quite amazing actually - in a quiet environment, you can hear motor when you zoom, but the motor noise isn't audible in the recorded movie. Unfortunately, you do hear the sound of the zoom control lever, which leaves an audible click each time you move or release it. The still camera is a 5.0x optical zoom, but for some reason, the zoom range when recording movies is only indicated as 4.0x. The quality of the video clips looks really good but the colors seem overly vivid vs still modes. I don't know if this is a byproduct of the avi compression or perhaps I don't have the setting right yet. I've had the camera for 2 weeks and not had a chance to dig in really deep yet.
1567841
Yes, the zoom has variable speed.I am not using it at the moment and I am planing to sell it. If you are interested please contact me: producciones1.78@hotmail.es
938547
Yes. You can zoom, but you can't adjust the zoom once you've started recording.
92049
Well, it only has digital zoom, and no real optical zooming (the lens does not move). I never use digital zoom, as it makes an already grainy image (from this camera anyway) even less sharp. If I wanted to "zoom" I would do it in post-processing in your computer's video editor, as you can crop at will.
2122055
it works well.. you just have to move forward and back for the lens to detect the objecting, zooming didn't work with my lens, I've only tried it out with the 18-55mm lens. the picture looks clear.
1815039
Sorry - only used the video once or twice and did not work well so not sure I ever tried zoom in that mode
1158271
yes just move the lens to zoom in and out....also http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=video .....,the free version works great
1672506
I have tried and can't get it to zoom in and out during video recording. Hope this helps.
101125
Thank you for your response. I seem to do OK with close up but longer focal lengths give me a hard time. I may send it in just for them to check it out. I like the camera but I havent ever been so stymied before.
1158269
Nope- its a horrible camera. I had the same problem. The only way to zoom is move the camera itself.
1815038
Yes, you may zoom in video mode. However, it is not the full 30x. Not sure how much, but it works well for me.
982274
I think the video capabilities are very good. I did a short video shot of the moon using the zoom and it came out great. You could see the moon tracking across the sky. Very cool.