The use of camera phone is widespread today. As a compact dual purpose facility, the demands for camera phones are increasing every year. Various types and models of camera phones incorporating innovative technology are offered to the consumers, who are often caught in a dilemma of choosing the right one. Many of them are getting confused by the claims or counterclaims made by the various manufacturing companies, projecting the superior qualities that are attributed to their respective products. The fact remains that most of the camera phone users are lay persons, whose prime purpose of camera phone, or no camera phone, is communication. For them, the additional facility of a camera in the mobile phone is nothing but a token of fancy, if not a luxury. But once the user gets acquainted with digital photography, quality or perfection of the output attains importance. The consumers, in their enthusiasm to master the art of photography, start learning about the special features that are incorporated in their camera phones and also about the positive impacts made by them.

Generally, the consumer encounters the problem of a plethora of technical jargons or terminologies, while shopping for the camera phone. Those who are not well versed in the subject will have to consult the dealers or friends in this connection. The advertisements of the manufacturing companies make use of jargons to describe the advantages of the consumers, as well as the qualitative superiority of their products. Mega pixels is something concerned with the digital cameras. Pictures are composed of pixels that are arranged in particular patterns. More mega pixels indicate the capability of the camera to capture crisper and clearer pictures. Other factors like auto focus, xenon flash, etc are also mentioned. But when coming to digital zoom and optical zoom, the average consumer may find the terms confusing.

What is this digital zoom, about which the advertisements speak aloud? What is the optical zoom and how it differs from digital zoom? Internet is a good source for consumers to learn about the relevant factors that make the camera phone qualitatively superior. All digital cameras will have digital zoom, which gives an enlarged version of a part of the image seen in the view finder. It will, in no way help to enhance the quality of the pictures captured in the camera. It is the optical zoom that contributes towards the quality of the output. The optical zoom will bring the object apparently closer to the camera. This will help to bring out a perfect shot even from a distant point. The photographer will be able to capture a 'close up' view from a farther position and yet obtain a good result. Optical zoom is an essential factor, which enhances the quality of the photograph. A digital 5MP camera phone without optical zoom support can never achieve that perfection rendered by compact digital cameras that come with effective optical zoom, as far as performance is concerned.

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