32 VQT3H43 VQT3H43 33 Taking pictures with zoom
Recording Mode:
Zoom In/Out
Capture a
wider area
(wide-angle)
Enlarge
the subject
(telephoto)
Focus
range
Zoom ratio
(approx.)
Zoom bar

●Zoom speed can be adjusted.

Zoom slowly → turn slightly
Zoom quickly → turn completely
You can zoom in up to 16 times with “Optical Zoom”, and up to 33.8 times with “Extended
Optical Zoom” (pictures only) with lower picture quality. To zoom further, you can use
[i.ZOOM] or [Digital Zoom].
Do not block the lens barrel movement
while zooming.

■Zoom types

Type Optical Zoom Extended Optical Zoom
Maximum
ratio 16 × Up to 33.8 ×
(Depending on the picture size)
Picture quality
deterioration No No
(However, the picture size is reduced)
Operation
conditions None Set [Picture Size] in the [Rec] menu to a
setting for which is displayed (→70)
Screen
display is displayed
Type i.Zoom Digital Zoom
Maximum
ratio Approx. 1.3 × the Optical Zoom or
Extended Optical Zoom Up to 4 × the original zoom ratio
Picture quality
deterioration Almost none Yes
Conditions,
etc. i.Zoom functions in the following cases.
• ([Intelligent Auto] Mode)
• Scene Mode (except for [High Sens.],
[Hi-Speed Burst], [Flash Burst], [Pin
Hole])
• When [i.Resolution] in the [Rec] menu
is set to [i.ZOOM] (→34)
When [Digital Zoom] in the [Rec] menu is
set to [ON] (→36)
Screen
display is displayed Digital Zoom area is displayed

●What is Extended Optical Zoom (EZ)?

If, for example, set to [3M ] (equivalent to 3 million pixels), a picture will only be taken
of a 3M-sized central part of a 14 M (equivalent to 14.1 million pixels) area, meaning
that the picture can be enlarged further.

●The zoom ratio and the zoom bar displayed on the screen are estimates.

●In certain Recording Modes, “Tele macro” function (→42) is activated when maximum

zoom ratio is reached.

●A greater degree of distortion may be generated by taking wider-angled pictures of

close objects, while using more telescopic zoom may result in more coloring appearing
around the outlines of objects.

●The camera may make a rattling noise and vibrate when the zoom lever is operated -

this is not a fault.

●Extended Optical Zoom cannot be used in the following cases:

[Macro Zoom], motion picture, [Transform], [High Sens.], [Hi-Speed Burst], [Flash
Burst], [Pin Hole], and [Photo Frame] Scene Modes

●Digital Zoom cannot be used in the following modes:

([Intelligent Auto] Mode), Scene Modes ([Transform], [High Sens.], [Hi-Speed Burst],
[Flash Burst], [Pin Hole], [Film Grain] and [Photo Frame])

● [Zoom Resume] allows zoom ratio to be memorized even if power is turned off.