Weekly poll: which is the best focal length for telephoto cameras?

27 October 2019
Periscope designs enabled 5x optical zoom, but they are quite rare. More classic lens arrangements achieve 2x and 3x. But which is better?

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It depends on how far you are from what you'll want to capture lmao so I'll go with the 5x because obviously it can do all the choices.

    5x is the sweet point. Why?because you can do 2,3x digital zoom with the main camera with barely any details compromise so if you need less than 5x zoom just use the digital zoom of main camera but for 5x main camera wont do the trick and 5x optical zoom can give you a decent hybrid zoom for up to 10x . Anything about 10x will just look bad and forced.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • LQw
      • 27 Oct 2019

      I have a pocket camera with true 3x zoom.
      It uses 1/2.3" sensor.
      It wipes the floor with phones because of better sensor and lenses.
      Not counting the dedicated image processor.

      But the module is huge, like that Samsung Zoom ...

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • mAZ
        • 27 Oct 2019

        Actually I'd like a 2X and a 3X. Something like a 24-70mm would be great. Add an ultrawide angle at 12mm and that would be even better. No need for more.

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          • Neelabh110
          • rJE
          • 27 Oct 2019

          I voted for the 3x Optical Zoom because 2x was an old trend and the 5x just seems too much. I mean, yeah, it is pretty cool but using in real life wouldn't be much of a use. For example, you're shooting someone's portrait in a room and you know that, well, zooming in will give you better Bokeh and you have to go or move back alot to shoot it, right?? That is just my experience with it. So, 3x for me..

            Variable zoom like 3x-5x would be best, because not every time you need the same focal length also ability to zoom farther is better than most with 2x optical.
            Its not just about zoom though, quality also matter, whats the point of zoom if quality is poor, not to mention low light. Because of that mate30pro is better than p30pro, you get less zoom(still better than competition though) but quality goes up, not just awesome processing but also capability in night.
            If variable hw optical zoom means smaller aperture(I mean bigger f number), its better to use multiple but brighter lens like 3x+5x and hybrid processing on top. The same goes for super wide, quality matters more than ability to bring the most wide field.
            2x got obviously no point with hi res sensors, the rest is fight about quality vs ability.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 0@3
              • 27 Oct 2019

              I swear, looking at the results it seems as people voted without first reading the info generously provided

                I picked 3x to me it seems to be the sweet spot cause 5x is too far while 2x is near and most Quad bayer cameras take good 2x photos with digital zoom

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                  • Dometalican
                  • q$J
                  • 27 Oct 2019

                  While 3X is practical, Oppo with their Periscope camera proved that 5X optical is achievable and still with good quality. I wish I knew what lens/sensor it used because a random 13MP sensor is killing my curiosity. Lol.

                  I don't take many zoom photos but there are people that want those details zoomed in. Digital Zoom isn't bad but at the end of the day, a giant sensor capturing everything where you can crop the picture zoomed in might be the best 'digital' zoom.

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                    • Anonymous
                    • 0p}
                    • 27 Oct 2019

                    Higher is better. My ideal is 5-10x zoom for when I go to kiddie pool.. gotta get those details high

                      Nick Tagataka, 27 Oct 2019The article does not contain the comparison between 3x and ... moreThe article contains a comparison between the Huawei and the Oppo, as you were discussing earlier. In the comparison, the Oppo wins with its x6 zoom where there is little quality drop. On the x10 hybrid zoom, there's a massive loss of detail/quality, and it's not very useful. However, Huawei's x10-hybrid does perform better than Oppo's.

                      Also, you can see the x2 and x5 zoom photos, so you can extrapolate from that what a x3 shot would encompass. My point was to show you with photos that a x5 optical zoom is far more useful, as others have also pointed out in the comments.

                        The results are sensible as of yet, with the majority choosing 5x zoom. 2x is practically useless, and 3x is the bare minimum you need to get a decent view of faraway objects. 5x is truly the best option for now, though I would like to see more going forward.

                        Since they keep raising the amount of cameras, how about two or more zoom sensors for mid-range & long-range? Say 3x & 10x individual lenses. Something like that would be very versatile and satisfy most users.

                          Kangal, 27 Oct 2019Here's the comparison: https://www.anandtech.com/show/1433... moreThe article does not contain the comparison between 3x and 5x zoom, what's your point?

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                            • AnonD-558092
                            • 45}
                            • 27 Oct 2019

                            Digital zoom is cropping and is awful.
                            A great zoom is better because you can always go back if the zoom is too big, but you can't always go forward if the zoom is not big enough.
                            The best of the best remains variable focal length like proper cameras but that requires space.

                            However the sensor size must follow accordingly, otherwise the quality will be lower

                              Kangal, 27 Oct 2019Here's the comparison: https://www.anandtech.com/show/1433... morePointless Black-White cameras? I so doubt it. If you look at Nokia 9 PureView's camera, three of them are Black-White, and it was that three B-W cameras that help the 9 PureView to achieve that crazy level of dynamic range and details. Some say it's due to the software algorithm, but that's more to the software side. It's the same story with Xperia XZ2 Premium against Xperia 1, I still think that the XZ2 Premium produces far better photos than the 1 mainly because of the secondary B-W camera.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • LQw
                                • 27 Oct 2019

                                People vote for 5x but ignore the weaker hardware used.

                                Also , it os pointless to shoot something that is 150m away if quality in the end will look like 0.8MP photo.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • LQw
                                  • 27 Oct 2019

                                  400mm .....

                                    Nick Tagataka, 27 Oct 20193x telephoto lens is the most practical one, because up to ... moreHere's the comparison:
                                    https://www.anandtech.com/show/14335/zoom-zoom-testing-10x-hybrid-zoom-in-dublin-with-the-huawei-p30-pro-and-oppo-reno-10x-zoom/2

                                    The x3 doesn't make as much impact, just have a look at the photos with the castle. A x5 optical zoom is much more useful than a x3 optical zoom. I've been saying that for years, a telephoto lens is mostly hogwash for more revenue/marketing, just like the pointless Black-White cameras. I'd much prefer an Ultrawide, or a proper Optical Zoom... you know, things I'm actually inclined to use daily.

                                      3x telephoto lens is the most practical one, because up to 2x zoom factor the camera can rely on super-res zoom that is used on the likes of Pixel 3 or Mate 30 Pro. 5x surely sounds cooler, but it's not as often used as other magnifications

                                        SpiritWolf, 27 Oct 2019And that's why it's called HYBRID zoom. 'Normal' digital zo... moreHe's not wrong though.
                                        "Hybrid zoom" has become a blanket statement, or marketing jargon, to try to impress consumers into buying the product without getting into the legal hot-water of promising actual zoom that traditionally have been associated by people (optical).

                                        And yes I agree, Google's implementation is pretty impressive. They're able to use software ("AI" haha) to guess the image and what each pixel should be. So it's definitely much more sophisticated than a simple digital zoom. However, other OEMs are basically using digital zoom and slapping the same "Hybrid" moniker to their marketing. So the term is really watered down.

                                        The gist is, you either have to only look for the optical zoom figures, OR, you have to disregard all the specs/marketing and have to see the reviews yourself before purchase. Otherwise you will get screwed by the OEM and feel cheated by the hype/marketing. And we already know how the masses/general consumers behave when purchasing their phone: No Reviews, Minimal Overview of the Specifications.

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