Difference between digital and optical zoom: Digital zoom just multiplies the pixels on the image so that it seems larger than the acutal image (or part of the image if the display can not accomodate the whole amlified image) but the image resolution becomes poorer. Optical zoom actually enlarges the image size on the CCD by projecting the target at longer distance larger. That is with optical zoom you can take pictures of smaller object from a longer distace without compromising the image resolution.