Optical zoom is a feature that alters a cameras focal length, filling more of the frame within the subject.

An optical zoom lens actually moves in and out of the camera to get wide-angle, telephoto and macro (close-up) shots. Unlike a digital zoom, an optical zoom will not reduce the resolution of your photos. These days, a 3x optical zoom is pretty standard, with some models going up to 10x or even 12x.

Optical zoom helps you to concentrate on the subject of the image. It is more useful in taking pictures of flowers, animals, insects etc. It also brings a faraway object nearer and hence is more useful in taking pictures of flora and fauna.

Digital zoom enlarges the subject within an image, while reducing the resolution of an image.

A digital zoom is software inside the camera that enlarges subject in an image. Due to the doubling of pixels the image begins to become fuzzier and fuzzier as you enlarge.

Resolution is made up of building blocks called pixels. A million pixels together are called a mega pixel. Its on the resolution, which is composed of elements sensitive to sunlight, that the image is created. Each of these elements registers one of the points (called pixel) that create the picture.

The resolution of your digital camera determines what you can do with your photos, such as post them online or make prints and enlargements.

Higher the number of pixels the better quality of pictures will be and also gives larger size prints.

There are three types of cameras available: Point and Shoot or Compact, Prosumer and SLRs.

Point and shoot cameras also known as Compact cameras. They are generally small and less expensive as compared to the SLRs. They usually dont have a lot of controls. Point and shoot cameras are quite popular and easy to use. These do not require much effort or creativity on the part of the user. These are useful for sports and scenery shots. These cameras offer more features as compared to the Point and Shoot cameras.

SLRs offer many more features as compared to the Point and Shoot cameras. If you require taking scenery/sports shots an SLR is the right one for you.