what are Optical lens?

Answer 1

Most pocket digital cameras (non-SLR type) have two different types of zoom capabilities: Optical & Digital. Optical zoom uses the lens elements to make objects appear closer by using the zoom feature on the camera (very similar to how a magnifying glass works).

Digital zoom actually uses the cameras processor to interpolate (a fancy word for estimate) the image based on what it sees and then magnify it electronically. The difference between the two is significant with the optical zoom being of much better quality.

The downside with optical zooms are weight and cost. Because you are using glass (typically) lens elements it causes the camera to be a little larger and bulkier. Because of their precise nature the lens elements can get expensive.

Digital zoom is cheaper, usually has a higher zoom rate (greater magnification) and poorer quality (grainy/blurry) especially when you have a picture enlarged to 5x7 or 8x10.

Less expensive cameras will almost always use digital zoom, some middle of the roads will use a combination of both, while the higher end cameras use just optical.

My advice is to spend a little extra and go for the optical zoom, your pictures will thank you.

Answer 2

I think what you're asking is what is optical zoom and what is digital zoom in a digital camera.
Optical zoom is a mechanical zoom lens that moves in and out to change focal length. Digital zoom just zooms the pixels. Optical is far better as you lose picture resolution with digital zoom.

Answer 3

Any lens (piece of glass) that is concave or convex, meaning curved in our outwards, is an optical lens. Used in eyeglasses. Cameras, Telescopes, etc..

Answer 4

lens you can see out of. made out of glass usually.