In a digital camara?

Question

what is 3x optical/5.7x digital zoom mean? i whant to buy a camara but im looking at specs help me out will you.

Answer 1

"3X optical" means that the lens can zoom to 3 times as close as its farthest setting.  Any number accompanied by "digital zoom" means the manufacturer hopes to impress you by including a feature that is totally worthless!  Just ignore it.

Answer 2

Just ignore any claim of "digital' zoom.  Using it only degrades your images.  Optical zoom is that actual zoom range of the lens. Digital is when the camera crops the image in the camera.  IF you need to do that, you are better off doing it later on your computer using it large screen and a photo program.