Why can't digital cameras zoom while taking video?

Question

With 8Gbyte SD cards becoming common, you can record over an hour of video on your camera --- except ---- you can't zoom while recording !! you have to stop, zoom, and restart. Nobody would do this with a camcorder, why do they do it with a digicam?

Answer 1

I would think there is the potential for noise if it is optical zoom. In addition, whether it is a digital camera or a camcorder, the recording quality is poor while zooming. For good films, it is generally recommended to stop recording and then begin again once you have zoomed.  Think about a movie, when have you seen the camera zooming in while they are filming? Very rarely. (I've seen it in some old 60's movies and it looks bad) Many people don't stop filming but that doesn't mean they shouldn't. ;)

Answer 2

The panasonic lumix FZ-50 that I'm using have a manual zoom so I can zoom while recording Video and they also have autofocus function as the camcorder have.

This model FZ-50 is a very good model to use as still photography and filming Video

Answer 3

The noise from the lenses moving is too loud inside the camera. It would completely obstruct the sounds recorded.

Digital zoom should be allowed though.

Answer 4

That must just be 'feature' of your camera. I remember borrowing a Canon S3IS back in the day when it first came out and I took video clips of my kids zooming in and out to capture that moment... but I bought a DLSR instead ;)

Check your camera specs on the manufacturer's website, but there are cameras that do what you ask....