Is lack of optical zoom a big deal ?

[bitek]

I got my first Samsung. Is not having optical zoom a big deal? Do you regret not having one on your phone? If you had a choice would you pick up regular S10 just to get optical zoom ? I am still debating if I should get regular S10 or not ? That curved screen on S10 turns me off. I like simple flat screen. I think curved screen is a gimmick.

 

[Fred98TJ]

Only you can make that decision. What may be a big deal to one person, may not be a big deal to someone else.

 

[dpham00]

I had the s9+ and honestly the optical zoom wasn't a deal breaker when getting the s10e.

If you need 2x in optimal lighting then it is a little better. Not enough to sway me.

If you are in less than ideal situations then sometimes the digital 2x is equal to or even better than optical.

To be fair i am only discussing the s9+ since i don't have the s10+

 

[Morty2264]

I'm going to be getting the S10e (when my Pixel 2 unfortunately stops working) and I'm okay with it lacking this specific feature. The camera is still really good despite not having that. But as the user above me stated, that's all up to the individual user's impressions.

 

[Fred98TJ]

This whole “optical zoom” thing is just a bunch of marketing BS.
Neither the S10 nor the S10 Plus have “optical zoom”. They simply have a 3rd camera (long) so there is no optical zoom. Only digital zoom between one camera focal length to the other cameras focal length, then the camera app simply switches which camera it’s using.
Pretty much all phone manufacturers does this marketing crap.
FWIW, the Huawei P30 Pro does have a very limited range optical zoom.

 

[dpham00]

In addition, the zoomed in lens is of inferior quality to the primary lens. In some cases digital zoom will look better than using the zoom lens.