Camcorder zoom vs digital camera zoom

[htid]

Just a quick question. My girlfriend is wanting to buy the Samsung WB 550 digital camera which has a 10x optical zoom, so we went into a shop and looked at it. I have a Canon HV20 HD camcorder which also has a 10x optical zoom, but when I stood the 2 together in the shop and zoomed in on the same point, my camcorder showed a closer image, obviously suggesting my camcorder was zoomed in further. Both were definitely using only the optical zoom, so is there any reason why my camcorder seemed to zoom further?

Cheers

[Flibb]

10x zoom is basicaly 10x the widest.
so
if the widest the lens goes is 22mm, then it will range from 22-220mm
if the widest is 50mm, it will be 50-500mm.

[htid]

Thanks a lot

[Gerrard]

Ah, did always wonder about stuff like that. So my 18-250mm lens has a higher zoom level, but a 150-500mm would make object appear closer because of its longer focal length?

[Syd]

Ah, did always wonder about stuff like that. So my 18-250mm lens has a higher zoom level, but a 150-500mm would make object appear closer because of its longer focal length?

The 18-250 has a very wide range as it will go down to 18mm (pretty wide) to 250mm (telephoto)

The 150-500 is a medium to ultra long telephoto - and boy at 500mm you could get close

[Blastuk]

Ah, did always wonder about stuff like that. So my 18-250mm lens has a higher zoom level, but a 150-500mm would make object appear closer because of its longer focal length?

18-250 would equal approx 13.9x zoom

150-500 would equal approx 3.3x zoom

and yes, the 150-500 would magnify the picture a lot more

[Funkstar]

Zoom multiplier is basically meaningless. 10x what?

I find camcorders to be much to narrow when fully 'zoomed out', but that could be because I'm used to my 11-16 Tokina on my SLR. Fortunately you do get wide angle adapters for most camcorders, 0.7x is the normal reduction in focal length without going fish eye.

[Bobster]

Zoom multiplier is basically meaningless. 10x what?

yes but to your average consumer its a big number so it has to be good!!