zoom lens

American  

noun

1. (in a camera or motion-picture projector) a lens assembly whose focal length can be continuously adjusted to provide various degrees of magnification without any loss of focus, thus combining the features of wide-angle, normal, and telephoto lenses.

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zoom lens British  

noun

1. a lens system that allows the focal length of a camera lens to be varied continuously without altering the sharpness of the image See also telephoto lens

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Etymology

Origin of zoom lens

First recorded in 1935–40

Compare meaning

How does zoom-lens compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• telephoto lens vs. zoom lens

Example Sentences

Conventional cameras that use a zoom lens to magnify objects have the disadvantage of focusing only on the target object and not its surroundings.

From Science Daily • May 30, 2024

I was the one who suggested the Alhambra, so it comes down to whether we want a zoom lens or a wide angle.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2022

It's a gravitational effect; the astronomical equivalent of a zoom lens for a telescope.

From BBC • Jul. 11, 2022

Joining this camera at release is a new XF 150-600mm super-telephoto zoom lens costing $1,999, with an XF 18-120mm powered zoom due out later in mid-September for $899.

From The Verge • May 31, 2022

Lenses are found in a huge array of optical instruments, ranging from a simple magnifying glass to the eye to a camera’s zoom lens.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015