Zoom in movie mode

[Macsax]

Do any of the digital point and shoot camera's allow you to zoom in while using movie mode? I don't see this feature listed in camera desriptions so if yes, how do you tell? Thanks

[David Metsky]

It's listed in the reviews, so you have to read them individually.

In general, only the physically larger ultrazooms (Canon S3/S5, Fuji S6000 and S700, Kodak Z712, Olympus SP550 and SP560 sort of - no sound, Sony H9) have the ability. There are a few smaller cameras, like the Panasonic TZ1 but they dropped the feature in the TZ3. The problem is the mics picking up sounds from the zoom motors; the camera has to be large enough and quiet enough to move the mic far away from the source of the noise.

Most new Canons allow digital zoom during filming. I'm guessing others do as well but I'm not familiar with them.

[leaftye]

Even when there aren't motors, like in the Fuji S6000/9000/9500, the focus motors are still an issue....unless you set it to manual focus and have a manual focus ring.