Do you own a Sony a7S II or a7 III, a Sony a7R II or a7R III, a Sony a9, or perhaps a recent Sony a6000 or RX-series camera? If so, have you ever tried the camera’s Clear Image Zoom function? If you haven’t, you’re not alone. In fact, I didn’t know about it until recently and I’ve been shooting with many of the abovementioned Sony cameras for quite some time.
Clear Image Zoom is an in-camera function that enables you to zoom in 2x with any lens you own. The best part? Unlike cropping and normal interpolation, you lose little if any detail when you zoom in, your file size remains unchanged, and there’s zero light loss—the maximum aperture of your f/1.4 lens remains f/1.4 even when you double the image magnification.
The photographs used to illustrate this post were captured using a tripod-mounted Sony Alpha a7R II with the ISO set to 100. The lens was stopped down 3 stops from wide open (theoretically the sharpest aperture setting for most lenses), and image stabilization turned off. I also set the shutter for a 2-second delay to further minimize camera shake.
Photographs © 2019 Allan Weitz
Captured with a Voigtländer 15mm f/4.5 Ultra-wide Heliar normal, and zoomed in 2x using Sony Clear Image Zoom function, effectively turning a 15mm ultra-wide into a more modest 30mm f/4.5 semi-wide
It’s important to note that Sony’s Clear Image Zoom feature is digital zoom; the difference from the usual is how Sony’s engineers leverage the information from the sensor to punch into the image effectively without losing detail. Without getting technical, Sony’s engineers describe the Clear Image Zoom function as being “interpolation on steroids” involving “advanced algorithms” and a “unique pattern recognition database” using Sony’s exclusive By Pixel Super Resolution Technology. Call it what you may, Sony Clear Image Zoom works and it works extremely well.
Cropped detail (above) of the street scene captured normally with a 15mm ultra-wide lens, and cropped detail (below) of the same image area captured at 2x using Sony’s Clear Image Zoom function, and displayed at half the magnification. Quality-wise, any differences are difficult to notice.
Sony’s Clear Image Zoom function delivers notably better definition than digital zoom or post-capture cropping. Even when pixel-peeping at 100%, the differences—if any—are seldom perceptible. What is noticeable is a slight increase in perspective compression when zoomed in to 2x, which is exactly what you’d expect when increasing the focal length of a lens or cropping.
To activate the Clear Image Zoom function, go to the main menu and under the cogwheel icon find the Zoom Setting, and set it to Clear Image Zoom. There are a couple of ways to engage the Clear Image Zoom function from here, but the quickest and easiest method is to dedicate a Custom button for this function by going back to the cogwheel menu, select Custom Key Settings, and select Zoom under any of the available the custom buttons.
On my camera, I dedicated custom button #4 for Clear Image Zoom. Once engaged, I could zoom in or out by pressing the rear control wheel left or right. To zoom in or out quicker, every time you press the control wheel up or down, it automatically zooms in 50%—press twice and it zooms directly to 2x magnification.
If there’s a downside to using Sony’s Clear Image Zoom function, it would have to be you can only shoot JPEGs—no raw. Depending on your shooting preferences, this may or may not be a big deal for you. I personally shoot JPEG and raw but, for me, having the ability to critically frame my photographs in-camera is worth the tradeoff. For videographers shooting with fixed prime lenses, in addition to enabling zoom-like camera movements, Sony’s Clear Image Zoom function enables you to tighten your frame lines in situations where camera movement and/or repositioning is limited.
Do you own a Sony camera with Clear Image View functionality? If so, have you tried it out? If you have, what do you think about it? Let us know in the Comment field, below.
35 Comments
Thanks for all the info on Clear Image Zoom (CIZ). I've noticed that there isn't a way, that I can find, to turn this function off. I have A7Rii with a Sony FE 3.5-5.6/28-70 OSS Lens. I shoot hundreds of images primarily trying to learn photogrammetry and have tried to use JPEG to save space on the memory card. What I end up with is a normal image then a 2x image of the same shot repeated many times. Out of 100 shots, a random 40% will be a 2X image and the rest will be normal. The only way I've found to turn CIZ off is to shoot in RAW+JPEG which fills my memory card (128Gb) fast. Any suggestions?
To deactivate the Clear Image Zoom function on the Sony Alpha a7R II Mirrorless Digital Camera, go to the main menu by pressing the [MENU] button, and under the [Custom Settings] cogwheel icon, find the [Zoom Setting] option and set it to [Optical Zoom Only].
On my A9II, I deactivate it by dialing the bar all the way to the left and the letter "c" disappears.
Very helpful. I normally shoot in jpeg and raw, but this is a nice feature. I use an A9II for action and sports and a 7RIV for portrait and landscape. I generally shoot normally with the RIV then take a few extras in CIZ. Sometimes those work out the best.
We're pleased to learn this mode works well for you. Thanks for reading and taking the time to post your comment.
I am a hobbyist video shooter and I find this feature immensely useful. I can use APSC crop mode on my Sony A7C and then use the clear image zoom for an effective 1.5 times 1.5 zoom giving me a maximum of 2.25 times the zoom factor. Using a light weight Tamron 70-300mm lens I am getting 675mm of amazing telephoto range using this clear zoom function without much loss in image quality. Now I have a light weight full-frame camera gear that I can carry around for my birding, wildlife and landscape videography! I find the clear zoom function more useful in videos than still since I don't have raw photo capability with it. I shoot raw with APSC crop mode for photos.
Hi, Suchan! We're glad this article was useful to you. Thank you for reading and for taking the time to post your thoughts and comments. Keep enjoying your video adventures!
recently received the Sony A7IV and there appears to be no Clear Image Zoom capability - I have enjoyed this feature on the 7SIII
It's on page 16 of the menu. Video mode, red camera, item 10 "zoom", "zoom range". I don't know if it is a different location on tha a7siii, because I don't have one.
The Sony Alpha a7 IV Mirrorless Digital Camera does have the Clear Image Zoom feature. You would access it through the camera's menu by going to MENU → Camera/Video (Shooting) → [Zoom] → [Zoom Range] → Select [Clear Image Zoom] or [Digital Zoom].
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Do note the Clear Image Zoom function is not available when shooting in the following situations:
[File Format] is set to [RAW] or [RAW & JPEG]/[RAW & HEIF].
[Rec Frame Rate] is set to [120p]/[100p].
During slow-motion/quick-motion shooting with the [Frame Rate] set to [120fps]/[100fps]
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When using Clear Image Zoom, Face/Eye Prior. in AF, Face Priority in Multi Metering, and Tracking function (such as Touch Tracking) are not available.
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https://bit.ly/3EXDqzz
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This is AMAZONG. BUT...there's another limitation aside from not being able to shoot RAW. It seems to only work with primes. I have tried this with the 16-60 kit lens on an a6300. "Not Supported" is the error message. Ditto with the 18-105 "G". Would be interested in knowing if there's any Zoom this works on. It would be nifty with, say, the 18-135...could take the place of my Ultrazoom digicam.
I contacted Sony concerning your inquiry. According to Sony, the Clear Image Zoom feature will work with zoom lenses, and can be used with both the the Sony Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens and the Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens. However, they did state the following. The Clear Image Zoom function does not operate in the following situations:
• In Movie mode
• In Sweep Shooting mode
• When the Smile Shutter function is activated
• When Drive Mode is set to Cont. Shooting, Spd Priority Cont. or Bracket: Cont.
• When Face Detection function is activated
• When Quality is set to RAW or RAW & JPEG
• When ISO is set to Multi Frame Noise Reduction
You may wish to check your camera's settings to see if any of the above are activated. If so, cancelling the above settings may work for your usage needs to enable support for the Clear Image Zoom feature.
Clear image zoom is not available when shooting in RAW mode - which makes sense since you could get the same results by processing your RAW file.
Thanks for weighing in! We appreciate tips from our readers, always.
I have a sony a99ii with a 28-300 Tamron lens. I use this feature o all of my travel photography. I got a photo of an Ibex on the Gobi while in Mongolia. From a mile away you can't see much. with 2.0 clear image zoom...what a shot! I just today purchased a Sony A7rIV with a Sony 24-240 lens. One of the deciding factors for the camers was tyhat it had to have clear focus zoom. The 99ii was still a great camera, but with 'A' mount going out, it was time to upgrade. Besides features, and general product quality, Sony gets my business every time. I started with Minolta!
I am sure I am missing something, with a Prime lens I am able to zoom but a soon as I press the button the zoom cancelled out , I changed over to jpeg, did the clear selection , but still unable to hold zoom
I have tested this feature and I was not able to see a difference between using clear image zoom shot and cropping in post except for a little bit of extra sharpness, which can be done with a simple click in post with even a basic image viewer. If you use clear image zoom on video recording, your video quality will suffer. If you are only viewing images and videos on mobile phone or posting to social media, then you won't be able to see the difference. Clear image zoom also disables phase detection focusing so you are better off shooting normally and cropping in post. I have tested this with the a5100, a6000, a6100 and a6400 with zoom and prime lenses. I had even programmed a button to engage clear image zoom quickly but for zooming but disabled it after much I ruined a few shots with this feature. Be aware that when using a power zoom lens and clear image zoom is enabled, clear image zoom engages when zooming using the zoom ring once you reach the long end of the lens. One thing to note is that when using power zoom lenses, the clear image zoom is kind of smooth but when using non power zoom lenses, it zooms in steps so it is not good for video as it makes the video jerky.
Hi support team,
Does clear image zoom support on video recording?? also will this feature available on new A7C camera ?
Thanks
Clear Image Zoom is supported when recording video and is featured in the A7C.
Make that 'Clear Image Zoom' in the previous post .... my bad.
Working with Clear Zoom on a A7Riii. I find it disables autofocus. Is there something I'm missing that requires me to use manual focus?
If you haven't done so already, you would need to turn on the manual focus feature. This is explained on the following page:
https://bit.ly/32EUBFW
I've used it successfully with the A7 iii with the 200-600 lens.
Great 'extra' to have, but only JPG and single shot.
I tried this with an a7r3 and a 24 - 240 zoom. It does not work while shooting raw.
Hey Greg,
You are (unfortunately) absolutely correct.
That's the one drawback of this otherwise wonderful feature - you can't shoot raw.
Like they say "there's no free lunch".
Perhaps the next incarnation will include raw... let's hope for it.
Hi, I have the A7R3, that clear image zoom works very well indeed with it, I'm wondering if it will work with my 200-600 zoom? that would be something else for sure, if it can be done, I'd like advice on how to do it...cheers everyone, enjoy!
According to Sony, you can use the Clear Image Zoom with Sony lenses with a power zoom or Sony non-power zoom lenses. While it may be possible to use it along with the Sony FE 200-600mm lens, it has not been tested to our knowledge. The link below shows the set up for the Clear Image Zoom function. https://bit.ly/3hexiYA
Did this work?!?!
if some one said the quarlity image not change ( detail ) Im not agree with it's change a little as my opinion .
Great tip. Also works on the A7II.
Doesn't work in burst mode?
In a word...Absolutely.
AW
Hi, I hope you can help me.
I heard about this function just a couple of days ago, I have had an a6000 for a couple of years !
I can't seem to get it working.
I have changed the settings to Clear image zoom and assigned zoom to custom button 2, but I'm unable to see the zoom scroll option, camera just takes a regular photo. Which mode should the camera be in ?
As you can tell, I am a novice still ! Any ideas where I am going wrong please ?
Thanks Trevor
In this case, it would be best to e-mail us to [email protected] or visit us via Live Chat for better assistance.