zoom lens

noun

: a lens (as of a camera or projector) in which the image size can be varied continuously while the image remains in focus

Examples of zoom lens in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web All the major lenses—main, wide-angle, and the rectangular periscope zoom lens—live in one big cutout now. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 8 Sep. 2023 The Apollo 11 lunar camera that the team came up with was 17 inches long with a variable focus zoom lens and weighed less than 15 pounds, according to a Westinghouse news release at the time. Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2023 Telephoto 3x instead provides a zoom lens to help users get a clearer view of distant areas such as a mailbox, garage, or shed. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 17 Jan. 2023 The main attraction here is the retractable portrait zoom lens, which physically pops out (see picture below). Ben Sin, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2022 This extra space makes the difference, as the zoom lens can pull off a convincing 2.5x zoom for a focal length of around 65mm. Ben Sin, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2022 The base model Pixel 7 has one black camera oval, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a second camera bar cutout for the zoom lens. Corey Gaskin, Ars Technica, 15 Dec. 2022 Again, rumors say the iPhone 15 Ultra will be the first iPhone to feature a periscope zoom lens. Chris Smith, BGR, 28 Dec. 2022 It was shot in the summer of 2010 along the Peru-Brazil border using a zoom lens that allowed the crew to film from more than a half-mile away. Patrick Morgan, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zoom lens.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zoom lens was in 1932

Dictionary Entries Near zoom lens

Cite this Entry

“Zoom lens.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zoom%20lens. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

zoom lens

noun
: a lens on a camera or projector in which the size of the image can be continuously changed while the image remains in focus

More from Merriam-Webster on zoom lens

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