Dual lens digital zoom

In a camera operated by a user, a method comprising:

• capturing a first and second image with a first and second sensor, respectively;
• directing light to the first and second sensors with a first and second fixed focal length lens, respectively, wherein the combination of the first sensor and first lens has a first field of view and the combination of the second sensor and second lens has a second field of view, wherein the second fixed focal length is longer than the first fixed focal length and the first field of view is greater than the second field of view;
• and
• using a zoom control that is operable by the user to allow the user to request a desired field of view to produce a zoomed image;
• wherein the combination of the first sensor and the first lens are aligned with the combination of the second sensor and the second lens to allow each to be directed toward the same object;
• wherein the zoomed image is produced from the first image or the second image based on the size of the requested field of view relative to the size of the second field of view;
• and
• wherein the depth of field for the combination of the first sensor and the first lens is the same as the depth of field for the combination of the second sensor and the second lens.

In a camera operated by a user, a method comprising:

• capturing a first and second image with a first and a second sensor, respectively;
• directing light to the first and second sensors with a first and a second lens, respectively, wherein the combination of the first sensor and first lens has a first field of view and the combination of the second sensor and second lens has a second field of view, wherein the focal length of the second lens is longer than the focal length of the first lens and the first field of view is greater than the second field of view;
• and
• using a zoom control that is operable by the user to allow the user to request a desired field of view to produce a zoomed image;
• wherein the combination of the first sensor and the first lens are aligned with the combination of the second sensor and the second lens to allow each to be directed toward the same object;
• wherein the zoomed image is produced from the first image or the second image based on the size of the requested field of view relative to the size of the second field of view;
• wherein the zoomed image is produced without any physical movement of the first lens relative to the first sensor or of the second lens relative to the second sensor;
• and
• wherein the depth of field for the combination of the first sensor and the first lens is the same as the depth of field for the combination of the second sensor and the second lens.