Zoom factor

i recently checked the zooming capabilities of my new Canon S2 Is. It has a 12 X optical Zoom with Image stabilisation. chk out the pics below and the best part is i did'nt use a tripod.

Zoomed out view of two ladies on a bench. The rectangle at the centre depicts the ladies

Another one


This time it was a guy sleeping on a bench. if u notice in the above pic the person is hardly visible