ZnO thin films were prepared by rf-magnetron sputter at various conditions. Crystallinity, microstructure, chemical composition, and optical composition, and optical properties of the films were investigated as functions of substrate temperature (R. T.-50$0^{circ}C$) an sputter gas (O2/Ar=0-50%). ZnO thin films grown at 50$0^{circ}C$ with sputter gas of pure argon as well as at R. T. with sputter gas of a mixture of argon & oxygen(O2/Ar=2%) exhibit a strong tendency of (002) preferred orientation, compared with a considerable random orientation at the other conditions. The thin films with (002) preferred orientation has a chemical stoichiometry of Zn/O-1.01, a band gap of 3.3eV, and a packing density of 98% respectively.