Zoom
A zoom changes the focal length of the lens optically, making the subject appear closer or farther away without physically moving the camera. Unlike a dolly, which changes spatial relationships, a zoom simply magnifies or reduces the image while flattening or compressing space. Fast zooms can be dramatic and stylized, while slow zooms can build tension or draw attention to details. Though less fashionable in modern cinema, zooms remain powerful tools when used intentionally.
When to Use
- To quickly draw attention to a specific detail without cutting
- For stylized, genre-specific aesthetics (especially 70s-style filmmaking)
- When you need to change framing without the logistics of camera movement
- To create a sense of voyeurism or surveillance
Famous Examples
The Evil Dead (1981)
The rapid crash zooms on characters during moments of horror
Jackie Brown (1997)
The 70s-style zooms that Tarantino uses throughout
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
The rapid zooms during the drug-use montage sequences
Related Techniques
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