Zoom
zoom inzoom outslow zoomsnap zoom
A zoom shot changes focal length without moving the camera. Space flattens or opens with no parallax: near and far grow or shrink together because the nodal point stays put.
Narrative function
Change size without walking. Surveillance, emphasis, a punch: the glass does the work.
The background does not shear; it merely occupies more or less of the frame. If you need the room to be real, dolly.
The compound cousin is a dolly zoom, where travel and glass disagree on purpose. A zoom used as fake geography will flatten the set and give the cheat away.
How it works
Locked body, zoom lens, often on sticks. In flattens (more telephoto); out opens (more wide).
No near-object shear. Prompt: Zoom on [Subject], optical magnification, camera body still, space flattening or opening without parallax.
When to use it
Use it to change size from one stance: a watcher's glass, a snap to a face, a slow tightening. Do not label a dolly as a zoom.
Compared with similar shots
Slow Zoom In is the same axis at a crawl. Crash Zoom In is the punch.
A Dolly Zoom pairs opposite travel and glass so perspective warps. A Dolly translates and produces parallax.
In film
The Conversation uses optical magnification as surveillance, glass doing the watching. Jaws is famous for a dolly zoom, the other move: do not cite that beach shock as a plain zoom.
Prompt it
Keep the body still. Still: Zoom on [Subject], optical magnification, camera body still, space flattening or opening without parallax.
Video: The lens zooms on [Subject], no camera travel, space compressing. Say in or out.
Forbid wheels.
What usually goes wrong
The usual wrong cousin is a dolly-in. The tell: a lamp shears, a doorway slides, true parallax.
The fix: lock the camera, change only focal length, and let planes scale together.
Questions
What is Zoom in film?
A zoom changes focal length while the camera body stays put. Size changes; parallax does not appear.
Zoom vs Dolly
A dolly moves the camera through space, so near objects shear. A zoom only changes the lens, so the world scales as one card.
When should I use Zoom?
Use it to change size without walking: surveillance, a snap, a slow tighten. Do not use it to fake a walk through a room.
How do I prompt Zoom for AI image or video?
Write optical magnification and no camera travel. Example: Zoom on [Subject], optical magnification, camera body still, space flattening or opening without parallax.
Melies can generate this Zoom
Melies is the AI filmmaking workspace. This Zoom opens with the camera path and prompt already loaded, so you generate the move instead of describing it from scratch.