Zooming refers to moving an object in a shot towards to camera without the object or the camera moving, but rather lenses being manipulated.

Zooming is rarely used in a serious manner because it takes the audiance out of the film, because it is so obviously removed from immersion, since zooming is something human eyes cannot do, in order for us to look closer at something we need to move closer or bring it closer to us.

The concept of enlarging an image without any movement removes immersion, so it can only be used in specific circumstances. These could be if the shot is seen through the “eyes” of camera (such as a robot in the film) or used for comedic purposes.

One such exampe is in the comedy televison program Arrested Development in the season 2 episode “Meet the Veals” a serires of zooms are used for comidic effect to show the tension as G.O.B and George Senior are almost caught (George Senior is wanted for “minor treason”). For added comedy a zoom is also used on G.O.B’s puppet Franklin.

In Quentin Tarintino’s Django Unchained (2012) a camera zoom is used to introduce the character of Calvin Candie. The effect is deliberately jarring and “movie like” because it was Tarintinos intention to make Candie over-the-top, as well as paying homage to the 70s B-movies which inspired Tarintino (and made extensive use of Zoom effects, due to it being a new technology at the time).