Crash Zoom

AI-generated reference clip

Snap zoomSmash zoom

An extremely fast zoom, in or out, that slams the frame onto a detail or away from it.

Camera Movement · Easy

Shock, comedy or punctuation. It shouts "look at this!" and is a recognisable stylistic flourish.

1Frame wide at 24mm, aim the centre of the frame at the target.

2Flick the zoom ring to 70mm in under half a second and hold.

Social / vertical

A punchline or reaction beat in a reel.

Event

Snap onto a surprised face in the crowd.

No tripod? Use the workaround below.

Best option

Tripod, so only the zoom moves.

Handheld works too: the energy hides small shakes.

Kill Bill (2003): Tarantino borrows crash zooms from 1970s kung-fu films.

Target not centred: the zoom lands off the subject.

Overusing it: once per video is plenty.

Do 5 crash zooms onto different objects and land each one perfectly centred.