With the average human attention span of just 8 seconds, grabbing viewers is critical. That’s where zooming a video comes in handy. This dynamic technique changes the camera’s focal length during filming to create visual drama and emphasis. From subtly highlighting subjects to generating excitement, strategic zooming directs focus and implies movement within a shot. However, which video zoom editor is the best?

To answer your query, this article will uncover the 7 best video Zoom editors and their key features. Keep reading to know more.

Also read: How to Create Picture-in-picture Videos? > 

What Is Zoom Effect in Video?

A zoom effect is when the camera appears to zoom in or out on a subject while screen recording dynamically. A typical example is the dolly zoom, aka the Vertigo effect, where the camera moves closer or farther from a subject while the lens zooms to keep them the same size in the frame. This creates an unsettling warping effect.

Using Zoom effects has many benefits for video creators. Zooming in emphasizes details, reveals subjects gradually to build suspense, or spotlights emotions in interviews. Zooming out establishes settings, transitions between scenes, or reveals something surprising. Overall, intentional zooms direct viewer attention, add dynamism and energy, and help bring your creative vision to life.

How Does Zoom Effect Work?

Zoom effects are achieved by dynamically adjusting the camera’s focal length during filming.

• Optical zoom works by physically moving the lens to magnify or shrink the image projected onto the camera sensor.
• Digital zoom works by cropping into the picture and enlarging the pixels, which can degrade image quality.
• Vertigo effect uses both zooming and camera movement to alter perspectives.
• Practical zoom effects appear smooth, not jumpy.

In post-production, video editing tools can add zooms to static shots through cropping, rotating, zooming, flipping, and extracting frames. This creates the illusion of continuous movement into or out of a scene for the viewer. Strategic use of zooms guides the audience’s focus and controls what’s emphasized within the frame.

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Top 7 Video Zoom Editors

Now that we’ve covered the basics of zoom effects let’s look at some of the top video editors that make it easy to customize zooms during post-production. Whether you’re on a budget or need pro-level tools, there’s an option for every video creator’s needs.

FocuSee

FocuSee, a user-friendly video zoom editor compatible with both Windows and Mac, empowers you to enhance your videos with captivating zoom effects. Whether you prefer automatic application or manual adjustment, FocuSee offers the flexibility to create stunning zooming-in effects effortlessly. Free try FocuSee and figure out its features.

Key Features

• Automatically follows cursor movement and applies dynamic zoom effects.
• Manually adjust the Zoom level or locate and add other zoom-in effects.
• Customize the screen recording area and record the screen according to your needs.
• Offer easy video editing tools, allowing you to personalize video canvas, mouse cursor effects, webcam appearance, and zoom-in effects.
• Enable you to record screen and webcam simultaneously or separately.
• Apply in various situations including making demo videos, product video tutorials, and marketing videos.

Target Users

Best for Indie Hackers and startups to make product demos, tutorial videos, promo videos, and video presentations.

VEED.IO

VEED.IO is an online video editing suite that empowers anyone to produce professional-quality videos. Users can easily add customizable zooms, pan effects, and other transitions to engage viewers. On top of that, this software also provides versatile tools to enhance videos, including animated text overlays, automatic transcription and captioning, and cutting-edge AI features like Magic Cut.

Key Features

• An array of editing tools, including animated text overlays, automatic transcription, and subtitling.
• Over 180 filters like VHS, glitch, and blur to customize aesthetic.
• Drag-and-drop transitions, intros, and titles.
• Tools for color grading, audio enhancement, overlays, and more.
• Free online editing with premium upgrades is available.
• Add animated text, captions, and dynamic titles.

Target Users

Best for beginner video creators looking for an easy way to add basic zooms.

OpenShot

OpenShot is a powerful open-source video editor available for free on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It supports a wide range of file formats and provides versatile tools like watermarks, time mapping, and speed effects accessible to users of any skill level. One standout capability is OpenShot’s advanced zoom features that offer precise keyframe control over magnifying footage. For anyone seeking professional style editing without the cost or learning curve, OpenShot’s intuitive interface makes it easy to create stunning videos.

Key Features

• Free, open-source video editing software available under GPLv3 license.
• Supports a wide range of media formats via FFmpeg integration.
• Advanced timeline with drag-and-drop, scrolling, and zooming.
• Real-time preview with multi-threaded performance optimization.
• Keyframe animations with interpolation options.

Target Users

It is suitable for hobbyists and YouTube creators looking for advanced features without the cost.

Wave.video

Wave.video is an all-in-one online video platform enabling creators at any level to easily record, edit, stream, and share professional-caliber videos. Users can create dynamic videos with Wave.video’s customizable zooming features to pan and scan across the footage. The editor also provides tools to enrich clips with animations, text overlays, and stickers. For live streaming, Wave.video offers fully customizable studio tools without the need for coding.

Key Features

• A variety of editing tools – trim combines clips, transitions, titles, stickers, and animations.
• 300 thousand+ stock media assets – video, images, audio.
• Customizable live streaming studio, no coding required.
• Tools for color grading, audio mixing, and overlays.
• Built-in tutorials for getting started.
• Embed videos by copying and pasting URLs.
• Flexible pricing plans, including free version.

Target Users

This tool is excellent for social media teams that need to edit zooms for social content quickly.

Movavi

Movavi Video Editor is a user-friendly editing tool that empowers anyone to create eye-catching videos. Users can easily apply professional touches like customizable zooms, crops, rotations, filters, and transitions. Movavi also supports standard media formats for seamless workflow. With the ability to take videos from raw footage to share-worthy edits in minutes, Movavi makes stunning video production achievable for beginners and experienced editors alike.

Key Features

• Combines quick interface with robust editing toolkit for quick edits or advanced production.
• Drag-and-drop customizable intros, transitions, and titles.
• Export in high quality at fast speeds.
• Tools for color grading, audio enhancement, and overlays.
• Free trial plus full paid version available.
• Media library for organized asset management.

Target Users

Movavi is perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and marketers creating promo videos, tutorials, and more.

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve offers professional-grade video editing and color-grading capabilities for free. It comes packed with sophisticated tools that empower precision editing. One prominent feature is its dynamic zoom mode, which provides fluid, camera-operator-style control over zooms and pans. Plus, its unrivaled zoom functionalities allow you to achieve true cinematic-quality zooms and camera motions to bring your vision to life.

Key Features

• Combines professional-grade editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio editing in one integrated software solution.
• It has a modern interface that is easy for beginners to learn yet powerful enough for experienced professionals.
• Enables working with original camera-quality footage throughout the entire post-production process.
• Used widely by film and TV professionals working on high-end projects.
• An innovative trim tool that automatically adjusts based on where you click in the timeline for faster editing.
• Allows simultaneous editing, VFX, color grading, and audio post work.

Target Users

This tool is ideal for video professionals and indie filmmakers seeking limitless creative options.

Lightworks

Lastly, Lightworks is a versatile video editor for Linux, Mac, and Windows. The free version provides powerful multi-cam editing, real-time video effects, visual effects routing, and more. The tool also has a zoom capability, which enables precise control over dynamic zooming and scaling clips. For content creators seeking advanced capabilities without the cost, Lightworks makes professional-grade editing accessible. Features like customizable keyboard shortcuts and flexible project sharing support an efficient workflow.

Key Features

• Integrates video editing, audio editing, and motion graphics in one platform.
• Unique intuitive interface tailored for users of all levels, from beginners to professionals.
• Empowers creating stunning, vision-driven videos without prior technical expertise.
• A robust timeline can handle footage of any resolution, frame rate, or size.
• Advanced color grading controls, EQ, and third-party audio plugin support.
• Library of built-in transitions, titles, effects, and pro-level add-ons available.

Target Users

Lightworks is a top choice for freelancers and production houses looking for Hollywood-caliber editing.

Final Thought

Adding custom zooms is a simple yet powerful way to make your videos more engaging and cinematic. With the right editing tools, it’s easy to introduce movement and dynamism to otherwise static shots. The options we covered range from free beginner-friendly editors like VEED.IO to advanced solutions like DaVinci Resolve. Evaluate your video projects, skill level, and budget to choose the best video zoom editor. With precision zoom control, you can direct viewer focus, build suspense, and tell visual stories that captivate audiences.