Zooming vs. Dolly

Zooming is simply a magnification of the image, whereas a dolly requires the camera to actually move. A dolly shot can be very useful because it displaces other objects in the background and creates a three-dimensional feel, whereas a zoom shot lacks depth creation. Dolly shots can be very useful when trying to show a closer image of a subject, as there's less room for wide-angle distortion, a common flaw in zooming. Similar to a dolly, a trucking shot also requires the camera to move, only from side to side. This technique helps when shooting a person in motion because it allows the subject's position in the frame to stay constant, which gives the audience the feeling that they're experiencing the action first-hand.