This list includes 18 Photography words that start with Z, from “Z-axis” to “Zooming”. These terms tend to focus on depth, lens movement, and image control, useful for composition and camera operation.
Photography words that start with Z are concise terms describing depth, zoom, and related camera or editing concepts. Historically, “zoom” helped shape modern visual storytelling from TV news to smartphone photography.
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, and Usage.
Term: The word or phrase itself, so you can quickly find the Z term you’re looking for.
Definition: Clear one- to two-sentence meanings that explain each term’s purpose and core idea for you.
Usage: Practical notes or short examples that show how you might apply the term in shooting or editing.
Photography words that start with Z
Term
Type
Abbreviation / Alternate spelling
Usage / Context
Zoom lens
equipment
zoom
camera; lens
Zooming
action
zooming; zoom
camera; technique
Zoom ring
equipment
zoom ring
lens
Zoom ratio
concept
zoom factor; focal range
lens specification
Zoom lock
feature
zoom-lock
lens; camera
Zoom creep
issue
creep
lens; photography
Zoom burst
technique
zoom-burst; radial zoom
camera; creative
Zoom blur
technique
zoom blur; radial blur
camera; post-processing
Zero shutter lag
feature
ZSL
camera; feature
Zone System
technique
Zone System; zones
film; exposure
Zone focusing
technique
zone focus
street; manual focus
Z-stack
technique
z stack; focus stack
macro; microscopy
Z-depth
concept
Z depth; depth map
post-processing; 3D
Z-axis
concept
Z axis; depth axis
composition; 3D
Zebra
setting
zebra stripes; zebra pattern
video; exposure
Zenith
concept
zenith
landscape; astrophotography
Zenithal lighting
technique
zenithal
studio; product
Z-pattern
composition
Z-pattern; z pattern
composition; layout
Descriptions
Zoom lens
A lens with a variable focal length that changes magnification without swapping lenses.
Zooming
Moving the zoom lens during shooting to reframe or create motion effects.
Zoom ring
The rotating control on a zoom lens used to change focal length.
Zoom ratio
The ratio between a lens’s longest and shortest focal lengths, e.g., 3× or 10× zoom range.
Zoom lock
A switch or mechanism that locks a zoom lens at a set focal length to prevent unintended movement.
Zoom creep
When gravity or lens weight causes the zoom to slide and change focal length unintentionally.
Zoom burst
A long-exposure technique where you zoom during the shot to create streaking lines radiating from the center.
Zoom blur
The same radial streak effect as a zoom burst, achieved in-camera or simulated with editing tools.
Zero shutter lag
A camera capability that produces images with negligible delay between the shutter press and capture, ideal for fast action.
Zone System
An exposure and development method dividing tonal values into zones to control highlights and shadows precisely.
Zone focusing
Pre-setting focus distance and aperture so subjects at certain ranges are acceptably sharp without autofocus.
Z-stack
Combining photos taken at different focus depths along the Z axis to produce a fully sharp composite image.
Z-depth
A per-pixel measure of distance from the camera used for depth-based effects and compositing.
Z-axis
The depth dimension away from the camera, important in focus stacking and 3D positioning.
Zebra
A camera overlay that marks areas likely to be overexposed with striped highlights for exposure checking.
Zenith
The point in the sky directly overhead, often referenced when composing sky or night-sky shots.
Zenithal lighting
Lighting arranged from above to imitate natural overhead light, commonly used for product and miniature photography.
Z-pattern
A compositional flow guiding the viewer’s eye in a zig-zag path across the frame, like the letter Z.
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