Using a zoom lens lets your camera or camcorder see things close up without you having to be that close.  I do not recommend zooming excessively even if your camera or camcorder allows you to do so.  At some point you start to lose image quality that will disappoint you.

     To illustrate the effects of zooming, I have selected some example images of the same storm from my Weather Images Galleries to show you how great your shots can be from a distance.  The first 3 examples below are from the storm with lightning striking about 4 to 5 miles (6.5 to 8 km) away.

     Click on the thumbnails for the full size images and then click on your back button to return to this page.
 

No Zooming 

4x Zoom

8x Zoom

     Wow!  See how zooming in will get you a much more spectacular shot!  I discovered the power of the zoom effect by accident.  For the last shot above I had to zoom in because of numerous horizontal power lines that were in the way just above the top of the picture.

     Now lets compare the last picture above with an actual close strike with no zooming.  Remember that I am able to get close shots like this because I am on a rather large second story balcony of an airport building that is very heavily grounded.  This is much too close for people to be out taking pictures or video unless a person has a similar very safe place.  My advice is to zoom and live to tell about it.
 

No Zoom

     This particular strike was only 0.25 miles away.  It was not an intense strike.  If it had been, the main channel would have been much wider.  But it clearly shows that you can get great shots by zooming in somewhat.

     The downside to zooming is that you cut down the width and height of your view area.  You will miss more strikes this way, but you benefit from getting more dramatic shots when they are in your view's line of sight.