diff --git a/apps/web/src/constants/timeline-constants.ts b/apps/web/src/constants/timeline-constants.ts
index 8c76a2e8..b0ace148 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/constants/timeline-constants.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/constants/timeline-constants.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,9 @@ export const TIMELINE_CONSTANTS = {
   TRACK_HEIGHT: 60, // Default fallback
   DEFAULT_TEXT_DURATION: 5,
   DEFAULT_IMAGE_DURATION: 5,
-  ZOOM_LEVELS: [0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4],
+  ZOOM_LEVELS: [0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5],
+  MIN_ZOOM: 0.5,
+  MAX_ZOOM: 5,
 } as const;
 
 // FPS presets for project settings
diff --git a/apps/web/src/hooks/use-timeline-zoom.ts b/apps/web/src/hooks/use-timeline-zoom.ts
index 8d41d917..eca9d44d 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/hooks/use-timeline-zoom.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/hooks/use-timeline-zoom.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ interface UseTimelineZoomReturn {
 }
 
 const ZOOM_STORAGE_KEY = 'opencut-timeline-zoom';
+const MIN_ZOOM = 0.5; // Minimum zoom to keep element borders visible
+const MAX_ZOOM = 5;
 
 export function useTimelineZoom({
   containerRef,
@@ -25,7 +27,7 @@ export function useTimelineZoom({
       const stored = localStorage.getItem(ZOOM_STORAGE_KEY);
       if (stored) {
         const parsed = parseFloat(stored);
-        if (!isNaN(parsed) && parsed >= 0.1 && parsed <= 5) {
+        if (!isNaN(parsed) && parsed >= MIN_ZOOM && parsed <= MAX_ZOOM) {
           return parsed;
         }
       }
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ export function useTimelineZoom({
     if (e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey) {
       e.preventDefault();
       const delta = e.deltaY > 0 ? -0.15 : 0.15;
-      setZoomLevel((prev) => Math.max(0.1, Math.min(5, prev + delta)));
+      setZoomLevel((prev) => Math.max(MIN_ZOOM, Math.min(MAX_ZOOM, prev + delta)));
     }
     // Otherwise, allow normal scrolling
   }, []);
@@ -61,11 +63,11 @@ export function useTimelineZoom({
           case '=':
           case '+':
             e.preventDefault();
-            setZoomLevel((prev) => Math.min(5, prev + 0.2));
+            setZoomLevel((prev) => Math.min(MAX_ZOOM, prev + 0.2));
             break;
           case '-':
             e.preventDefault();
-            setZoomLevel((prev) => Math.max(0.1, prev - 0.2));
+            setZoomLevel((prev) => Math.max(MIN_ZOOM, prev - 0.2));
             break;
           case '0':
             e.preventDefault();
diff --git a/apps/web/src/stores/timeline-store.ts b/apps/web/src/stores/timeline-store.ts
index 00bbc743..89a81942 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/stores/timeline-store.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/stores/timeline-store.ts
@@ -1173,8 +1173,8 @@ export const useTimelineStore = create<TimelineStore>((set, get) => {
       const requiredWidth = totalDuration * TIMELINE_CONSTANTS.PIXELS_PER_SECOND;
       const calculatedZoom = availableWidth / requiredWidth;
       
-      // Clamp between min and max zoom levels
-      return Math.max(0.1, Math.min(5, calculatedZoom));
+      // Clamp between min and max zoom levels (0.3 to 5)
+      return Math.max(0.5, Math.min(5, calculatedZoom));
     },
 
     redo: () => {