diff --git a/ux/client/views/viz/useGetViewportCameraZoom.js b/ux/client/views/viz/useGetViewportCameraZoom.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aed1dfd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ux/client/views/viz/useGetViewportCameraZoom.js
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// -*- web -*-
+//
+// michael a.g. aïvázis <michael.aivazis@para-sim.com>
+// (c) 1998-2022 all rights reserved
+
+
+// externals
+import React from 'react'
+
+// local
+// context
+import { ViewportContext } from './viewportContext'
+
+
+// get the viewport position
+export const useGetViewportCameraZoom = () => {
+    // grab the value
+    const { zoom } = React.useContext(ViewportContext)
+    // and return it
+    return zoom
+}
+
+
+// end of file
diff --git a/ux/client/views/viz/usePanViewportCamera.js b/ux/client/views/viz/usePanViewportCamera.js
index ffe03d1f..e4274b9d 100644
--- a/ux/client/views/viz/usePanViewportCamera.js
+++ b/ux/client/views/viz/usePanViewportCamera.js
@@ -15,19 +15,12 @@ import { ViewportContext } from './viewportContext'
 // pan the viewport camera
 export const usePanViewportCamera = () => {
     // grab the position mutator of the viewport camera
-    const { setPosition } = React.useContext(ViewportContext)
-    // build a controller that updates the viewport cameras
-    const pan = position => {
-        // adjust the viewport camera position
-        setPosition((old) => {
-            // if this is not a substantive update
-            if (old.x === position.x && old.y === position.y) {
-                // bail
-                return old
-            }
-            // otherwise, build the new camera position and return it
-            return { ...old, ...position }
-        })
+    const { position } = React.useContext(ViewportContext)
+
+    // build a controller that updates the viewport camera
+    const pan = pos => {
+        // update the camera position
+        position.current = { ...position.current, ...pos }
         // all done
         return
     }
diff --git a/ux/client/views/viz/viewport.js b/ux/client/views/viz/viewport.js
index 2fd48b72..d676daec 100644
--- a/ux/client/views/viz/viewport.js
+++ b/ux/client/views/viz/viewport.js
@@ -14,15 +14,15 @@ import { Mosaic } from '~/widgets'
 // locals
 // hooks
 import { usePanViewportCamera } from './usePanViewportCamera'
-import { useGetViewportCameraPostion } from './useGetViewportCameraPosition'
+import { useGetViewportCameraZoom } from './useGetViewportCameraZoom'
 // styles
 import styles from './styles'
 
 
 // display the datasets associated with this reader
 const Panel = ({ idx, view, uri, registrar, ...rest }) => {
-    // get my camera position
-    const { z } = useGetViewportCameraPostion()
+    // get the current zoom level
+    const zoom = useGetViewportCameraZoom()
     // and its panning controller
     const panViewportCamera = usePanViewportCamera()
 
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ const Panel = ({ idx, view, uri, registrar, ...rest }) => {
     const { shape, origin, tile } = dataset
 
     // compute the dimensions of the mosaic
-    const width = Math.trunc(shape[1] / z)
-    const height = Math.trunc(shape[0] / z)
+    const width = Math.trunc(shape[1] / zoom)
+    const height = Math.trunc(shape[0] / zoom)
     // and fold my zoom level into the data request uri
-    const withZoom = [uri, z].join("/")
+    const withZoom = [uri, zoom].join("/")
 
     // build my scroll handler
     const scroll = evt => {
diff --git a/ux/client/views/viz/viewportContext.js b/ux/client/views/viz/viewportContext.js
index 73176c0c..77e30f97 100644
--- a/ux/client/views/viz/viewportContext.js
+++ b/ux/client/views/viz/viewportContext.js
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ export const ViewportContext = React.createContext(
     // the default value that consumers see when accessing the context outside a provider
     {
         // the camera position
+        zoom: null,
+        setSoom: () => { throw new Error(complaint) },
         position: null,
-        setPosition: () => { throw new Error(complaint) }
     }
 )
 
@@ -24,12 +25,18 @@ export const ViewportProvider = ({
     children
 }) => {
     // set up the camera position
-    const [position, setPosition] = React.useState({ x: 0, y: 0, z: 1 })
+    // N.B.: the separation of {zoom} in a state variable vs {position} in a ref is a performance
+    //       enhancement; modifying {position} does not cause the {viewport} to rerender, but
+    //       modifying {zoom} must; i have to remember to update the {z} component of {position}
+    //       whenever {zoon} is updated
+    const [zoom, setZoom] = React.useState(1)
+    const position = React.useRef({ x: 0, y: 0, z: zoom })
 
     // assemble the context value
     const context = {
         // camera position
-        position, setPosition,
+        zoom, setZoom,
+        position,
     }
 
     // provide for my children