I posted a youtube video with optical zoom and I don't see any movement other than the camera shake.

Also I was talking about 3D fog in the context of replacing the 2D haze in the 3D shot. Nothing more.

Hmm, you're right it seems the ring is lights. I just thought maybe they were vents because that's really the only feature of the background that has red lights. Again, hard to tell with Youtube.

Maybe you're right about the vader shot, I honestly wouldn't know. I always thought it was haze and I think it adds depth and scale to the the image. And there clearly is deliberate haze on the big matte painting shot.