Photography Topics

Telephoto Lens

A Telephoto Lens is a camera lens that is significantly longer than standard lenses. Used in photography and cinematography, telephoto lenses magnify its subject, render a more narrow angle of view and have smaller depths of field at a given aperture than other lenses. The opposite version of a telephoto lens is known as a retrofocus lens.

With cameras that are formatted at 35mm, a lens from 70-300mm or more is considered to be a telephoto lens.

Telephoto lenses offer the photographer the opportunity to zoom in on a scene’s detail without moving closer to the subject. This technique is especially important if safety risks or security measures prevent photographers from moving closer to the action. Sporting events, music concerts or secret affairs are all common situations in which a telephoto lens is commonly used. Similarly, wildlife, such as African lions or frogs in the Rainforest, is also a typical subject for which photographers use telephoto lenses.

Keep in mind that the narrow field that the telephoto lens takes in means that the slightest error will be quite apparent in these shots. Consequently, beginners should take a series of shots with the telephoto lens to get familiar with its feel and the technique involved in using it.