Telephoto lens

In photography, a telephoto lens is a lens. There are two different uses of the word. The less specific use is to mean a lens that has a longer focal length than a normal lens. Their angle of view is smaller than that of a normal lens. With telephoto lenses things look closer than they really are.

The other meaning of telephoto lens applies to lenses that are constructed in a special way so they can be shorter than their focal length.

For 35mm film, 50mm is a normal focal length. Typical telephoto lenses are 85mm (28°50') and 100m (24°). They are used for portraits mostly. Other telephoto lenses that are used often are 135mm (18°), 180mm and 200mm. Many are zoom lenses.

Longer focal lengths (300 to 1200mm) are used in sports and nature photography.

Different focal lengths

Effect of different focal lengths on photographs taken from the same place:

• 

  28 mm

• 

  50 mm

• 

  70 mm

• 

  210 mm

The above photos were taken using a 35 mm camera, using lenses of the given focal lengths.