Difference between Telephoto Zoom Lens and regular Zoom Lens

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Permalink Reply by Richard Schneider on January 21, 2008 at 4:32pm

Here is an article on Lens Types.

Medium Telephoto Lenses (85-135mm) These lenses are perfect for portraits. Compared to a 50mm lens they isolate the subject from the background more and the increased focal length slightly flattens the image and gives more a natural and flattering perspective. Popular for candid photography.

Long Telephoto Lenses (>135mm) Used for sports, nature or other types of documentary style photography that requires you to be close to the action but cannot be close physically be it dangerous or timid. Like portrait lenses they are great for picking out the subject from the background.

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Permalink Reply by shanie on January 21, 2008 at 6:20pm

great tip thanks richard. is there a lens which can achieve both?.or is it nessessary to buy both.im just starting.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Schneider on January 21, 2008 at 6:34pm

I usually use a Tamron 20 - 200mm lens which can be used in almost any situation. It is a great beginner lens to get if you plan to do a wide variety of photography and don't want to switch your lens often.

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Permalink Reply by Blake on January 22, 2008 at 6:49am

Thanks again guys for your input...

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Permalink Reply by Earl E. Gibson on January 22, 2008 at 3:11pm

Sigma also makes a 18-200 with Optical Stabalizer built into it. I have one with a Canon Mount. I believe it is also made with a Nikon Mount.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Dobbs on January 28, 2008 at 12:43am

Just a bit more technish: on a film camera the lens equivalent of what you normally see with the naked eye has a focal length of about 50 mm. Any focal length less than 50 mm is considered 'wide angle' and more than 50 mm is 'telephoto'. For my digital camera which has a sensor size factor of 1.5 the normal view focal length is about 34 mm.
When a lens has the ability to change focal lengths it is a zoom lens. Many zoom lenses today span the range of focal lengths from wide angle, through normal, to telephoto. Richard's reply is very descriptive of how you would use different focal lengths.
One other tip: a wide angle focal length tends to deepen (increase) the sense of perspective, while a telephoto length flattens the perspective. Sometimes I stand back a long way and use a telephoto instead of standing closer and use a wide angle. This makes the foreground, mid ground, and background almost look as if they're the same distance away. There you go. Give it a try.

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Permalink Reply by Blake on January 28, 2008 at 7:20am

Thanks Bill for your input.

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