What Is a Telephoto Lens?
A telephoto lens is a type of camera lens that makes distant objects appear closer, allowing photographers to capture images of far-off subjects. Telephoto lenses vary in their zoom capabilities, often represented by the focal length numbers on the lens. For example, a lens may be labeled 70-200mm, where 200mm is the telephoto end.
Why Use a Telephoto Lens?
Telephoto lenses are used for several reasons:
- To capture close-up shots of subjects that are far away, like wildlife or sports events.
- To focus on a subject while blurring the background, which makes the subject stand out more.
- To take photos with minimal disturbance to the scene, especially useful in nature photography.
How Does a Telephoto Lens Work?
A telephoto lens works by having a longer focal length, which is the distance between the lens and the image sensor when the subject is in focus. This longer focal length brings distant objects closer to the photographer’s view. The design of telephoto lenses often includes special glass elements to reduce distortions and increase image clarity, even when photographing from a distance.
- Long focal length: Helps in magnifying distant objects.
- Special glass elements: Improve image quality and reduce distortions.
