Telephoto lenses, which have longer focal lengths than standard lenses, are ideal for bringing distant things and situations into closer focus. They are available in prime (with a fixed focal length) and zoom (with variable focal lengths), just like wide-angle lenses. The word “telephoto” can also be used as a common phrase to refer to lenses that have focal lengths longer than 80 millimeters and produce a more limited field of view. However, they can be divided into the following three categories:
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Short Telephoto |
They have a diameter that ranges from 85mm to 135mm and are ideal for everyday usage due to their small size and low weight. |
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Medium Telephoto |
They are larger in size, longer in length, and heavier in weight, with focal lengths ranging from 135mm to 300mm. |
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Super Telephoto |
These types of telephoto lenses have focal lengths that stretch over 300 millimeters and offer magnification similar to a telescope. However, they are too weighty to be used for handheld photography. |
Unfortunately, as the focus length increases, the image becomes darker. In order to bypass this issue, most high-end telephoto lenses have been designed with a larger maximum aperture or iris opening, which permits lighter to enter the lens. Additionally, they are wonderful for creating photographs that have a lot of bokeh in them (the blurry background).
