For photographers looking to extend their zoom range and get in close on action far away, a telephoto lens is the perfect option for you. Telephoto lenses can be great for use in a variety of situations such as nature, sports or travel photography.
Most compact cameras come with zoom options, but DSLRs have a broader range of telephoto lens options with 100mm lenses or higher. These lenses will get you closer to the action than ever before.
If you’re keen to learn more about Instax photography, check out our article When to Use Your Telephoto Lens on the Camera House blog.
What is a Telephoto Lens?
A telephoto lens is long-focus lens in which the physical length of the lens is shorter than the focal length. This allows you to zoom in close to subjects far away from the camera. There are a plethora of situations where a telephoto lens is wonderful see things you’d otherwise miss.
You can experiment with or improve your nighttime, up-close wildlife, and sports photography using telephoto lenses. With a telephoto lens, the options are virtually endless!
What is Telephoto Lens Used For?
To capture wildlife
To respectfully capture animals in their natural habitat, it’s always best to take photos from a distance. Not only will this ensure animals won’t scraper away nervously, you’ll also be able to capture how they behave naturally.
You can go near subjects you don't want to disturb with telephoto lenses. They allow you to shoot pictures that appear to show you mingling with the lion pride or observing birds of prey flying far above. Consider using a tripod to set up your gear to patiently wait for the perfect shot.
Check out our article Wildlife Photography Tips on the Camera House blog to learn how to capture superb images in the great outdoors.
To capture a portrait
Many events such as weddings, birthdays or corporate engagements, call for telephoto lenses to capture candid imagery without the photographer getting in the way. With the long range zoom, most people won’t notice you even taking their image from far away. It can lead to some relaxed and natural portraits of guests.
Explore our article How to Frame a Memorable Portrait Photo on the Camera House blog to learn how to capture a powerful portrait.
To capture a landscape
Given that a wide-angle lens is frequently used in landscape photography to capture the entire vista, you might be surprised by this one. But the telephoto lens allows you to focus in on certain characteristics such as a snowy mountain top. A washy horizon with sparse details can be captured by bringing the detail a little bit deeper into the frame.
Check out our articles Landscape vs Portrait Photography and Capturing Perfect Landscape Images on the Camera House blog to create breathtaking landscape shots.
To fill the frame
This relates to the portrait and wildlife photography advice. With the use of a telephoto lens, you may eliminate the empty space surrounding your subject so that your focus of interest takes up the entire frame.
The uninteresting sky and the people behind your subject are blurred with a telephoto lens. This can take a bit of practice and experimentation to get the settings right, but once you find what works for you, you can take some really powerful images.
To isolate your subject
You might have spotted a noteworthy detail in a chaotic environment. It might be, for instance, a vibrant outfit during a festival celebration. With a telephoto lens, you can focus right in on that interesting visual element to draw attention to your topic.
This is possible with a lesser focal length, but as we discussed before, a telephoto lens makes it easier to isolate someone from a distance and covertly and powerfully.
To create a shallow depth of field
Since it's simpler to achieve blurry backgrounds when you isolate a subject, using a telephoto lens enables you to produce a shallow depth of field. It's yet another technique for getting rid of a distracting background and making that subject or feature stand out more in the picture, even from far away.
To get in on the action
You can't just walk onto the playing field to take pictures of your favourite football star or get right up close to a lion in Sahara. Naturally, you'll need a telephoto lens to assist you capture a close-up and detailed image.
When shooting from long distances, camera shake is more likely to appear in your photos at extremely high focal lengths. Make sure you have a tripod or monopod with you to steadily hold your camera as a simple fix for this.
Our Recommended Telephoto Lens
Now that we know what to look for in a great telephoto lens, we’ve rounded up our top picks in telephoto lenses from Camera House below.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Telephoto Lens
When it comes to telephoto lenses, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Telephoto Lens is an exceptional option. When working in areas with intense lighting, the Super Spectra coating has been applied to specific parts to reduce ghosting and flare for improved contrast and colour neutrality.
Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G Telephoto Lens
The medium telephoto Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G Telephoto Lens has a Nikon F-Bayonet mount. This lens has a single focal length with an aperture range of f/16 to f/1.4. A silent wave motor and internal focusing are great features of this lens.
Sony G 18-105mm f/4 Black Telephoto Lens
This wonderful Sony lens has a remarkable focal length range, making it suitable for many kinds of photography. The Sony G 18-105mm f/4 Black Telephoto Lens provides an incredibly flexible 27-157.5mm zoom range and is made for APS-C format E-mount cameras. It also features a constant f/4 aperture, which guarantees uniformity over the entire range of focal lengths.
Visit Camera House to Find Telephoto Lenses
Take advantage of Camera House’s knowledgeable staff in-store and online and ask them what telephoto lenses are right for you! Check out our shipping information online and enjoy flat-rate delivery Australia-wide, or check out our store locator to visit a Camera House store near you.
