A telephoto is a type of camera lens designed to magnify distant subjects, allowing photographers to capture faraway objects in fine detail. Generally, lenses with a focal length of around 80mm or greater are referred to as telephoto lenses. They have a narrow angle of view, which enlarges distant subjects and isolates them from the background, often producing a shallow depth of field that helps the subject stand out with a pleasing background blur (bokeh).

Characteristics of Telephoto Lenses

• Magnification of distant subjects: Telephoto lenses enable capturing detailed images of subjects far away, such as wildlife or sports events.
• Compression effect: They make objects at different distances appear closer together, which changes the perception of spatial relationships in the photo.
• Background bokeh: Telephoto lenses create a shallow depth of field that helps produce a blurred background, focusing attention on the subject.
• Cropping on a scene: They have a narrow field of view that allows focusing on a specific part of a scene without physically moving closer.

Types of Telephoto Lenses

• Medium telephoto: About 80-100mm focal length, often used for portraits with nice background blur.
• Telephoto: Ranging from 100-300mm, common for capturing sports, wildlife, and distant subjects.
• Ultra-telephoto: Over 300mm, used for extreme magnification of distant subjects, such as birds in flight or faraway objects.

Summary

In essence, a telephoto lens is a special long-focus lens that makes distant objects appear closer and larger in an image, allowing photographers to capture details that would otherwise be difficult to photograph from a distance.