Any telephoto lens technically must include a telephoto group of lens elements, which extend the light path to create a lens where the focal length is greater than the physical length. The Wikipedia article on telephoto lenses goes into more technical and historical depth, and explains the common ...
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2answers
97 views
Practical Difference Between Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8?
As a photographer for my college's newspaper, most of what I shoot is either low light (concerts, dances, etc.) or sports, so I'm looking into getting a low-light/high speed telephoto zoom for my ...
6
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2answers
96 views
Is replacing a 70-200mm Canon lens with a 135mm and extender a good idea?
In the Canon camp we are all very familiar with the range of 70-200mm lenses. I am very impressed by the 135mm f/2.0 L though. I am considering getting rid of my 70-200mm lens in favor of the 135mm ...
4
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3answers
132 views
Canon extender 2x III with 70-200mm F4L vs 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L for wildlife shooting
Photography.SE, hello there, this is my first question, hence please pardon my inexperience of phrasing the question.
I am about to go to Yosemite and Yellowstone for 3 weeks next month, and ...
4
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5answers
207 views
Apart from birds/wildlife and sports what are some “artistic” uses for telephoto lenses?
I mean no offence to birders and sports shooters, but I don't practice those types of photography.
So what other types/styles of shooting can be done with long (200-300mm+) lenses, other than the ...
6
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4answers
141 views
How does one track action with a fast telephoto prime lens?
With my normal-range prime lenses, I tend to shoot with both eyes open — what I see in the viewfinder has a high correspondence to what I see with my other eye. With my 70mm (105mm in 35mm-equivalent ...
6
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2answers
285 views
How can a telephoto lens take great landscape photos?
I've read in various answers on this site people mention that telephoto lens can be used quite nicely for taking landscape photos. How is this possible, as my (beginners') understanding of landscape ...
6
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2answers
187 views
Can telephoto lenses cause the background to be darker than the foreground in the same light?
I took this photograph yesterday afternoon at around 5:15pm EDT, about two hours before sunset:
The sky, in my perception, was bright, and my little subject is standing in the same lighting as the ...
3
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1answer
94 views
Is it possible to get precise framing with an unstabilized lens with a long focal length?
The longest lens I normally shoot with is a 70mm prime — a 35mm-e of 105mm on my APS-C DSLR. I'm trying out the DA★ 200mm f/2.8, though, and the thing people always say about a stabilized viewfinder ...
8
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5answers
542 views
Are mirror lenses good for wildlife photography in daylight?
I've recently seen these Rokinon/Opteka mirror lens with whooping focal length (like 500mm, 600mm, 800mm, 1000mm) at a cheap price. And I have seen some of their same pictures in Flickr and vendor ...
2
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6answers
269 views
Looking for a good, cheap entry-level telephoto lens for Nikon D5100
I currently own a Nikon D5100 with the 18-55mm kit and am looking for a good, cheap entry-level telephoto lens.
I'm a beginner, and plan to do wildlife, nature and landscape photography with an ...
3
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3answers
210 views
What 300mm lens to get for my Nikon camera for wildlife photography in a national park?
I'm shopping for a 300mm lens for my Nikon D60. Which lens do you suggest? I want to use it mostly to capture images of animals in the Kruger National Park?
4
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3answers
196 views
What lenses should a college photography club buy to go with an entry-level Nikon body?
We have a photography club in our college and I am the secy. Finally we got some budget approved and we are planning to buy some stuff for our club.
I am thinking of buying a Nikon D3100 body. For ...
2
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3answers
386 views
Are prime lenses sharper than normal or telephoto zoom lenses?
Example:
The prime lens Nikon 1.4F G is said to be very sharp at F3.5.
So, if I compare that with the normal or telephoto zoom lens's F3.5, will the level of sharpness be same?
If no, then will the ...
3
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4answers
234 views
Is there a single lens suited for flying birds, mountains, and close-up portraits?
I have just bought a new DSLR (a Nikon D3000). I want to take photos of flying birds, mountains, and close-up portraits. Is there a single lens well-suited for these types of photography, so that I ...
1
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2answers
101 views
Does an NDX400-equivalent exist for a 95mm filter thread?
I found this beauty at a low price and I would like to shoot the sun. That would require me to use an NDX400 but I can't find it for a 95mm filter screw. Does it even exist?
10
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3answers
443 views
What does it really mean that telephoto lenses “flatten” scenes?
This is another perspective distortion question. I understand that perspective distortion is primarily a function of capture and viewing distance, but I am still working on fully understanding the ...
1
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2answers
550 views
Which telephoto lens should I get for Nikon D3000 to take close-ups?
Context:
I have a Nikon D3000 with its kit lens, 18 to 55mm, f3.5-5.6.
I find that I am not getting close enough to subjects and want to force myself to get more close ups by getting a telephoto or ...
1
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2answers
209 views
What is the right lens for shooting car racing with a Nikon D90?
Friend of mine goes on track days quite a bit, and since I no longer own a race-worthy car, I was thinking of tagging a long to get some fun shots of the action.
The track has a few good lookout ...
3
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1answer
378 views
What is a “2.2X Pro Telephoto” lens?
I am looking to enter the world of SLR cameras and learning some more about lenses. I came across a package that has a 2.2X pro Telephoto what exactly does that mean and how does it work? (Please ...
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2answers
1k views
What does “the telephoto end” and “the wide angle end” of a zoom lens mean?
In the Canon Rebel T3i Manual, page 59, it's mentioned that "If you have a zoom lens, use the telephoto end to fill the frame with the subject from the waist up." Same note on page 61 and another one ...
6
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3answers
241 views
Would a fixed or zoom telephoto lens be better for learning?
My daughter has a Nikon D-90 camera body and two prime f1.4 lenses 50mm and 35mm. She is interested in learning more, and I am curious which of a zoom or fixed telephoto lens would help her best? Is ...
5
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1answer
456 views
What are the differences between two generations of Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS?
I was going to buy Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS lens from eBay. But I saw there is a another lens available as MK II with same focal lengths. I googled to find difference between above lenses, but ...
2
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1answer
333 views
How does Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens perform, and what are the alternatives?
Could you give me some insight about this lens?
Canon EF Telephoto zoom lens - 70 mm - 300 mm - F/4.5-5.6 - Canon EF
I find its size very appealing, but I'm not sure of the performance or any ...
1
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3answers
206 views
What are particular potential problems to watch for when using a telephoto zoom?
I recently got the Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS II lens as a complement to my 18-55mm kit lens for my 550D. I was looking for some advice\best practices for using a telephoto zoom, any associated ...
3
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3answers
574 views
What lens to purchase for my Nikon D5000 for great portrait shots and pictures that are a distance away?
I have the Nikon d5000 camera, and I am looking for some new lenses. I am not quit sure what to get that will service all of my needs, and I would like to know the options before I shell out a lot of ...
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0answers
85 views
Why Depth of Field is smaller for telephoto lens then for wide angled? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
How does zoom/focal length affect depth of field?
Why Depth of Field is smaller for telephoto lens then for wide angled?
I mean the same aperture and distance to object.
...
1
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4answers
467 views
What is the best Canon telephoto zoom lens (around $1500-$2000) for general use?
Looking for a good telephoto zoom lens from Canon, I consider : Canon EF 100-400mm f/4,5-5,6L IS USMCanon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USMCanon EF 70-200mm f/2,8L IS II USMWhat do you recommend?
4
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1answer
869 views
What camera bag will carry a couple telephoto lenses for wildlife while still remaining relatively compact?
I had a look through some previous post about bags, but I did not find anything related to bags/backpacks for telephoto lenses with wildlife photography in mind (please correct me if I'm wrong).
At ...
0
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2answers
300 views
How do I choose a telephoto zoom lens? [closed]
I have a Canon 1100D kit (18-55mm IS II) and a 50mm f1.8 lens.
Now I'm looking for a zoom lens. What do you think about the following:
Tamron 18-200mm f3.5-6.3
Tamron 70-300mm f4-f5.6 DI LD
Tamron ...
0
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1answer
143 views
Can anyone recommend a telephoto lens for a Sony DSC-H3?
I have a Sony DSC-H3. I'd like to buy some new lenses for it for experimentation purposes. Specifically, I'd like to get a telephoto lens. The only issue is, I can't figure out which one to get. The ...
9
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5answers
457 views
Is a macro lens suitable for distant subjects - wildlife, sports, portraiture?
Some macro lenses have a really nice focal length that would make them a nice prime-telephoto lense. But are there any downsides of a macro lense for shooting distant subjects beside the lack of ...
2
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1answer
241 views
How much difference is there between the Pentax DA 55-300 and FA 80-320?
I currently have a Pentax FA 80-320, and it's very nice to have a long zoom available. Lately, I've been considering "updating" to the DA 55-300.
I also have the DA 50-200, so the lower end of the ...
8
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1answer
477 views
Is digiscoping a good alternative to using a super-telephoto lens for birding?
While I was researching bird photography, I noticed some people suggest using a spotting scope in front of digital camera instead of a super-telephoto lens - this technique is called digiscoping.
So ...
14
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8answers
792 views
Are full-frame cameras bad for sports photography?
I was reading about crop factor from various places on the internet, and the general idea that kept building in my mind was that full-frame cameras are good for wide-angle shots but not that good for ...
7
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4answers
610 views
How to take sharp photos while using maximum optical zoom?
When I shoot with high zoom (above 3X on my point-and-shoot camera), the sharpness of the picture seems to come down. Is it a feature of all cameras or is it due to higher sensitivity to camera shakes ...
6
votes
5answers
889 views
What “start up” telephoto lenses do you recommend for Canon for wildlife photography?
I'm sort of a "weekend" photographer who likes to take photos of landscapes/cityscapes and nature/wildlife.
At the moment I'm using Tamron AF 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro that ...
2
votes
1answer
302 views
Which 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens is “better?”
I'm looking for a budget telephoto lens and I'm wondering which of these two is the better option. They have very similar specs:
Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital ...
9
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3answers
660 views
Which is better: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM or Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM (without IS)?
Simple question: Which lens is better?
The L Series (non-IS) Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM or the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM?
I am an enthusiast and usually shoot landscape, my kids playing ...
13
votes
5answers
877 views
Why choose an 80-200mm over an 18-200mm lens?
Being a beginner, I can't see why I must choose an 80-200 over an 18-200. Are there scenarios where an 80-200 would be preferable over an 18-200?
I will be buying a D7000 soon and am looking at ...
8
votes
4answers
730 views
What is the difference between a telephoto lens and a zoom lens?
Looking at the product page for Nikon lenses, I notice a distinction between telephoto lens and zoom lens.
What is the difference between the two? Why would I want one over the other? I wiki'd ...
0
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3answers
264 views
Which lenses to buy next?
I have a Canon 550D DSLR that I've been using for the past 6 months to learn photogragphy. It has the 18-135mm lens and I also got the 50mm/1.8 lens. As I learn more I now think it's time for me to ...
2
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0answers
392 views
Where can I compare telephoto zooms? 200 vs 300 vs 500 mm?
I have a 200mm telephoto zoom lens. I would like to see the zoom distance between the 200mm compared to 300mm and 500mm. Are there any sample comparison images anywhere I can look at?
8
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4answers
932 views
Why do my photos looked washed out when using my telephoto lens?
I own an aging Nikon D40 and recently picked up a new telephoto lens: the Nikkor 55mm-300mm f/4.5-5.6. I've noticed that when I zoom in on subjects, the color in my photos often looks washed out. Here ...
1
vote
6answers
460 views
Which Telephoto Zoom Lens?
I am an enthusiastic hobbyist who uses the camera for social events/parties once or twice every week. My current kit is Canon 60D and for close up portraits, I am using Sigma 85mm F1.4 and for my ...
5
votes
1answer
496 views
Canon 70-200/2.8 IS (mk1) VS 70-200/4 IS
Currently debating which of these lens to get. The f/4 does have the advantage of being lighter, and there have been reviews that it's sharper than the f/2.8 wide open or with both at f/4.
Rather ...
2
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3answers
657 views
Problem in using 70-300mm non VR lens with Nikon D5000
I am finding it quite difficult to use my 70-300 Manual focus non-VR lens with D5000. Learnt it from experts that 70-300 non VR lens does not perform well with D5k though the lens mounts on this body!
...
9
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6answers
565 views
What should I do to avoid switching lenses?
I'm thinking of buying a telephoto lens for my Canon 550D (3x zoom isn't very helpful), but I won't be able to do very good macro shots with it. Since I do a lot of both, I would be switching lenses ...
6
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4answers
810 views
What Nikon lens to buy to make photos of birds?
Currently, the zoomiest lens I have is a Nikon 18-200mm. I want to be able to take photos of wildlife, or in most cases birds, which I can't do at 200mm.
For a long time, I wanted to purchase a Nikon ...
3
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4answers
425 views
How to avoid soft image at longest focal length with telephoto zoom lens?
I have a Tamron 70 - 300mm lens. I have noticed that the best focus I can achieve at the 300mm setting is not as sharp as the focus I usually get at a lower setting. Is this a common problem? Is there ...
2
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3answers
325 views
3rd party lenses - compatibility & value
I'm looking at a 3rd party lens for my Nikon d5000. A friend of mine was shooting with a Canon and using a Tamron zoom telephoto lens (70mm - 300mm). The largest focal point I have w/ one of my lenses ...