Telebrennweiten

Telebrennweiten, often referred to as telephoto focal lengths, describe a range of lens focal lengths that are significantly longer than that of a standard lens. In 35mm film equivalent terms, lenses with focal lengths of 70mm and above are generally considered telephoto. This characteristic provides a magnified view of distant subjects, making them appear closer to the camera.

The primary effect of a telephoto lens is its ability to compress perspective. This means that the apparent distance between objects in the foreground and background is reduced, creating a flatter image. This compression is often utilized in portrait photography to create pleasing, unexaggerated features and to isolate the subject against a blurred background. In landscape photography, telephoto lenses can be used to emphasize specific distant elements or to create a sense of depth by stacking layers of scenery.

Telephoto lenses are categorized into several types. Medium telephoto lenses (e.g., 70mm to 135mm) are commonly used for portraits and events. Super telephoto lenses (e.g., 300mm and beyond) are essential for wildlife, sports, and astrophotography, where subjects are often far away and require significant magnification. While longer focal lengths offer greater magnification, they also tend to have narrower fields of view and can be more challenging to handhold due to camera shake, often necessitating the use of tripods.