A telephoto lens is a camera lens that uses several internal lenses to extend the focal length and shrink the foreground of your image. In other words, telephoto lenses make an object appear closer than it really is. They are generally defined as lenses of 70mm and above, with some focal lengths extending beyond 300mm.

Telephoto zoom lenses, meanwhile, offer a range of focal lengths within a single lens. This differentiates them from prime camera lenses, which only have one focal length. Telephoto zoom lenses commonly have a focal length range of 70-200mm, but you can find many other options.

Long-range zoom lenses can fit a very wide array of focal lengths into a single lens, such as 18-200mm, while short-range zoom lenses usually offer a focal range of 50mm or less. The zoom ability does increase the risk of getting distortions or aberrations in your image, but you can lower the chance of this happening if you choose a high-quality lens and take time to study photography methods.

While many photographers like the image quality of prime lenses when working in a studio, they often turn to zoom lenses when in the field. Long-range zoom lenses are ideal for nature and wildlife photography because you can easily shoot subjects at different distances without changing lenses. For the same reason, they are also popular for sporting and event photography.

Choosing a camera lens for a particular shot is a huge part of photography’s artistry. A lot of people assume the camera is the biggest investment, but it’s really the lenses that matter most. So, take your time finding the best long-range zoom lenses for your unique needs.