If you have a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, you can change the lens on the camera to suit whatever you are shooting at the time. Telephoto lenses have a long focal length--most consider telephoto lenses to be at least 100 mm--so the lens can magnify subjects that are far away. When you are considering what telephoto lens to use, you need to consider the price of the lens, the aperture, the zoom, the image quality and the additional features the lens offers.
Instructions
1. Spend at least $500 for a decent telephoto lens. However, if you want a top-of-the-line telephoto lens, be prepared to shell out at least $1,500 up to several thousand dollars. Typically, a higher price tag will buy you a better lens: better image quality, more zoom, a wider aperture and more features.
2. Change between different focal lengths with a zoom lens. The flexibility is a plus for people taking pictures of moving objects or who can't move to get the shot they want.
3. Take slightly higher-quality images with a prime lens instead of a zoom lens. A prime lens has a fixed focal length. The longer the focal length, the closer your camera will make objects appear.
4. Match the aperture number with the amount of light you will have when taking pictures. Each lens has a maximum aperture, which represents how much of the available light the lens can allow to reach the sensor, with lower numbers meaning more light. Most telephoto lenses range from 3.5 to 5.6.
5. Pay a premium for lenses with wider apertures, such as 2.0 or 2.8, which are particularly useful for indoor shooting or nighttime shots because of the limited lighting available.
6. Pay more for image stabilization (on Canon lenses) or vibration reduction (on Nikon lenses) if you plan to shoot without a tripod. This feature helps to minimize the blur that results from your hand shake. The longer the focal length of the lens the more this will help. However, if you are always using a tripod, this feature is unnecessary because the tripod eliminates the shaking from your hand.
Tags: focal length, telephoto lens, from your, from your hand, image quality, longer focal, longer focal length