Wide Angle vs. Telephoto Lenses: Which Should You Choose?

Why I Like Telephoto Lenses

Header Image Photographed By Sally Mann

Longer focal lengths are perfect for bringing far-off objects and settings closer. There's a condensed, richer sense of detail in images shot on telephoto that you can rarely replicate with a wide lens.

From the trials of Zambia on an African Safari to local studio portraits and stylized shoots, the photos crafted on my 70-200mm EOS Canon or 85mm lenses on my film cameras have always been a favorite.

No matter the backdrop or subject, the beautiful bokeh and soft backgrounds create a near hyper-realistic scene I treasure. Captured on my Canon digital and a range of film cameras, I perpetually gravitate toward showcasing the tele-forward galleries for the portfolio.

It's important to note that my portfolio primarily showcases human emotions, intimate details, and uniquely sentimental moments within confined settings. I rarely capture street scenes or expansive landscapes, which require a broader perspective. Whether I'm working on portraits, lifestyle shots, or even outdoor images, my style favors a closer, more detailed, and almost ethereal quality, capturing moments as if frozen in time. I typically avoid using wide lenses because they capture a wider view, providing a look that differs from my preferred aesthetic. Consequently, I seldom find the need to use a wide lens, as it doesn't align with my style.

The Technicalities & Use Cases:

For technicalities, "telephoto" is used informally to refer to lenses with a restricted field of view that are longer than 80mm. They are separated into three groups:

• Short telephoto lenses have focal lengths between 85mm and 135mm and are ideal for daily usage due to their portability.
• Medium telephotolenses have focal lengths between 135mm and 300mm, which can be heavier than short telephoto lenses.
• With focal lengths above 300mm, super telephoto lenses have magnifying power akin to a telescope but are too hefty for handheld shooting.

Telephoto lenses are highly valued in photography for their unique ability to capture detailed, intimate images with a deep, creamy depth of field. This compression effect makes the elements appear closer together, helping to isolate the subject from the background and focus on specific details or emotions without the distraction of unnecessary background elements.

These lenses also feature a narrow field of view and can achieve a shallow depth of field at wider apertures, such as f/2.8 or f/4. This capability allows the subject to be in sharp focus while the background fades into a soft, blurred canvas, thus enhancing the three-dimensional feel of the image. Many telephoto lenses come equipped with built-in image stabilization, which is essential for reducing camera shake at longer focal lengths. Whether it's capturing the delicate expressions in portrait photography, the dynamic action in sports, the elusive wildlife, intimate moments in event photography, or the striking poses in fashion photography, the telephoto lens excels by providing a clear focus on the subject against a beautifully blurred background, making it a versatile tool for photographers aiming to add a dramatic, focused depth to their images.

Comparisons & Examples

Many photographers I admire also imitate these similar sentiments with tighter focal lengths and shallower depth of fields.

Intel from LargeFormatPhotograph.com suggests that Sally Mann used a Rodenstock 300mm f5.6 APO-Sironar-N lens for her large-format photography. It's reasonably apparent Mann used longer ultra-tele lenses to provide depth to her most notable projects; you cannot quickly achieve her level of pure chasm without one.

My favorite Instagram follow, Pia Riverola, sports gorgeously warm tones and, you guessed it — depth. Similar to the famous and recognizable works of an old-timer, Willem Eggleston.

Notice the textures and their nostalgic-like tone; each frame's profoundness extends beyond its pictured subject matter, almost as if you're wondering what's beyond the composition. Each image exudes a sense of absolving mystery, defiance against the rules, and idiomatic design.

Below are images captured by the Mamiya 645 medium format camera with an 85mm lens hitch has been my personal favorite prime focal length for portraits. I look forward to utilizing even longer lenses in the future, much like Sally Mann's haunting negatives.

In Conclusion

Gone are the days when photography rules remain strict. After a decade of method, patience, and endurance in this ever-evolving industry — the best tool for any artist is the one they love the most. For me, it's a set of particular lens lengths, aperture settings, and camera bodies that I know will better highlight my visions than others.

If you prefer the fisheye for funky fashion portraits and street scenes under sunny skies — go for it. Sometimes, it's healthy to branch into the unknown or uncomfortable.

However — creating stunning results through practice, trial and error, and varied gear to find the recipe you like is equally a part of the creative process.