Telephoto lenses let you fill the frame with a subject and create a creamy background blur, all with little distortion. Read on to learn more about them.

EOS R6 Mark II + RF70-200mm f/4L IS USM @ 200mm, f/4, 1/8 sec, ISO 1250

 

Characteristics of telephoto lenses:

1. Let you fill the frame with subjects that are actually far away.
2. Shallow depth-of-field; can easily create background blur (background “bokeh”).
3. Narrow angle-of-view; makes it easy to keep unwanted background elements out of the frame.
4. Perspective compression effect; makes elements look nearer to each other.

 

What is a telephoto lens?

A telephoto lens is a lens with a long focal length, which allows you to capture close-ups of scenes and objects that are far away. They can be further separated into three sub-types based on their full-frame-equivalent focal lengths.

Telephoto lenses render shapes and objects more faithfully with less visible subject distortion than those shot on wide-angle lenses. This characteristic, together with a comfortable working distance for close-ups, is why medium telephoto lenses are often the choice of product and portrait photographers.

The longer the lens focal length, the stronger their ability to “pull-in” and fill the frame with faraway subjects. (Read more about this in: Lens FAQ #7: What is the difference between a 200mm and 300mm telephoto lens?) As telephoto lenses also have a shallow depth-of-field, they are a good choice for capturing images with the background bokeh effect.

Yet another defining characteristic of telephoto lenses is their narrow angle-of-view. This makes it possible to exclude unwanted background elements from the image for a neater composition. Telephoto lenses are also good at making the distances between faraway and nearby elements look shorter. This is called the compression effect, and you can use it to reduce the sense of perspective in an image.

 

Main types of RF telephoto lenses

There are 4 main types of RF telephoto lenses:

1. RF85mm f/2 Macro IS STM
2. RF85mm f/1.2L USM
3. RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS
4. RF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
5. RF135mm f/1.8L IS USM

These prime lenses have a large maximum aperture and focal lengths popularly used for professional product photography and portraiture. Two of them also have macro shooting capabilities. The red-ring (L-series) lenses are professional-grade lenses with weather-sealing and better optical performance.

L-series telephoto and super telephoto lenses

Pictured:
1. RF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
2. RF70-200mm f/4L IS USM
3. RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
4. RF400mm f/2.8L IS USM

Other L-series telephoto lenses:
5. RF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z
6. RF100-300mm f/2.8L IS USM
7. RF600mm f/4L IS USM
8. RF800mm f/5.6L IS USM
9. RF1200mm f/8L IS USM

These white prime and zoom lenses are designed to provide the durability, reliability, and excellent performance required for professional needs. Among them are different versions of the classic 70-200mm, frequently used for sports and action, landscape, and portrait photography. The super telephoto lenses are often used for wildlife and sports, too. Sports arenas are often full of photographers with white lenses!

Also see:
Why Is a Super Telephoto Lens Necessary for Sports Photography?

Non-L telephoto zoom lenses

1. RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM
2. RF200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM
3. RF-S55-210mm f/5-7.1 IS STM (for APS-C cameras)

These are useful for achieving more reach. 1 and 3 are portable and ideal for travel! 

Non-L fixed aperture telephoto prime lenses

1. RF600mm f/11 IS STM
2. RF800mm f/11 IS STM

These lenses provide an extremely long reach at a fraction of the price of their L-series counterparts!

Also see:
[Review] RF600mm f/11 IS STM & RF800mm f/11 IS STM in Urban Landscapes

 

Techniques to try with your telephoto lens

1. Make the background appear closer

This is called perspective compression, and it’s more obvious at longer focal lengths. In the scene below, the light decorations further away from us look more densely stacked together because of perspective. Shooting at 200mm helps draw that part of the scene closer to create a more “compressed” look.

More examples on how compression can be used in:
Creating a Captivating Scene with Telephoto Leading Lines
Lens FAQ #7: What is the difference between a 200mm and 300mm telephoto lens?
Composition Technique: Creating the Illusion of a Larger Moon

2. Get creative with background bokeh
You can combine a telephoto lens’ perspective compression and intrinsically shallower depth of field to create unique background bokeh effects that are harder to achieve on other types of lenses.  Tip: Pay attention to what’s in the background when you compose your shot!

 

Telephoto lenses are wonderful for…

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM/ FL: 400mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/8, 1/160 sec, EV +0.3)/ ISO 400/ WB: Auto (Ambience-priority)/ Cropped slightly

…capturing close-ups of subjects you can’t get physically closer to
Many will think of birds and wildlife first, but a telephoto lens can also help you zoom in on creepy crawlies like the cute jumping spider you see above.

Also see:
Handling Natural Light: Telephoto Macro Flowers in the Evening Light
Getting Started in Landscape Photography: 5 Things to Know
#Hellofrom Hong Kong: Breathtaking Views from Hong Kong’s Highest Peak

EOS R6 Mark II/ RF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM/ FL: 200mm/ Flexible-priority AE (f/9, 1/320 sec) ISO 640

…bringing out shapes and patterns
The flattening effect of telephoto compression makes geometric patterns and shapes more obvious.

EOS R8/ RF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM/ FL: 200mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/2.8, 1/800 sec)/ ISO 200/ WB: Auto (Ambience-priority)

…emphasising urban density
Compression makes the vehicles, buildings, and overhead wires look densely packed together, capturing the essence of a crowded urban scene.

Also see:
5 Things to Try with a Telephoto Lens
Photographing Sakura in Japan: Scenic Spots & Pro Photography Tips (2) (example #4)