Telephoto Camera Lenses

Telephoto Camera Lenses

Telephoto lenses are high-magnification devices. These are for when you are photographing something from far away either because you want to flatten perspective or because you are unable to approach your subject.
It is difficult and expensive to produce a high-quality telephoto lens. In fact, only in the last couple of decades have manufacturers been able to design really high quality 300mm and longer camera lenses.
Telephoto lenses can be useful for portraits, most often in the 85-180mm range. Photography of large animals is facilitated by 300-600mm lenses. Photography of birds starts with a 600mm lens and goes up from there.
Telephoto camera lenses that serious Canon EOS photographers buy include the following:
• Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, $529 (review), capable of focusing down to 1:1, useful for both macro and portraits
• 85-135mm super-fast portrait lenses, e.g.,
◦ Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, $380 (review)
◦ Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, $1999 (review)
◦ Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM, $435 (review)
◦ Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM, $999
• 180-200mm macro or portrait-only lens, e.g.,
◦ Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM, $1370 (review)
◦ Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM, $769
• Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM, $1269 (review) + 1.4X teleconverter lightweight wildlife kit ($1,500)
• Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM, $4499 (review) + 1.4X teleconverter heavyweight wildlife kit ($5,000)
• Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM, $8050 (review) + 1.4X teleconverter bird photography kit ($10,000)
For the equivalents in the Nikon system, please see our Nikon System Explained page.