Hot Take — Telephoto Lenses Are Better Than A Wide Angle

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 80mm lenses 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.

Important to note: my breadth of work circulates human emotion, intimate details, and frames of sentiment unique to tighter scenes. I hardly shoot street sets or large landscapes that require a much broader perspective. My portrait work, lifestyle grabs, and even settings set in the outdoors derive from a unique view of my preference: tighter, creamier, and almost-ethereal cacophonies of frozen time.

I hardly find myself with a wide lens on the camera, simply because I don't find the need to if I don't want to.

Technicalities & Use Cases To Consider:

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 telephoto lenses have focal lengths between 135mm to 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.

Thus, despite my assertion, it's wise to understand when to use a telephoto lens versus a wide one.

A deep depth of field is required if you want the entire scene in focus, as most wide lenses come with a lower aperture suitable for adequate exposure in any lighting condition. Telelenses are often manufactured with much higher apertures, making achieving an adequately focused image in softer light more challenging. For example, I particularly notice this when capturing tight ring or facial shots during indoor wedding ceremonies.

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.

The images exude a sense of absolving mystery, defiance against the rules, and idiomatic design.

Below are images captured by the Mamiya 645 85mm, or my 70-200mm, across various digital and SLR camera bodies. Each frame is labeled with the corresponding setup. I look forward to utilizing even longer lenses in the future, much like Mann's haunting negatives.

In Conclusion

Gone are the days when photography rules remain relevant.

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 embolden 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, error, and varied gear to find the recipe you like is equally a part of the creative process.