Photographic Examples

 

Telephoto Lenses are valued for:

• Magnification - they "bring subjects close" that are physically distant. This is useful when you can't get physically closer, either because you'd then be in the way (as sports photography) or because then the subject would be aware of you (as candids and nature photography).
• Isolation - due to relative shallowness of depth of field (show examples explaining "depth of field"), a long focal length lens can make the background very much not in focus, which concentrates the viewer's attention on the intended subject.
• Minimization of perspective - the distance between objects towards and away from the camera is compressed, or flattened. This is typically put to good use in portrait photography, where it's considered flattering to subtly reduce the apparent size of, say, noses.
• All these effects increase as the focal length increases, and decrease as it approaches the neighborhood of 50mm, which is considered normal (approximating the eye).
• See examples

Wide Angle Lenses are valued for:

• Angle of View - offering a wider angle squeezes more of what's in front of the camera into the picture. A corrollary of this, by the way, is that wide angle lenses will make shots in a lot less light than their maximum aperture might lead you to think.
• Intimacy - in contrast to telephotos, wide angle lenses put the viewer in the midst of the subject.
• Depth of Field - since they have a much greater relative depth of field, they also are able to produce photographs where nearly everything is in focus, from close foreground to distant background.
• Exaggeration of Perspective - the distance between objects towards and away from the camera is expanded, or exaggerated. At the extreme, fun-house-mirror effects can seem bizarre; more mild wide angle lenses simply enhance the feeling of depth.
• All these effects increase as the focal length decreases, and decrease as it approaches the neighborhood of 50mm.
• See examples

Normal Lenses are valued for:

• Normal Perspective - lenses between, say, 35mm and 85mm produce photos that look like what you were seeing at the time. The good side of this is that they can bring you to see what you're looking at as a photographer. You make the picture interesting by positioning yourself so that what you see is interesting (simple concept, but easy to miss, especially if you're using a zoom lens).
• Small Size and Weight - generally, these are the most compact lenses you can put on your camera.
• Versatility - it's typical for these lenses to offer a larger range of apertures (especially at the large end), giving great control over shutter speeds and depth of field.
• Light Gathering Power - some of these lenses have huge optics relative to their focal lengths and can let in lots more light, allowing photography without extra light (like flash) in surprisingly low-light conditions. As I pointed out on my equipment page, a 50mm f/1.2 lets in 11 times more light than a 50mm f/4 (like say, a point&shoot or a zoom lens).
• See examples

Macro Lenses are valued for:

• High Magnification - lenses that provide large images of small things open a whole world of photographic subjects. The highest image to object ratio for usual lenses is in the neighborhood of 1 : 6 (1/6 life-size); lenses for macrophotography (or is it micro-? take your pick) usually offer 1 : 1 (lifesize) and larger, using alternative focusing methods that allow extremely close focusing. Some regular lenses have a "macro" mode; my 70-210mm zoom has the capability (at 70mm) of focusing to 2' (.56m); that still doesn't get life-size images.
• Regular lenses can still be used for macrophotography with the help of:
  Macro attachments - while more cumbersome than true macro lenses, devices that put some space between the camera & the lens (like extension tubes or bellows), and close-up lenses (diopters) that attach to the front of the lens can provide high magnification through close focusing for a small investment in equipment.
• See examples

 

Telephoto Lens (note the qualities described above)

(L) grandson's first train ride, (R) granddaughter looking out to sea

(L) an azalea in my yard, (R) a flaming poker in my mother's yard

(L) puppy attacking a "bird", (R) puppies in the sun, Bo in the foreground

(L) Ginger in the tall grass, (R) Macarthur meets Abby

(L) Teddy in the tall grass, (R) a jay takes a bath on our deck

(L) Abby in the grass, (R) Chase in front of willow loveseat

(L) ducks on Lake Oswego, (R) pelicans over Monterey Bay

(L) a sunset from my mother's house, (R) a watsonia in her garden

(L) sliding into home plate, (R) a disappointed catcher

a softball pitcher

(L) Looking up into a cherry tree, (R) a spiderweb shot I use for pages under construction

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Wide Angle Lens (note the qualities described above)

neighbors' yards on my mother's street

(L) our 14 x 28ft pool coming over our house, (R) softball players after the game

(L) Ringworld? No, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, (R) a river after sunset

(L) the same river, (R) petting a ray at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

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The river pictures were taken well after sunset, carefully handheld, with my 28-80mm on my N60 (shutter speed was approx. 1/15th sec), so they also show the low-light capability of a wide angle (28mm) lens, even at a slow f/3.5.

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Normal Lens, Ambient Light (note the qualities described above)

(L) fireworks through our trees, (R) light from windows is good

(L) & (M) nighttime, handheld, N60, 50mm f/1.8, (R) stage lights, handheld, F3 with 50mm f/1.2

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Macro Lens or Accessory (note the qualities described above)

(L) iris, (R) moth

(L) ornament, (R) F3 & flash

(L) trumpet mute, (R) trumpet valves

My Dad's camera