Zoom lens vs Telephoto Zoom lens

[adrian888]

What is the difference between them?
I found that zoom lens are mostly shorter than telephoto zoom lens. But what is the main diff ? Anyone help. Thanks.

[Blazing fire]

Welcome to the forums!

Prime lenses = fixed focal lengths.
Zoom lenses = covers a range of focal lengths. Eg. 24-70mm, 70-200mm. Most 'pro' grade glasses have a constant aperture of f/2.8. Others have variable aperture eg. 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6.

(Ultra) Wide angle = 35mm or shorter (debatable).
Normal = 50mm
Telephoto = greater than 50mm (debatable).
There is also something called a short telephoto, or portrait focal length = 85mm to 135mm

*please note that these names given to different focal lengths are only true on a 35mm camera.




You may also come across "fisheye", macro, or tilt-shift lenses. Fisheye lenses have extreme barrel distortion, macro lenses focus close, while tilt-shift lenses allow you to do advance stuff. See these 3 websites:

• https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tu...ft-lenses1.htm
• https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tu...ft-lenses2.htm
• http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/movements.htm

Therefore, a zoom lens is a generic term given to a lens which covers a range of focal lengths. A telephoto zoom lens is a type of zoom lens that has a longer focal length (ie. more reach). Eg, 200-400mm f/4.0.

Does this help?

[DTruex]

A zoom lens can vary the focal length to get a tighter image optically.

A telephoto lens is any fixed lens that has a focal length greater than that of the average human eye.

[revi]

I'd say a zoom lens is one that has variable focal length, a telephoto lens has an angle of view less than the human eye (in practice 70+mm on a 35mm or full frame camera) (focal length of the human eye is in the order of 25-30mm iirc...)

So a zoom telephoto lens would cover a range of focal length starting above 50-70 mm.

Conclusion: A telephoto zoom lens is a zoom lens, like there are wide angle zoom lenses (e.g. 10-20mm). more specific terms than zoom tell you about the range of focal lengths covered

[Dave Humphries]

Conclusion: A telephoto zoom lens is a zoom lens, like there are wide angle zoom lenses (e.g. 10-20mm). more specific terms than zoom tell you about the range of focal lengths covered

This gets my vote

[adrian888]

Thanks all!
I was doing research on zoom lens as I need one to shoot my son soccer game. Currently, I'm using Nikon 18-55mm (the one that came with D3100 kit) and found that the zoom is not close enough, any recommendation?
My body is D3100 and budget is less than US$500. Thanks!

[Shadowman]

And let's not forget the super telephoto covering 80-infinitymm.

[Dave Humphries]

Thanks all!
I was doing research on zoom lens as I need one to shoot my son soccer game. Currently, I'm using Nikon 18-55mm (the one that came with D3100 kit) and found that the zoom is not close enough, any recommendation?
My body is D3100 and budget is less than US$500. Thanks!

Hi Adrian,

Didn't realise you were such a shiny, new member - welcome to the CiC forums from me.

If for a D3100, you'll need an "AF-S" lens if Nikon, or one that has a USM motor in if third party - I would suggest that manually focusing won't be viable option, so steer clear of Nikon "AF" and "D" lenses, only "AF-S" will do.

I'd recommend the Nikon 70-300mm VR, that might go a tad over your budget though, not sure about US(?) prices.
The Nikon 55-200mm is cheaper and lighter, but you obviously lose on 'reach', so might need to crop more.
Personally, I don't buy 'third party' these days; I had AF compatibility issues, but some swear by them (rather than at them)

Is the "soccer" indoor or outdoor?
Daylight or floodlit?

Cheers,

[Shadowman]

Hi Adrian,

Didn't realise you were such a shiny, new member - welcome to the CiC forums from me.

If for a D3100, you'll need an "AF-S" lens if Nikon, or one that has a USM motor in if third party - I would suggest that manually focusing won't be viable option, so steer clear of Nikon "AF" and "D" lenses, only "AF-S" will do.

I'd recommend the Nikon 70-300mm VR, that might go a tad over your budget though, not sure about US(?) prices.
The Nikon 55-200mm is cheaper and lighter, but you obviously lose on 'reach', so might need to crop more.
Personally, I don't buy 'third party' these days; I had AF compatibility issues, but some swear by them (rather than at them)

Is the "soccer" indoor or outdoor?
Daylight or floodlit?

Cheers,

The Nikkor 70-300mm AF-S VR 4.0.5.6G sells for less than $200.00 U.S.

[adrian888]

Which one is good for both indoor and outdoor soccer. Thanks!
Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G ED VR II DX Telephoto Zoom Lens
Or
Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF ED VR Telephoto Zoom Lens

[rpcrowe]

Which one is good for both indoor and outdoor soccer. Thanks!
Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G ED VR II DX Telephoto Zoom Lens
Or
Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF ED VR Telephoto Zoom Lens

I would expect that neither of these lenses would be good for indoor soccer because of their slow aperture at longer focal lengths. An f/5.6 aperture probably just isn't fast enough to give you a decent shutter speed in the expected low light level of an indoor soccer field even shooting with a relatively high ISO. Most non-professional indoor sports venues in the USA are not that well lit...

Either lens would be adequate for outdoor soccer during a decently bright day but, would not make it at night under lights. I don't know about the speed and accuracy of the auto-focus of these lenses on your camera. However, shooting on a bright day using ISO 400 would allow you to shoot at about 1/3200 second under bright sunlight using f/5.6 and at about 1/1600 second using f/11. Most cameras can successfully shoot at ISO 400 without anygreat worries about noise.