telephoto, zoom.... whats the difference

[raf2379]

I'm just abit confused about the clasification of lenses. whats the difference between telephoto and zoom lenses. there is the 70-200mm VR telephoto zoom, some websites call it zoom and some call it telephoto. how do you clasify them. I have the 18-200mm VR is that clasified as a zoom lens?? now at 200mm will it have the same zoom as the 70-200mm VR?? or can the 70-200mm VR zoom in closer at a futhere away objects? if anyone has a link explaining the clasifications and such please post a link, i'd really like to understand this clasifications.

[AccentAE86]

a) Zoom lenses are any lenses that have variable focal lengths, like a 70-200, 18-55, 28-80 etc....
Their sisters are PRIME lenses, which have only ONE focal length... i.e. 50mm, 85mm, 35mm

b) Telephotos are considered anything over the 'normal' perspective focal length. For Full frame and 35mm film cameras, this is above 50mm.
50mm (give or take a few mm) is considered the 'normal perspective', showing mainly the same perspective that we see with our own eyes.
Below that are considered Wide Angles.
Further to that, going below 20mm is somtimes called an ultra-wide, and over 350mm a super-telephoto.

You can have a combo of any of a) and b).
70-200 is considered a telephoto zoom
16-35mm is considered an ultra-wide zoom
135mm is considered a telephoto prime
28mm is considered a wide prime
1200mm is considered a super telephoto prime.

And a zoom that contains the normal perspective somewhat in the middle of their range is sometimes called a 'normal zoom'... i.e. 28-80 on film, 17-55 on 1.5/1.6 crop cameras, and sometimes a wide zoom. It seems pretty inconsistant.

Having different sensor sizes has totally screwed up this system though... and is another discussion. But lens classing has generally stayed the same regardless of the sensor size, except for lenses specifically designed for small sensored cameras. (i.e. Canon EF-S lenses)

[raf2379]

thank you for the info, that explains things a bit more.

[AccentAE86]

And oh yeah, 200mm on a 70-200mm SHOULD be the same as 200mm on an 18-200mm lens. The only problem is... some manufacturers aren't quite accurate in their mm ratings, but on the whole, they should be pretty much the same.

[Pihsiak]

An the more words you add, the cooler the lens sounds.


Super wide prime Ultrasonic "L" series Booyah!!!!!

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Acronyms make for awesomeness, too.

Nikon could theoretically make, say, a 70-200 f/2.8 G ED II PC DC IF AF-S DX VRII Micro-Nikkor.

But that would be silly.

[seer_claw]

Originally posted by BerserkerCatSplat
Acronyms make for awesomeness, too.

Nikon could theoretically make, say, a 70-200 f/2.8 G ED II PC DC IF AF-S DX VRII Micro-Nikkor.

But that would be silly.

But damn it must be a good lens with that many acronyms after the name. I think I want one.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

I'd buy one for sure! I'm not entirely certain what I'd do with Perspective Control and Defocus Control, though!