How to Using Telephoto Lenses

When you get to the point where you want to be more creative with your camera, you will probably decide to invest in a telephoto lens. Whether you pay a little or a lot, buying it is only the first step. Then you will need to learn how best to use your new purchase. The following steps will help you reach a level of competence and sophistication that will be worth all your efforts and expense.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Telephoto lenses are very heavy, so staying still while taking pictures using one is very difficult. And the effect of your shaking the camera while taking a picture using a telephoto lens will be exaggerated in the picture. Invest in a good tripod, and use it whenever possible when a telephoto lens is attached to your camera. If that is not possible, rest your telephoto lens on the camera bag or your coat to provide added stability.
2. Logic suggests that the longer the focal length, the less will be your depth of field. Therefore, it is important that you focus your camera accurately if you are using a telephoto lens. Otherwise, your picture will be blurred. You can use this to your creative advantage. For example, many portrait photographers will use a telephoto lens, making sure that the subject is clearly in focus while the background is blurred. By using that technique, the viewer’s attention will be focused only on the subject.
3. Use a higher shutter speed also to compensate for movement and get sharper pictures with your telephoto lens. The shutter speed should correlate to your lens’ focal length. For instance, if you are using a 300mm lens, your shutter speed should be 1/300 second, or faster. Also, you can sharpen your pictures by using faster film.
4. To give you more versatility, buy a teleconverter. You will find the most common ones are in 1.4X and 2X lengths. That means that a 2X teleconverter would make a 300mm telephoto lens, a 600mm lens. While a teleconverter will add to your bag of tricks, you must use even higher shutter speeds and find ways to avoid shaking the camera.

Tips & Warnings

• A telephoto lens will allow you to keep your distance from the subject you are photographing. For instance, if you are doing nature photography, you can stay away from danger while shooting great pictures of bears. Likewise, you can get terrific photographs of a hurricane without actually being outside in it.

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