telephoto lens

American  

noun

Photography.

1. a lens constructed so as to produce a relatively large image with a focal length shorter than that required by an ordinary lens producing an image of the same size: used to photograph small or distant objects.

---

telephoto lens British  

/ ˈtɛlɪˌfəʊtəʊ /

noun

1. a compound camera lens in which the focal length is greater than that of a simple lens of the same dimensions and thus produces a magnified image of a distant object See also zoom lens

---

Etymology

Origin of telephoto lens

First recorded in 1940–45

Compare meaning

How does telephoto-lens compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• telephoto lens vs. wide-angle
• telephoto lens vs. zoom lens

Example Sentences

Its single rear camera lacks the telephoto lens of the Pro models and the ultrawide lens in the entry-level iPhone 17, which costs $200 less.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2025

Sometimes she was using a short lens when she should have been using a telephoto lens and vice versa.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2024

If the rumor mill pans out, this year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max may feature a periscope-style telephoto lens that will improve the quality of photos taken from far distances.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 12, 2023

It’s a little too far away for me to get a nice shot with my telephoto lens, but it’s unmistakably a bald eagle.

From Washington Post • Apr. 5, 2023

While Mr. Das adjusted his telephoto lens, Mrs. Das reached into her straw bag and pulled out a bottle of colorless nail polish, which she proceeded to stroke on the tip of her index finger.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri