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.

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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

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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

It’s hard to imagine a riskier trek, but he managed to pull it off, traveling through cities and towns with a telephoto lens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2025

A telephoto lens offers higher resolution, while a wide-angle lens allows a larger field of view.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025

Those new iPhones coming out with an improved telephoto lens will get plenty of use by fans showing up to Mission League basketball games this winter, considering how many celebrities might be making appearances.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2023

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

The camera slung around his neck, with an impressive telephoto lens and numerous buttons and markings, was the only complicated thing he wore.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri