Telephoto vs. Zoom??

[davet73]

As far as budget, I would like to stay under the $1,000 range. The only issue is that it will be for a Sony Alpha, so glass selection is limited, I know.

 

[Robin Usagani]

I actually responded without smart ass remark but I dont think you read the responses.

Thanks Pitchblack and Radiorickm for your answers. That did help me. Schwettylens smart ass remark....not as much help.

 

[davet73]

I actually responded without smart ass remark but I dont think you read the responses.

Thanks Pitchblack and Radiorickm for your answers. That did help me. Schwettylens smart ass remark....not as much help.

I did read the ones that I had when I was typing that response. I didn't have all the other ones yet, just the top two.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Then say that instead of telling me I made a smart ass remark.

 

[pitchblack]

If you're shooting Canon, I'd look into the 70-300 f4-5.6 L (the L is important). It's about $1400. I'd also consider the 70-200 f/4, which is slightly less, but is less long. People rave about both lenses. There are cheaper lenses in this range, but I really think they are crap. If you're shooting Nikon, I can't help you out.

Also consider that good lenses hold their value. You can buy the 70-300 L, use if for a year and sell it back on eBay for about 90% of what you paid.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0040X4PQI/cpw-20/?me=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[davet73]

Why? It still doesn't mean it wasn't a smart ass remark. Anyway, I got my answers! Thanks.

 

[Ron Evers]

If you think you would be shooting most of the time @ 200mm, you should consider a 200mm prime for better IQ & faster apereture for less money.

 

[Compaq]

OP, you need to sort our your terminology.

Zoom lens: A lens which changes its perspective. The focal length is not fixed, you can "zoom in" or "zoom out". These need not be tele lenses. Some go from 18mm (wide angle) to 250mm (tele) - the so-called "super zooms".

Tele lens: traditionally a fixed lens which draws the subject "closer" to you than your eyes see. On a full frame, 40 mm would be slightly wide angle, 85mm would be slightly tele. Our eyes are in-between there somewhere (not sure where). Today you can buy "tele zooms". Those are lenses where all possible focal lengths are considered "tele", but you can "zoom out" to less tele, or "zoom in" to "more tele". Canon's 100-400mm is an example. I think Sigma has something like 150-500mm as well.

Is there a difference between a tele lens and a zoom lens? Which one should you settle for? First you look on the focal length. You want to "zoom in". Then you need to look in the 100+mm range. You can buy a 200mm f/2.8 lens. That's a tele lens, but not a zoom lens. Just because it's not a zoom lens, doesn't mean you're not drawing the subject "closer" to you.

You need to look through such lenses, try them and see for yourself if these explanations are doing anything for you. Not mocking, just an honest thing.

 

[ph0enix]

No need to be an asshole.

WHAT?! I hope you're joking.

 

[naptime]

wow.

 

[dxqcanada]

... a 70-210mm f/4.5-5.6 TELEPHOTO lens and a 55-200mm f/4-5.6 ZOOM lens ...

Like others have stated here about the terminology (which I will not go into again) ...
Both of the above lenses are considered Telephoto Zoom lenses.
Manufacturers sometimes to not put both words in the description.

Differences based on the item spec's
focal length
maximum aperture

What you don't see from the spec's is the image quality, which you have to read reviews to find out.
A-mount lens database (lenses for Minolta and Sony DSLR cameras)

 

[dxqcanada]

... Oh, and I want to add ... sometimes our responses may incite riots, but it's your decision to participate.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Since the OP doesn't seem to know when he is being helped, this is for everyone else who is interested.

The way telephoto is used in describing a lens in this thread is wrong. The correct term for what is being described is long-focus lens. At least according to what I was taught. A telephoto lens is a long-focus lens but one which, with the help of design, is shorter that it's focal length.

For example, if you have a 500mm lens that is only 300 mm long, that would be a telephoto lens.

Now, don't ask what the design involved is, I don't remember that part.

 

[dxqcanada]

C.C, you are correct.

Long-focus lens ... and Long-focus lenses with a Telephoto design.

I think the telephoto design is based on a larger than normal initial elements with additional lens elements at the rear.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I think the telephoto design is based on a larger than normal initial elements with additional lens elements at the rear.

I did a very quick search and the only thing I found was this: This is achieved (the shorter length of the lens) by incorporating a special lens group known as a telephoto group that extends the light path to create a long-focus lens in a much shorter overall design.