Understanding Wide vs Telephoto Lenses

Wide vs Telephoto Lenses
A wide angle lens captures the subject plus a lot more from a close distance.

A mid or long focal length (standard & Telephoto) lens won't capture the same area in terms of close-up width, but will be able to find subjects at farther distances.

Wide Angle Lenses:

• 14mm

• 20mm

• 24mm

• 28mm

• 35mm

Standard & Medium Telephoto Lenses: 

• 40mm
• 55mm
• 85mm
• 100mm

Telephoto Lenses:
• 135mm
• 200mm
• 300mm

Super Telephoto Lenses:
• 400mm
• 500mm
• 600mm
• 800mm

Focal Length
Lens Focal Length	Terminology	Typical Photographhy
Less than 21mm	Extreme Wide Angle	Architecture
21-35mm	Wide Angle	Landscape
35-70mm	Normal	Street & Documentary
70-135 mm	Medium Telephoto	Portraiture
135-300+	Telephoto	Sports, Bird & Wildlife