Le telezoom is a must-have tool for wildlife, sports and nature photographers who want to capture subjects from a distance while obtaining sharp detail. Thanks to its ability to bring distant objects closer together, a telephoto zoom can transform your images and open up new creative possibilities. However, to get the most out of this lens, it's essential to understand how it works and how to use it effectively.
In this article, we offer you some practical advice on how to master the use of your telephoto zoom and get stunning photos.
1. What is a tele-zoom and why use it?
A telezoom is a long focal length lens with a variable zoom range (for example, 70-200mm, 100-400mm, or 200-600mm). It is used to photograph distant subjects without having to physically approach them. This is particularly useful for scenes where you can't or shouldn't get up close, such as wildlife, sports or travel photography.
The advantages of a telephoto zoom
2. Choosing the right telephoto zoom
There are many telezooms on the market, but not all of them are suitable for every situation. Your choice of telephoto zoom depends on a number of factors, such as your subject, your distance requirements and your budget.
What focal length range should I choose?
Stabilisation factor
Telezooms can be heavy and sensitive to shaking, especially when used at their maximum length. It is therefore advisable to opt for a model with image stabilisation (IS or VR), which compensates for unwanted movement and improves image sharpness, particularly when shooting hand-held.
3. Techniques for using a telephoto zoom effectively
Stay stable: use a tripod or monopod
One of the main difficulties with a telephoto zoom is maintaining a minimum of stability. Indeed, the longer the focal length, the more the camera's movements are amplified, which can quickly blur photos. Using a tripod or monopod is an ideal way of stabilising your camera.
If you don't have a tripod, try leaning your camera against a solid surface to reduce movement, such as a branch, or lying on the ground...
Using a high shutter speed
When working with a telephoto zoom lens, it is essential to use a high shutter speed for avoid motion blur, especially if you're photographing fast-moving subjects such as birds or sportspeople in action. A simple rule of thumb is to keep your shutter speed at least as fast as the reciprocal of the focal length you are using. For example, for a 400mm focal length, use a shutter speed of at least 1/400s.
- Tip If the light is poor, increase the ISO to maintain a fast shutter speed while avoiding underexposure.
Mastering focus
With a telephoto zoom, focusing can be more difficult because of the shallower depth of field at longer focal lengths. It is therefore important to use a precise focus on the main subject to prevent elements in the foreground or background from stealing the limelight.
Take advantage of burst mode
Telezooms are perfect for capturing fast-moving action. Using the burst mode of your camera allows you to capture a series of images in a very short space of time, increasing your chances of getting the perfect shot.
- Tip Take time to observe your subject's movements. This will enable you to anticipate the moment to trigger burst mode to capture a key action, such as a bird taking flight or a sportsman making a decisive move.
4. Managing brightness: using filters and settings
When you're working with a telephoto zoom (or any other lens for that matter 😜 ), light management is essential to getting quality photos.
Use an ND (Neutral Density) and/or polarising filter
A ND filter allows you to reduce the amount of light entering the lens without altering the colours of the image. This can be particularly useful when you are working in bright conditions and want to maintain a shallow depth of field without overexposing your image.
The polarising filterIt's my favourite 😍 I use it almost systematically for my wildlife photos, simply to remove light reflections on hair or feathers. I don't like to have areas of feathers or fur burnt out in my animal photos. I prefer to bring out the softness ...
Setting ISO and aperture
5. Conclusion
Using a telephoto zoom effectively is not easy at first, and requires both a good technical command and adaptation to the shooting conditions.
By choosing the right equipment, by using the right settings, and applying techniques to maximise stability and sharpness, you can capture impressive images at long range. The telephoto zoom is a powerful tool that, when properly mastered, can transform your photographic practice, whether you're photographing wildlife, sporting events or remote landscapes.
This article is most likely not exhaustive and I intend to add further information over time. Feel free to leave your comments and add your information to this article.
Thank you and enjoy the photos,
David
