How to Use Telephoto Lenses



Right Image: Minolta Maxxum 9, 300mm f-2.8 APO lens, Fuji Provia 100, Bogen tripod and ball head. Spot meter, exposure not recorded. Aperture priority and autofocus.

Some people amaze me. Recently I saw a guy with a Canon EOS-3 and a Sigma 170-500mm zoom lens. This outfit had cost him around $2000. He was standing next to me by a lake photographing birds. I could not believe he was using 2000 dollars worth of equipment without any kind of support. I was thinking he must either be using a 1600 ISO film (not the best film choice) since his Sigma had a wide aperture of f-6.3, or had the most rock solid hands on earth. Many people don't realize that telephoto lenses require a solid support, either a tripod or a monopod. They switch from a 28-80mm zoom to a telephoto zoom and believe they can still handhold a camera. Any small vibration will show up in your pictures. This is especially true with telephotos. It doesn't matter whether you own fixed or zoom telephotos. A 300mm lens is a 300mm lens whether built into a compact zoom or a fixed f-2.8 lens. 

If you want to see the quality you paid for your cameras and lenses, use a tripod or at least a monopod especially in telephotography. If your lens has a tripod collar, attach the lens to the tripod instead of the camera. This lets you quickly change from horizontal to vertical shots and also puts less stress on camera's lens mount. Hold the camera by your right hand and press the shutter release gently without shaking the camera. It is not necessary to hold the lens if you use a solid tripod. Working with monopod obviously requires you to hold the lens. In this case use your left hand and hold the front bottom of the lens.

Use a fast shutter speed to minimize any vibration. If your camera has mirror lock-up, use it to reduce mirror vibration for stationary objects. Use a lens hood at all times to reduce flare and also protect the front element of your lens. Whenever possible, close the lens down two or three stops. All lenses are at their sharpest when closed a couple of stops. Telephoto lenses, especially telephoto zooms, are not at their best when shot wide open. Corner sharpness may suffer at wide apertures. Avoid shooting through haze with telephoto lenses. Haze will greatly reduce overall sharpness even if you use the most expensive lens.

It is best to use shorter focal lengths than longer ones. If your 300mm covers the shot you want, don't use your 500mm. If you use teleconverters make sure you use extra support and care. Your 300mm lens with a 2X converter attached is a 600mm lens. All problems associated with telephotos are now doubled as well. Use quality teleconverters and avoid using them with zooms and mirror lenses. Zooms and mirror lenses do not work well with teleconverters. Sharpness will suffer and resulting small f-stops give dangerously low shutter speeds.