Telephoto Lenses for Photography (Including Landscapes)

For anyone who has watched my YouTube Channel (Shameless plug here), you will know very quickly that I love telephoto lenses, and with the deliberate use of the word. But I would like to discuss why I like them, and why my beloved Lumix 70-300 lens is my most expensive, and why anyone (even landscape photographers) should have them.

I have used several camera brands since starting my journey, starting from Pentax. I first developed a love for telephoto photography with a large lens, the Sigma 100-300 DG OS HSM F4 (K Mount) for my K-1. The camera itself weighed just over 1kg, and the lens weighed 1.4kg, nearly three times the size of my current lens. It was so big that I had to be very careful about what else to put in my camera bag, including the less important things like food, water, and shelter! But it was always worth it. Not only would I get a good workout, but I would also get some stunning photos, although I never attempted wildlife photography.

Having bought and sold a few across different lens mounts, I now own the Panasonic Lumix 100-300 F4-5.6. This lens is significantly smaller than my old Sigma lens, meaning it now lives on my camera permanently. But why telephoto for landscape photography?

Telephoto lenses can reach further, which is typically what photographers avoid when capturing the grand landscape that we live in. This is the case in locations such as the Lake District, Snowdonia, or Scotland. When visiting these places and even when looking for photography locations, I find that there are photos with similar compositions tend to pop up somewhat often.

Photo of Trefor Sea Stacks, taken with the Panasonic Lumix 20-60 mm lens.

Take this, for example. This photo is admittedly one of my favourite photos I've taken. Trefor Sea Stacks is a stunning location where you will surely be able to capture beautiful images, regardless of the time of day, year, or weather. However, a quick Google search reveals somewhat similar compositions. Some photos are closer, some further away, and some are positioned to the left or right, but generally, you will see a pattern. Now let's take a telephoto approach.

Photo of Trefor Sea Stacks using the Lumix 100-300 F4-5.6 lens.

When viewing the photos side by side, you start to notice the similarities, but would you know where this photo is if you didn't already know? Perhaps, but the argument is that not only do you get a more "locationless" photo, meaning it could be taken at many different places across the world, but also how to capture layers and drama. Furthermore, you have the option to exclude details to create a sense of mystery or to remove any unwanted distractions. For example, common questions may be "What time of day is this?" "What is the weather like?" And, as mentioned before, "Where is this?".

I'm not necessarily advocating for buying a Lumix lens, although Panasonic, if you are reading, do get in touch! In the modern day, telephoto lenses are all pretty sharp, compact, and rugged, regardless of price. Let me give you another example.

Taken with the Fujifilm xc 20-230 F4.5-6.7

This image was captured using my old Fujifilm X-S10 camera and the XC 50-230mm lens. It is, I believe, the most affordable telephoto lens for the X-mount system. By no means an all-star performer, but incredible value for money nonetheless. For the eagle-eyed, you may recognise this peak, but many may not. This was taken at the top of Y Garn, Snowdonia. It was just coming up to sunset, and I had the incredible pleasure of standing over a cloud inversion. The entire mountain top was shared with another enthusiastic photographer, and without even communicating, we both reached for the longest lenses we had. I remember that she had a Nikon, although I don't know which model, and I had my tiny 50-230 lens. I was envious that she had a bigger lens than I, but alas. Perhaps the lens itself doesn't do the photo justice, but the fact was, I made it to the top and was able to capture one of my favourite photos. This is a story, a memory and one that is most definitely my own. Given the locationless nature of this photo, it is unique for that moment and may never happen in that exact way again.

Another reason I love telephoto lenses is that they offer more flexibility in composition. When using a wide-angle lens, you need a foreground, some form of connection, and a background. Often, this means trying to remove distractions in post or being at the mercy of the weather, which you learn very quickly in Wales not to rely on! Now, I'm not bashing wide-angle lenses; they have their place and time (although I'm still figuring that out with mine), and many, many incredible photographers only use wide-angle lenses. But fine, telephoto lenses are useful for landscapes, but what else?

My answer: Street photography.

Taken with the Lumix 70-300 lens.

Street photography isn't typically what comes to mind when you say, "Where would I use a telephoto lens?" However, let me explain that although the compositional techniques are very similar to those used in landscapes, city dynamics change rapidly, and you often have fascinating patterns, light and shapes created by the architecture all around. In other words, telephoto lenses allow for a lot of flexibility in an urban environment.

To create interest, mystery is a great start, as well as the ability to pose questions. This, for example, was taken in Cardiff, Wales, during a miserable day. It had been raining all morning, and I had an hour when the clouds lifted slightly. Telephoto lenses in street photography allow you to exclude everything you don't want and include everything you do, including even the most challenging weather conditions. As for my style, I also tend to try to avoid making people recognisable in my photos, both because I wouldn't want a stranger taking my picture and, again, to lean into the sense of mystery.

"There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment" - Robert Frank.

And how better than to capture the mundane, the footsteps, the shadows, the everyday processes and patterns of people. Particularly in today's modern world, where we are divided and separated due to politics, technology, and cultural patterns. We are often alone together, in our world, and not seeing what is around us in the present. While a bleak reality of modern society, telephoto lenses offer a way to tell a story differently and bring attention to finer details while capturing your thoughts and feelings as a photographer at that moment. The little variations in light or subject can make a big difference in the world of photography.

Ultimately, telephoto lenses offer a distinctive way to tell stories, creating images that spark curiosity, strip away distractions, and encourage viewers to search for meaning beyond the obvious. They create mystery, ask questions and encourage viewers to look further into the image. They can make a story of drama, suspense, or peace depending on your perspective. As such, I argue that they are essential for any photographer.

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Thank you for reading, and I look forward to reading your comments and opinions.