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Nikkor telephoto zoom lenses
Zoom lenses with a focal range above 50mm are known as telephoto zooms. Like telephoto prime lenses with fixed focal lengths, these fit less in, and are therefore ideal for getting closer to distant subjects or picking out detail; they also give a more flattering effect when taking photos of people. In contrast to wide-angle, lenses with longer focal lengths have an inherently smaller depth-of-field, which means it’s easier to get a blurred background effect – again ideal for portrait, wildlife and sports photography.
Good focal lengths for portraits are typically between 85mm and 135mm – these are often known as short telephotos. Appropriate focal lengths for sports or wildlife are generally much longer – at least 200mm, and ideally 300mm or more. Professional sports and wildlife photographers often use 600mm lenses, or even longer still. These are known as super-telephotos.
The most popular telephoto zoom range is 70-300mm, which covers portrait work while getting reasonably close to distant subjects. Depending on your preferences, you may prefer a longer range, or sacrifice the range for a brighter aperture. As before, lenses with smaller f-numbers gather more light thanks to their bigger apertures, which makes them better in dim conditions and for minimising the depth-of-field. Bigger apertures however mean a larger, heavier and more expensive lens.
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As focal lengths increase, the risk of camera-shake becomes greater, so telephoto zooms with vibration reduction are preferred. Nikon refers to these models with the letters VR and these can let you handhold shots with shutter speeds three to four times slower than normal. Note these won’t stop a moving subject from blurring though, which brings many enthusiasts back to large aperture models.
As always, bear in mind any reduction in field due to your DSLRs sensor when choosing a lens. All of Nikon's DSLRs (apart from full-frame FX models like the D3) have a reduction factor of 1.5x, which effectively multiply lens focal lengths by 1.5 times. So if you go for a typical 70-300mm lens, you’ll actually have an equivalent of 105-450mm.
Also note Nikon DSLRs without built-in focusing motors, like the D40, D40x and D60, will only auto-focus with AF-S Nikkor lenses. If you use an AF Nikkor lens on these bodies, they will be manual focus only.
Note: Nikkor's DX lenses are not compatible with its full-frame (FX) DSLRs like the D3. For a full explanation of lens specifications and examples of coverage at different focal lengths, check out our Camera Labs Lens Buyers Guide. |
