by Chris Campbell
Picking the best camera brand is very hard, and is something that varies greatly. Some may say Canon, while others may say Kodak. It all depends on what the camera is being used for.
In a nutshell, a telephoto lens brings the subject targeted by the photographer, closer to that said photographer. And as a result, produces a still photograph or video for any subsequent viewers that is larger, more detailed and exhibits greater clarity then could have been achieved without the benefit of an additional lens. A somewhat more technical definition would be a lens that is built from a rather long focal length lens, but where the actual tangible length of this lens is less than the desired focal length. That is not to suggest, that every lens with a longer focal length than normal is a true telephoto lens. A true telephoto lens will contain a combination of rear lenses ofter referred to as the telephoto group.
There are a few points to consider when buying a digital camera telephoto lens. It’s important to know what camera or cameras, you intend to use the lens with. Different makes, models, and manufacturers often have their own lens mounting systems. Some maybe simple screw lenses, while others may have more elaborate mounting mechanisms.
Consider the subject environment you will be shooting in. While telephoto lens lend themselves to specific types of subjects, such as sporting events, wildlife photography, surveillance work and landscape vistas, that’s not to suggest that they aren’t also used for fashion or wedding photography.
If that’s a problem for you, then stick with the point and shoots, or keep your eyes open for the next few months as Canon and other manufacturers start to roll out SLR cameras with something called “Live View”.
Reading manuals for the specific models can be helpful as well. Most manufacturers these days, place their product manuals online in PDF form. If you Google around a bit online, you should be able to find the manual of the product your looking for.
There are five categories, and before picking a specific brand you should definitely know which of these you will likely want. The categories include ultra compact (very small), compact (small), creative compact (a bit bigger than the compact cameras), SLR-like (larger), and the SLR (the largest).
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras. If money is less important than the quality of your photographs, then it may be time to step up to this lens. It goes for around $1700 new, or a couple hundred less used. It does however include image stabilization, which is important if a tripod is not an option for your photo shoots.
Often times people pick a camera on what they find is appealing. Try out some different cameras; see how you like their look, and their interface. It really comes down to individual preference over anything.
