What best describes a telephoto lens?

• A. A lens designed to capture wide-angle scenes with distortion
• B. A lens optimized for macro close-up
• C. A lens with a longer focal length than standard, giving a narrow field of view and a magnified image.
• D. A lens that automatically adjusts white balance

Answer: (C)

Telephoto lenses are defined by their longer focal length relative to a standard lens. That longer focal length narrows the field of view, so you see a smaller portion of the scene. It also magnifies distant subjects, making them appear larger in the frame without needing to move physically closer. Because you’re zooming in optically, you can separate the subject from the background and achieve background compression, which helps bring far-away details closer and creates a flattering look for portraits or distant action in sports and wildlife photography. A wide-angle lens uses a short focal length and captures a broad scene with more distortion at the edges, so it doesn’t fit the description. A macro lens is designed for extreme close-ups, not distant subjects. A lens that auto-adjusts white balance describes a camera feature, not the lens type.