I have a few old telephoto lenses for my film cameras, and it does seem a shame to let them go to waste simply because I don't know what kind of shots to go after. The lenses I'm most keen to find a use for are a Canon FL 200mm f3.5 and a Canon FD 70-210mm f4 (these fit my Canon FT and my girlfriends Canon T50), but I also have a Hanimex (?) telephoto zoom that fits my Zenit 12XP (M42 mount). I also have FD and M42 extensions. Basically, I have a lot of glass that isn't seeing much use right now, and I think it's a travesty.
Show me your best examples to inspire me, if you like! I know there are plenty of posts on here already about choosing and buying lenses, but I want something to help me visualise shots with the lenses I already have :)
but seriously, I have taken some very cool butterfly, spider, waterfalls, statues, and marsupial shots with my telephoto. But a few years ago, with a group of casual friends, I managed to get some fairly nice portraits, utilising a shallow dof and a candid approach...
Apart from the obvious of things like long-shots of birds and other wildlife, a telephoto is good for getting close up to smaller subjects that may run or fly off if you try to get up close to them with a regular macro lens.
This dragonfly was shot with an 18-270mm lens set at 220mm. I was up close, but not close enough to scare it off, as would have happened with my 90mm macro lens...
I, too, use it for small critters that don’t want me too close.
I’ve also had fun with it by zooming in or out while I’m taking the photo for a cool blurred effect. And the moon!
Thanks all for commenting! Also, here are some photos you helped to inspire. A fair way to go yet, but I feel like I have a better idea of how to visualise a telephoto photo now.
(taken with a Hanimex 80-200mm f4.5 lens, by the way)
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birds,
birds,
and more birds.
but seriously, I have taken some very cool butterfly, spider, waterfalls, statues, and marsupial shots with my telephoto. But a few years ago, with a group of casual friends, I managed to get some fairly nice portraits, utilising a shallow dof and a candid approach...
This dragonfly was shot with an 18-270mm lens set at 220mm. I was up close, but not close enough to scare it off, as would have happened with my 90mm macro lens...
And even Portraits
I’ve also had fun with it by zooming in or out while I’m taking the photo for a cool blurred effect.
I absolutely love my canon 70-300 for candid shots. You can sit out of view and get the best natural shots of people.
Thanks all for commenting! Also, here are some photos you helped to inspire. A fair way to go yet, but I feel like I have a better idea of how to visualise a telephoto photo now.
(taken with a Hanimex 80-200mm f4.5 lens, by the way)
very versatile lenses can shoot just about anything anywhere