telephoto lens Camera lens with a long focal length. A true telephoto lens has a focal length longer than the physical length of the lens, as opposed to a long-focus lens, in which the focal length is equal to the physical length. For a 35mm camera, any lens with a focal length of more than c.80mm may be regarded as a telephoto lens. For larger-format cameras, the focal length may be as much as 1000mm.See also photography

tel·e·pho·to lens / ˈteləˌfōtō/ • n. a lens with a longer focal length than standard, giving a narrow field of view and a magnified image.