Wildlife and bird photography is typically shot with telephoto and super-telephoto lenses. Longer focal lengths allow you to photograph cautious subjects from a distance, making it easier to capture decisive moments.

Telephoto lenses around 100 mm include both the subject and its surroundings in a balanced way. At 400 mm and beyond, super-telephoto lenses help simplify the background and isolate the subject.

In portrait photography, lens choice affects background defocus and perspective. A wide maximum aperture helps to produce smooth bokeh and separate the subject from the background. Wide-angle lenses place a subject within the surrounding scene and emphasise perspective. Telephoto lenses in the 85–135 mm range provide natural perspective for portraits, with balanced framing of subject and background. Longer telephoto lenses can capture natural expressions and isolate the subject more clearly.

In landscape photography, lenses from ultra-wide to telephoto offer different ways to frame and interpret a scene. Ultra-wide lenses capture expansive views while emphasising depth and perspective. Telephoto lenses can also be effective for landscapes, using the compression effect to make distant elements appear closer together. This approach allows you to create more focused and impactful compositions.