| Feature | Wide Angle Lens | Telephoto Lens |
| Field of View | Expansive; captures a wider area of the scene | Narrow; zooms in on distant subjects |
| Focal Length | Typically short (e.g., 10mm – 35mm) | Typically long (e.g., 70mm – 600mm or more) |
| Aperture | Often wider (smaller f-number, e.g., f/2.8) | Can vary, often smaller (larger f-number, e.g., f/4 or higher) |
| Depth of Field | Large; more of the scene is in focus | Shallow; isolates the subject with a blurred background (bokeh) |
| Distortion | Can exhibit barrel distortion (especially at very wide angles) | Can exhibit pincushion distortion |
| Compression | Less compression; objects appear relatively the same size | Greater compression; objects appear closer together than they are in reality |
| Best Use Cases | Landscapes, architecture, interiors, astrophotography, real estate photography, group shots in tight spaces | Portraits, wildlife, sports, events, bird photography, situations where you cannot get close to the subject |
| Subject Distance | Closer proximity to the subject often required | Greater distance from the subject |
| Stability Needs | Less susceptible to camera shake | More susceptible to camera shake; tripod often recommended |
Read also: Wide Angle vs Telephoto Lens: Which Lens Should You Choose?