Popular Products > Electronics > Zoom Lens

The primary function of a zoom lens is that it allows you to take a close up of a subject, without physically moving closer. A zoom lens varies its focal length, as against a fixed focal length (FFL) lens. Thus it has the ability to go closer to the subject you wish to capture. They are widely used in still cameras, camcorders, movie cameras, microscopes, binoculars and other optical instruments.

There are also telephoto zoom lenses, which have a narrow angle, and wide-angle zoom lenses. Many digital cameras however, have both the telephoto and wide angle zoom lens built-in. The lens used is generally optical zoom lens. Most camcorders and cameras have an attached motor that help you control the zoom with a toggle switch.

Apart from built-in optical zoom in cameras and camcorders, you also have the option of using specific zoom lenses to your existing cameras. You can choose from normal zoom lens, which give you both wide-angle zoom and a telephoto zoom to a certain extent, and specific wide-angle zoom lenses and telephoto zoom lenses.

Understanding the main difference between wide-angle and telephoto is essential while considering a zoom lens. The area that is captured by a camera lens can be referred to as the angle of view. Generally the area that is covered by the human eye is between 40 – 60 mm focal length. Focal length shorter than this is called wide-angle, and longer focal lengths are called telephoto, i.e., the angle of view becomes wider as the focal length reduces, and it becomes narrower as the focal length increases.

This is where the zoom lens has its advantages over the fixed focal length lens. It allows continuous shift of focal length without shifting the point of focus. Thus a single zoom lens performs the function of several fixed focal length lens, as it gives different angles of view from the same point of focus.

There are standard zoom lenses with a standard focal length of 28-80 mm focal length and with telephoto zoom of 80-210 mm, 70 – 300 mm focal length, and so on. Then you also have advanced range zoom which have a wide angle zoom 19 – 35 mm focal length, and high-image quality telephoto zoom with 70-300 mm and also ultra telephoto zoom with a focal length of 200-500 mm. the latest zoom lens also have high power and high speed zoom, that give greater maneuverability and control over your zoom. They are especially of use in camcorders.

Get up close and personal with your subject without compromising your camera position with the latest zoom lenses available.