Telephoto Lens, Zoom lens
A Telephoto lens and Zoom lens are not the same. Some people refer to their Zoom lens’ as a telephoto lens. The construction of the lens is what makes the difference.
The telephoto lens will bring objects into close view while blurring the background. Some portrait photographers will use a telephoto lens over a zoom lens. The big difference is that a telephoto lens has a narrower angle of view than a zoom lens
A zoom lens is constructed the same as a regular lens. Most zoom lens are used in binoculars, telescopes, and still photography. Zoom lens brings distance objects closer without distorting the background images. .
As you can see in the 2 example photos I took of the Rio Grande River. The first is the regular 14mm then I zoomed using the same lens to 40mm. Also I changed the angle of the camera in the second photo to capture more of the river and rocks.
Do not confuse digital zoom to that of regular zoom lens. With digital zoom (your auto zoom function) the quality of the final photograph is considerably less. It is always best to step closer to your subject if possible than use your digital zoom.
