Learn aboutTelephoto lenses

Highest Focal Length Digital Camera

With a maximum focal length of 1,200 mm, the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS has more reach (zoom) than any other digital camera.

Telephoto refers to the maximum focal length offered by the cameras lens. The maximum focal length is essentially the maximum zoom the lens offers. The larger the focal length the more zoom offered by the lens. The optical zoom section has a great overview of the various levels of zoom and how they relate to the max focal length.

When using a long focal length, its invaluable to have good image stabilization to reduce the risk of blur in your images from camera shake. The longer the lens the more magnified the shake is. At 200mm the same shake will be much more visible than at 50mm. A common rule of thumb is to ensure you have a shutter speed equal to 1/focal-length, e.g. at 300mm you should have a shutter speed of 1/300s or faster to avoid blur.

Also, when buying a camera with a long focal length, be sure you look at what the aperture is of the lens at full zoom. In order to achieve fast shutter speeds to avoid shake and blur you'll want a fast/wide aperture - lens apertures get smaller the more you zoom, so a big aperture at full zoom is important

Visual Examples Max Focal Lengths

Here is an example showing how the max focal length correlates into zoom. Each image demonstrates a different focal length and thus a different level of zoom. The zoom levels are simulated.

Small Max Focal Lengths

25mm - 1X Zoom

This photo illustrates 26mm focal length equivalent to 1X zoom.

50mm - 2X Zoom

This photo illustrates 50mm focal length equivalent to 2X zoom.

100mm - 4X Zoom

This photo illustrates 100mm focal length equivalent to 4X zoom.

Large Max Focal Lengths

200mm - 8X Zoom

This photo illustrates 200mm focal length equivalent to 8X zoom.

400mm - 16X Zoom

This photo illustrates 400mm focal length equivalent to 16X zoom.

800mm - 32X Zoom

This photo illustrates 800mm focal length equivalent to 32X zoom.

Telephoto Digital Cameras

The following are the cameras with the largest max focal lengths, providing the most zoom of all digital cameras.

	Canon PowerShot SX50 HS from $369	Great zoom 50x 24p movies For that film look Flip-out screen Great for movies Learn more about the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
	Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX300 from $448	Great zoom 50x High resolution screen 921k dots High ISO 12,800 ISO Learn more about the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX300
	Fujifilm FinePix SL1000 from $329	Great zoom 50x High resolution screen 920k dots High speed movies 480 fps Learn more about the Fujifilm FinePix SL1000
	Nikon Coolpix P520 from $427	Great zoom 41.7x High resolution screen 921k dots Flip-out screen Great for movies Learn more about the Nikon Coolpix P520

See more of the top telephoto lens digicams

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