Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

What type of lenses are classified as having a focal length of 75mm to 400mm?

1. Standard

2. Telephoto

3. Macro

4. Wide angle

The correct answer is: Telephoto

Telephoto lenses are designed to have a long focal length, typically ranging from 75mm to 400mm or even longer, allowing for a magnified view of distant subjects. This type of lens compresses the perspective, making objects appear closer together than they are in reality. The advantages of telephoto lenses include the ability to isolate a subject from its background, achieving a shallow depth of field, and enabling photographers to capture images from a considerable distance without physically approaching the subject. This makes them ideal for wildlife photography, sports events, and portrait photography, where the photographer may need to maintain a certain distance. In contrast, standard lenses tend to have a focal length closer to 50mm, which correlates more closely with the field of view of the human eye. Macro lenses are designed for extreme close-ups, typically allowing for reproduction ratios of 1:1 or greater, focusing on very small subjects. Wide-angle lenses have shorter focal lengths, usually below 35mm, and are excellent for capturing wider fields of view, making them ideal for landscape photography but not suitable for the specified focal length range. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for selecting the appropriate type of lens for specific photographic needs.