When was the Telephoto Lens Popular in Film?

Use of various lenses in filmmaking is one of the ways that cinematographers are able to achieve various different camera angles, shot styles, and visual effects. Over the years, filmmakers have used many different lenses, including the telephoto lens, to achieve the desired effects. Much of the driving force behind the use of various lenses in filmmaking is the popularity of each lens, but when was the telephoto lens popular in film?

What is the Telephoto Lens?

Before we get into when the telephoto lens became popular in filmmaking. Let’s take a look at what a telephoto lens actually is. Telephoto lenses represent a unique style of lens used in photography and in cinematography to achieve long-focus.

What makes a telephoto lens unique is that the physical length of the actual lens is shorter than the focal length. The telephoto lens utilizes a special lens group. Which, through a much shorter design, is able to extend the light path creating long-focus.

Essentially, the telephoto lens is for bringing things far away into view. So that they appear to have a closer position.

However, telephoto lenses also work to place the background out of focus. So that the shot may focus on only the area of the scene that matters. And blurs out anything that is not important.

History of Telephoto Lenses

The actual concept of a telephoto lens that used a reflecting form to achieve the desired long-focal length dates back to 1611. The idea would be re-invented in 1834 by Peter Barlow.

Although the invention of a telephoto lens for photography is credited to Thomas Rudolphus Dallmeyer in 1891. Telephoto lenses would not be used in filmmaking until much later. More advanced use of telephoto lenses would continue to be seen throughout the late 1800s.

When Was Telephoto Lense Popular in Film?

Despite the introduction of telephoto lenses as early as the 1800s in photography. The first uses of telephoto lenses in film would not be evident until 1927. In fact, from 1927 through 1932, zoom lenses were exclusive to Paramount.

Later, post-1932, the use of zoom lenses would become popular outside of this exclusive deal with Paramount. And independent producers would begin to produce films with zoom shots.

Uses

Although directors would occasionally zoom during filmmaking in order to enlarge detail and create a shocking effect throughout the later 1920s and the 1930s. The telephoto lens would not truly become popular in filmmaking until a bit later.

In the 1940s, the telephoto lens would be improved for filmmaking and would largely be used in the coverage of sporting events that would be broadcast on television. This would begin the era of popularity for the telephoto lens in filmmaking.

1950s and 60s

Filmmakers would begin to shoot on location more during the 1950s and 1960s, which would make the zoom capabilities of a telephoto lens increasingly popular.

Cinematographers would find great value in the ability to shoot from a distance without interrupting actors or the crowds they were filming, all while maintaining the focus on attention that the filmmaker desired.

Thus, according to On The History of Film Style, in the early 1960s, the telephoto lens would be most popular in film. They continue to be incredibly popular and widespread in filmmaking to this day.