tele·pho·to
ˌte-lə-ˈfō-(ˌ)tō 
: being a camera lens system designed to give a large image of a distant object
also
: relating to or being photography in which a telephoto lens is used
plural telephotos
1
: a telephoto lens
2
: a photograph taken with a camera having a telephoto lens
—used for an apparatus for transmitting photographs electrically or for a photograph so transmitted
Examples of telephoto in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cassie Steer, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Nov. 2023
The iPhone 11 Pro can shoot 4K video at 60 FPS and is the first to pack three camera lenses: wide, ultra-wide and telephoto.
—Albert Khoury, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2023
The device could also feature a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 64MP telephoto camera on the rear, with a 20MP inner selfie camera and a 32MP outer one, Brar notes.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2023
The Pixel 8 Pro has upgraded light-gathering capabilities in all three of its cameras: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide, and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom.
—WIRED, 4 Oct. 2023
The 7 Pro adds a third shooter, a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.
—Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 14 Sep. 2023
Apple The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a telephoto camera with up to 5x zoom in, the longest optical zoom of any iPhone camera.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023
Both models get new sensors across the camera array, though the iPhone 15 Pro Max adds a telephoto camera that can zoom in up to 5x.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023
While the iPhone 13 Pro has a great main camera and a solid ultrawide, 3x telephoto pictures have never been its strong suit.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 18 Sep. 2023
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Noun
Always start with portrait mode—this switches the primary camera to the telephoto camera, which has a higher zoom and simulates the look of portraits taken with a DSLR camera.
—Cassie Steer, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Nov. 2023
The iPhone 11 Pro can shoot 4K video at 60 FPS and is the first to pack three camera lenses: wide, ultra-wide and telephoto.
—Albert Khoury, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2023
The device could also feature a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 64MP telephoto camera on the rear, with a 20MP inner selfie camera and a 32MP outer one, Brar notes.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2023
The Pixel 8 Pro has upgraded light-gathering capabilities in all three of its cameras: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide, and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom.
—WIRED, 4 Oct. 2023
The 7 Pro adds a third shooter, a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.
—Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 14 Sep. 2023
Apple The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a telephoto camera with up to 5x zoom in, the longest optical zoom of any iPhone camera.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023
Both models get new sensors across the camera array, though the iPhone 15 Pro Max adds a telephoto camera that can zoom in up to 5x.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 12 Sep. 2023
While the iPhone 13 Pro has a great main camera and a solid ultrawide, 3x telephoto pictures have never been its strong suit.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 18 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'telephoto.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Telephoto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telephoto. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
telephoto
adjective
tele·pho·to
ˌtel-ə-ˈfōt-ō
: being a camera lens designed to give a large image of a distant object
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