Lens Compression
The visual effect of telephoto lenses that makes distant subjects appear larger relative to close subjects, compressing the apparent depth of a scene compared to wide-angle lenses.
What is Lens Compression?
Lens compression is a property of shooting distance vs. focal length rather than the lens itself. Telephoto focal lengths (85mm, 100mm, 200mm) compress depth and flatten backgrounds — making background elements appear closer to the subject. For product photography, this effect is valuable: a 100mm macro lens creates beautiful, flattering compression that isolates the product from its background and produces the 'catalog quality' look that professional product photography has. Short focal lengths (35mm, 50mm) produce more 'realistic' perspective but less flattering compression.
E-Commerce Relevance
Using telephoto lenses (85–100mm for small products, 50–85mm for medium products) creates the flattering, professional compression that distinguishes catalog-quality product photography from amateur snapshots.
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