Which term describes a lens that can adjust to many focal lengths?

• A. Prime lens
• B. Zoom lens
• C. Telephoto lens
• D. Wide-angle lens

Answer: (B)

A lens that can adjust to many focal lengths is the zoom lens. Its design lets you change the focal length within a single lens, so you can zoom in for detail or zoom out for a wider view without swapping lenses.

A prime lens, by contrast, has a single fixed focal length, so you can’t change your magnification without changing lenses. Telephoto and wide-angle describe the lens’s typical field of view—telephoto uses a longer focal length for magnification and a narrow view, while wide-angle uses a shorter focal length for a broad view—but they aren’t specified by whether the focal length is adjustable.