Compact telephoto lens

A compact telephoto lens having an angle of view of 18.degree. to 24.degree., an aperture ratio of 1:2.8 and a telephoto ratio of 0.92 to 0.94, and consisting essentially of, in succession from the object side, a first lens which is a single positive lens having its surface of sharper curvature facing the object side, a second lens which is a positive meniscus lens having its convex surface facing the object side, a third lens which is a single negative lens having its surface of sharper curvature facing the image side, a stop, and a fourth lens which is a single positive lens having its surface of sharper curvature facing the object side, said telephoto lens satisfying the following conditions:

• ______________________________________ 0.35 <
• f.sub.12 <
• 0.4f (I) 0.2f <
• d.sub.1 + d.sub.2 + d.sub.3 + d.sub.4 + d.sub.5 <
• 0.25f 0.19f <
• r.sub.6 <
• 0.21f 1.35f <
• f.sub.123 <
• 1.46f (II) 0.27f <
• d.sub.6 <
• 0.32f n.sub.1, n.sub.2 >
• 1.6,n.sub.3, n.sub.4 >
• 1.7 (III) .gamma..sub.1, .gamma..sub.2 >
• 50, .gamma..sub.3, .gamma..sub.4 <
• 30
• where r.sub.1 -r.sub.8 represent the radii of curvature, d.sub.1 -d.sub.7 represent the center thickness and air spaces of the respective lenses, n.sub.1 -n.sub.4 represent the refractive indices of the respective lenses, .gamma..sub.1 -.gamma..sub.4 represent the Abbe numbers of the respective lenses, f.sub.1-4 represent of the focal lengths of the respective lenses, f represents the total focal length of the entire system, f.sub.123 represents the total focal length of the first to third lenses and f.sub.12 represents the total focal length of the first and second lenses.