I've asked this question quite a while ago, only this time I've got a picture to better show what I'm talking about. Why, in this zoom shot, does the most distant person appear to be larger the nearer person? The effect is more pronounced when the camera zooms out to include the center fielder...the batter would be larger than the pitcher..the center fielder appears really small compared to the batter. One would think it would be the opposite?
#2. "RE: Zoom illusion" In response to Greta_s Dad (Reply # 0) Thu Oct-20-05 02:44 PM by Shelly
He doesn't. Use a ruler and you will see that the rear player is smaller than the foreground player.
A telephoto lens makes objects at different distances from a camera seem closer together, and a wide angle lens makes them seem farther apart, but it is the result of field of view, not perspective.
If you are really interested in the cause read the article below.