The best replacement for telephoto is zoom.

The best alternatives to telephoto are rated as following:
★★★★★  zoom
★★★★★  zoom lens
★★★★  macro
★★★★  wide angle
★★  wide angle lens
★★  macro lens
★★  standard zoom
★★  teleconverter
★  prime lens
★  wide
★  telephoto zoom
★  zoom difference
★  mirror lens
★  fisheye
★  telescope
  zoom lense
  zoom lenses
  normal lens
  super telephoto
  standard lens
  superzoom
  wide angle lenses
  zoom telephoto
  zoon

Your alternative for telephoto is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about telephoto, one probably shouldn't forget about extension tube.

Other search terms related to telephoto and their ratings are:
★★★★★ extension tube
You have in mind a companion for telephoto and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of telephoto in all years. Click on graph for more.
telephoto
zoom
zoom lens