Lens abbreviations

Marthijn — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:39:17 +0000

Each lens manufacturer uses different abbreviations to describe the features or aspects of a lens. This post lists all abbreviations of Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina. Some general terms such as AF (auto-focus) and MF (manual-focus) are not listed.

Canon

Abbreviation	Meaning	Description
AFD	Arc-Form Drive	An older type of auto focus motor, generally slower and noisier than USM
DO	Diffractive Optics	A technology used to make lenses with long focal lengths without the normal increase in physical size
ED	Extra-low Dispersion	Prevents chromatic aberration because it concentrates and directs the wavelength of the light more effectively onto the camera's sensor
EF	Electro Focus	Standard lens mount, compatible with all EOS bodies
EF-S	Electro Focus - Short back focus	Lens mount for APS-C sensor DSLRs
IF	Inner Focus	To ensure stability in focusing, this lens moves the inner lens group or groups without changing the lens' physical length
IS	Image Stabiliser	A family of techniques used to reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera. Specifically, it compensates for pan and tilt of a camera
L	Luxury	Professional lenses; good optical performance and a solid construction
MP-E	Macro Photo Electronic	These lenses are designed for macro photography and do not have autofocus, the "electronic" refers to the electronic aperture control
TS-E	Tilt-Shift lens	Control of perspective and depth of field
USM	Ultra Sonic Motor	Auto focus motor that offers fast and silent focusing powered by the ultrasonic vibration of a component, the stator, placed against another component

Nikon (Nikkor)

Abbreviation	Meaning	Description
AF-I	Internal auto-focus	AF-D/G with auto-focus motor built into the lens barrel itself
AF-S	Silent-wave auto-focus	AF-D/G with ultrasonic AF motor
ASP	ASPherical lens elements	A type of lenses that virtually eliminates the problem of coma and other types of lens aberration. The are particularly good at correcting distortion in wide-angle lenses as well as contributing to a lighter and smaller lens design
CRC	Close Range Correction	Provides superior image quality at close focusing distances and increases the focusing range
D (AF-D)		Lens equipped with a chip which allows the body to assess the distance to the object being photographed and exposes for that object correctly
DC	Defocus-image Control	A creative feature for photographers; control the degree of spherical aberration
DX	Digital eXpanded	Lenses for DSLRs with a smaller sensor than 35mm
ED	Extra-low Dispersion	Prevents chromatic aberration because it concentrates and directs the wavelength of the light more effectively onto the camera's sensor
G (AF-G)		Same as AF-D, but without an aperture ring
IF	Internal Focus	To ensure stability in focusing, this lens moves the inner lens group or groups without changing the lens' physical length
N	Nano coating	Non-reflective coating for clearer images with increased detail by reducing reflection from inside the lens
RF	Rear Focus	This lens is equipped with a system that moves the rear lens group for focusing
SIC	Super Integrated Coating	Multilayer coating of the optical elements in lenses
SWM	Silent Wave Motor	Ultrasonic AF motor
VR	Vibration Reduction	A family of techniques used to reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera. Specifically, it compensates for pan and tilt of a camera

Sigma

Abbreviation	Meaning	Description
ASP	Aspherical	A type of lenses that virtually eliminates the problem of coma and other types of lens aberration. The are particularly good at correcting distortion in wide-angle lenses as well as contributing to a lighter and smaller lens design
APO	Apochromatic lens elements	In order to attain the highest quality images, the APO lens has been made using special low-dispersion (SLD) glass and is designed to minimize color aberration
CONV	Converter usable	This lens can be used with the APO Teleconverter EX. It can increase the focal length and will interface with the camera's AE (automatic exposure) function
DC	Digital Crop	Lenses for DSLRs featuring APS-C size sensors only
DF	Dual Focus	Lens features clutch to disengage focus ring when in AF mode
DG		Coatings optimized for full-frame / 35mm DSLRs
EX	Extra Quality/Excellence	The exterior of this lens is EX-finished to denote the superior build and optical quality, and to enhance its appearance
HF	Helical Focusing	Front element of lens does not rotate
HSM	Hyper Sonic Motor	This lens uses a motor driven by ultrasonic waves to provide a quiet, highspeed AF
IF	Inner Focus	To ensure stability in focusing, this lens moves the inner lens group or groups without changing the lens' physical length
RF	Rear Focus	This lens is equipped with a system that moves the rear lens group for highspeed , silent focusing
OS	Optical Stabiliser	A family of techniques used to reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera. Specifically, it compensates for pan and tilt of a camera
UC	Ultra Compact

Tamron

Abbreviation	Meaning	Description
AD	Anomalous Dispersion	Special optical glass which delivers large partial dispersion ratios relative to a specific light wavelength zone
ASL	Aspherical Lens elements	A type of lenses that virtually eliminates the problem of coma and other types of lens aberration. They are particularly good at correcting distortion in wide-angle lenses as well as contributing to a lighter and smaller lens design
Di	Digitally integrated design	Optical system designed to meet the performance characteristics of DSLR cameras as well as film cameras
Di II	Digitally integrated design	Lenses made exclusively for DSLR cameras with APS-C sensors
HID	High Index High Dispersion glass	Minimises on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations
IF	Internal Focus	To ensure stability in focusing, this lens moves the inner lens group or groups without changing the lens' physical length
LD	Low Dispersion	Low Dispersion elements which effectively compensate for chromatic aberration that is a problem at the telephoto end and lateral aberration at the wide angle end
SP	Super Performance	The first priority in producing these lenses have been superior specifications and outstanding performance free from cost restraints
USD	UltraSonic Silent Drive	Ultrasonic AF motor
VC	Vibration Compensation	A family of techniques used to reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera. Specifically, it compensates for pan and tilt of a camera
XR	eXtra Refractive	Hi Refraction index glass elements resulting in minimum aberration. Allows smaller lens diameters while maintaining aperture values for overall compactness
ZL	Zoom Lock	Prevents undesired barrel extension

Tokina

Abbreviation	Meaning	Description
AS	Aspherical	A type of lenses that virtually eliminates the problem of coma and other types of lens aberration. The are particularly good at correcting distortion in wide-angle lenses as well as contributing to a lighter and smaller lens design
AT-X	Advanced Technology eXtra	Lenses that are manufactured without compromises, using the most advanced design and fabrication technologies available
D	Digitally optimized coatings
DX		Only compatible with a cropped sensor (APS-C)
F&R	Front and Rear aspherical	Aspherical molded glass element in the front and in the rear
FC	Focus Clutch	One-touch focus clutch allows the focus to be moved quickly from the AF position back into the MF position
FE	Floating Element
HLD	High Refraction, Low Dispersion
IF	Internal Focus	To ensure stability in focusing, this lens moves the inner lens group or groups without changing the lens' physical length
IRF	Internal Rear Focus	This lens is equipped with a system that moves the rear lens group for focusing
PRO		Lenses that have hardened Alumite (Armalite) finish to increase durability
SD	Super Low Dispersion	Prevents chromatic aberration because it concentrates and directs the wavelength of the light more effectively onto the camera's sensor