DSLR Camera Lenses and Their Abbreviations

!±8± DSLR Camera Lenses and Their Abbreviations

For those of you who want to learn what these abbreviations are about, I have compiled a list of the terms used, what it stands for and of course what it will actually do for you or avoid.

General Abbreviations.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of why they are all different, let's look at the commonalities. There are three common terms to describe SLR lenses and these are simple to grasp and relate purely to more creative and performance functions.

Focal length: - The scope of the scene captured example 16-35mm. A lens which covers an area of 16mm (relatively wide) zooming in to 35mm.

Maximum aperture:- The maximum speed at which the lens can let in light. eg f/2.8 or f3.5 - 5.6

If the lens has only one number then that is the maximum aperture possible.

If the lens has 2 numbers then these are the maximum apertures possible dependent upon the focal length the lens is set to.

The lower the number the wider the lens aperture and the faster it lets in light. (see my forthcoming article on the law of reciprocity)

AF/MF: Switch between Auto Focus and Manual Focus

Canon Lens Abbreviations

Terms to describe Canon lenses

Canon produce an extremely wide range of lenses for their EOS cameras. This married with the ranges produced by Sigma, Tamron and Tokina gives Canon owners an enormous range of Canon Fit SLR Lenses. The abbreviations used by Canon are as below.

EF: Electronic Focus. Lens mount fits the entire Canon EOS DSLR range.

EF-S: As above but only fitting the APS-C sensor digital SLR such as the 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D and 300D, 350D, 400D, 450D, 500D. The S stands for "short back focus," meaning that the back of the lens is much closer to the CMOS (CCD if you like) than with EF lenses.

USM: Ultrasonic autofocus motor. Two types. USM micro-a direct replacement for the systems on older FD motors and 'Ring USM' with manual override.

DO: Diffractive optics. A technology allowing Canon to produce shorter physical length lenses.

TS-E: Tilt-shift lens used for perspective correction in photography, usually in architectural work to alter converging lines and depth of field. Similar to 'Sinar' camera.

L Lenses: Canon professional with higher optical quality and not specifically functionality. Usually white in colour. All L series lenses have a red ring on the outside..

MP-E: Macro Photo Electronic. Lenses designed for macro with an electronic aperture control function.

IS: Image Stabilisation, A system designed to reduce hand shake. Nikon version is called VR (Vibration Reduction) and Sigma one is OS (Optical Stabilisation).

Nikon Lens Abbreviations

Describing Nikon Lenses

Nikon produce a large range of lenses with their own specific acronyms. Sigma, Tamron and Tokina also make Nikon Fit SLR Lenses making the selection almost equally as wide

AF DC_ Nikkor Lenses:Defocus-image Control adjusting spherical aberration and thus the blur giving rounded blur effect used for portraits.

CRC (Close-Range Correction): Fot fisheye, wide-angle, Micro, and limited medium telephoto, offering higher quality at closer distances.

DX Nikkor: optimised for bodies with smaller sensors.

ED: Extra-low Dispersion glass. Superior sharpness and colour, correcting blue and red light travel.

IF: Internal Focusing. Lens length remains unchanged

Macro: suitable for close up focusing.

G: Aperture adjusted by the camera body.

Nano Crystal Coat: non-reflective coating for clearer images.

VR: Vibration Reduction: Nikon's version Image Stabilisation to cur down the effects of hand shake.

PC-E: Perspective Control for architectural photography.

RF: Rear Focusing for smoother auto focus..

Silent Wave Motor: Silent AF

Sigma Lens Abbreviations

Acronyms for Sigma lenses

EX: Sigma's professional lenses.

DG: For full frame bodies

DC: For APS-C bodies.

ASP: Aspherical lens.

APO: Apochromatic lens. Unique to Sigma and for chromatic aberration.

OS: Optical Stabilisation.

HSM: Hypersonic Motor. Silent AF.

RF: Rear focus..

IF: Inner focus so lens physical length is fixed reducing hand shake on longer focus shots.

DF: Dual focus. Does not rotate during AF.

Conv: Used with Sigma teleconverters.

Tamron Lens Abbreviations

Tamron Lenses described

ASL: Aspherical

AD: Reduces chromatic aberration..

Di : Full frame

Di II: Cropped Frame.

IF: Internal focus.

LD: Low Dispersion Glass to reduce chromatic abberation

Macro: Designed to focus on closer subjects

SP : Super Performance.

XR: Extra Refractive Glass for improved optical results.

VC: Vibration Control as Canon's IS, Sigma's OS and Nikon's VR.

For more information on lens acronyms and lens applications visit Park Cameras. A pro dealer who provide full UK warranty SLR Lenses.

DSLR Camera Lenses and Their Abbreviations

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Canon Portrait Lens On a Budget - How To Choose A Portrait Lens

!±8± Canon Portrait Lens On a Budget - How To Choose A Portrait Lens

Getting a good portrait lens is not difficult, but knowing which ones qualify is important. Before you go out and make a purchase, you should take a look into your camera bag to see if you may have a Canon portrait lens in there cleverly disguised as.. let's say a Macro lens or maybe a sports action lens.

The first issue is to determine what the qualifications of a good Canon portrait lens actually are. But in the process, keep in mind that you want to save money.

I hope this does not burst your bubble. I mean, photographers are kind of like fishermen and golfers. We are always under the impression that we need the next new camera or lens that comes out. Or, like my mother-in-law used to say, "If you don't have it, you need it." While the grass may be greener on the other side of the fence where your neighbor has a Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 portrait lens that she paid 00 for, it's possible that you can get by with something that you either already own or that costs just a tad bit less.

OK, real quick, the qualifications:

1. Image quality - this has to be really good. You do not want a lens that has poor image quality. After all, you will be shooting people, and most people are very vain about their appearance. It's not like taking a picture of a monkey or bear at the zoo. Those animals don't care what their picture looks like.

To find out whether the lens in question will qualify as a Canon portrait lens with respect to image quality, check some expert sites. But keep in mind that these guys are going to be very technical. You might just want to go to the Amazon or B & H Photo website and check user reviews. In that case, look for reviews from advanced amateurs or professionals. They will also be fairly reliable.

2. Focal length - Portraits can be taken with a lens that is as short as 50mm or as long as 300mm. Some of the pros use the extra long length to get the great bokeh, but normal portrait shooters use a lens of about 85mm to 135mm. The good news is that if you have an entry-level or mid-level digital SLR, you have what is known as a crop factor, which simply means that your camera multiplies the focal length of the lens by either 1.5 or 1.6 depending on the make of the camera. So if you have a 100mm lens, multiply it by the crop factor of, say 1.6, and you have an effective focal length of 160mm. And a 50mm lens becomes an effective focal length of 85mm. Of course, the shorter the focal length, the closer you will be to your subject. That's why a wide angle lens of 28mm will not be your best bet for a portrait lens.

3. Aperture - The aperture is really important. The wider the aperture, the better your chances for getting the nice blurry background that is desirable in this type of photography. You want a minimum of f/4.0 for longer length lenses, such as a 180mm lens, and at least an f/2.8 for the shorter lenses, such as 50mm. The larger the aperture, the better your background will be. But you also need a good sharp focus on the eyes because there is a very shallow depth of field with the wider apertures.

Generally, single focal length lenses are preferred for portraits, but that is not a hard and fast rule. Some photographers use their Canon 70-200 mm lens for this and are very happy with it.

OK, so there is a wide range of possibilities here. Going back to the first suggestion, look into your camera bag and see which, if any, of your current lenses fit the qualifications. If you still need to purchase a Canon portrait lens, proceed with patience. Getting a lens that can do two or three types of images is also a viable option.

One last thing. Third party lenses, like Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina are also great ways to save a few bucks. There are some excellent lenses made by these manufacturers, but make sure you check what the experts and others who have used them say in forums and online comment areas.

Canon Portrait Lens On a Budget - How To Choose A Portrait Lens

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