Characteristics of camera lenses by acronyms
For each brand of objectives, the acronyms make it possible to choose a model according to its essential characteristics.
| Stabilized | Autofocus | Power Zoom | High Quality | Full Frame | APS-C | Wheather sealed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon | IS | STM, USM | None | DO, L, Red edging | EF, RF | EF-S, EF-M | |
| Nikon | VR | A/M, A-M, AF-P | None | ED, Gold edging, S-Line | FX | DX | |
| Sony | Steadyshot, OSS, STF | SSM, SAM | Power Zoom, PZ | ED, G | FE | DT, E | |
| Tamron | VC | AF, IF, USD, PZD | ZL | SP, LD, XLD, XR, ASL | Di, Di III | Di II | |
| Sigma | OS | HSM, IF, DF | A, Art, EX | DG | DC | ||
| Panasonic | O.I.S. | HD | PZ | X | - | - | |
| Olympus | IS | SWD | EZ | ED, HR, HD, DSA | - | - | - |
| Samyang | None | IF | None | ED | - | CS | |
| Minolta | None | AF | None | - | - | - | - |
| Tokina | VCM | AF, IF, HLDs | AT-X Pro | FX | DX | - | |
| Pentax | None | SDM, DC, PLM, IF | None | ED, Limited | FA | DA | AW, WR |
Meaning:
- A Art.
- AT-X (Tokina). Advanced Technology eXtra. Consumer line lenses, unlike AT-X Pro produced since 1994.
- Contemporary (Sigma). For APS-C, label for better quality of image and control (no variations).
- DC (Sigma). Digital Calculated. For APS-C.
- DG (Sigma). Digital Grade. For full-frame.
- Di. Digitally Integrated. Suitable for SLRs or other full format.
- Di II. Lens designed by Tamron only for cameras with DSLR APS-C sensor.
- Di III. Tamron lens for mirroless cameras, with Canon EF-M, Sony E mounts.
- DN (Sigma). Digital Neo. For mirrorless cameras specifically.
- DT (Sony). Digital Technology. Lens designed for digital camera.
- EF Electronic Focus. An autofocus motor is in the lens.
- EF-S EF Small, for APS-C sensors.
- EZ Electronic zoom.
- EX Extreme, former designation of quality lens now abandoned.
- FE (Sony). Full-frame E-mount. Pour plein format.
- HLD High-Refraction and Low Dispersion.
- IF Internal Focusing. The change of focus is internal and does not expand the cylinder.
- IS. Image Stabilization.
- L. Latest series. High End Canon lenses with the latest technologies.
- LD. Low Dispersion (Tamron). Reduce chromatic aberrations.
- MC. Multi Coating.
- O.I.S. Optical Image Stabilization, as opposed to mechanical stabilization.
- OS. Optical Stabilization.
- OSD. Optimised Silent Drive. Fast and silent autofocus. For Tamton.
- OSS. Optical SteadyShot for E mount only.
- PZD. PieZo Drive. Silent motor technology.
- RMC. Rainbow Multi Coating.
- S-Line. Superior Line, for the Z mount.
- SD. Super Low Dispersion. Correct abberrations.
- SP. Super Performance.
- SAM. Smooth Autofocus Motor.
- SZ-X (Tokina). S series Zoom eXtra. SL for primes. SMZ for zoom with Macro.
- SSM. SuperSonic Motor.
- STF. Smooth Transmission Focus.
- STM. Stepper Motor technology. For silent focusing.
- SWD. Supersonic Wave Drive Motor.
- USM. UltraSonic Motor, that allows a silent autofocus.
- VC. Vibration Compensation.
- VCM. Vibration Correction Module.
- VR. Vibration Reduction.
- XR. Extract Refractive (Tamron). Reduce size.
- ZL. Zoom Lock, locking the zoom mechanism to block it on the chosen distance.
An additional acronym may designate the mount. See the (long) list on the page linked below.
The existence of a coating is denoted by MC which means Multi-Coated, SMC (Super Multi Coating), UMC, T * ...
Other acronyms relate to the internal technology and are not decisive in the choice of the objective. For example AL, ASPH, APO, ED, etc ...
Regarding vintage lenses, you also need to know some things.
- A Carl Zeiss Jena lens is a lens manufactured in East Germany in Jena, in the former Carl Zeiss warehouse. This has nothing to do with the brand of the same name, but most models are still of high quality. The "Jenazoom" were made in Japan by Sigma.
- The symbol T does not represent a T mount, but it indicates a manufacturing in East Germany, just like DDR. The symbol W denotes conversely a manufacturing in West Germany.
- For Panasonic, D represents the 4/3 format and G or DG the Micro 4/3 while Samyang uses the MFT (Micro Four Thirds) letters.
- The letters coupled to Rokkor on Minolta as PG designate the number of elements and lamellae in the diaphragm.
See also : What lens for my camera? List of all lens mounts for each camera manufacturer.