What do all the letters mean?

sparker

sparker

Messages
585
Name
Simon
Edit My Images
Yes
I've been looking through this weeks AP.....can some one please explain what all the letters mean after camera lenses ie , USM, EF-S, IS, APO, DG, DI etc, I'm really confused:shrug:

Thanks
Simon
 
Last edited:
USM= Ultra sonic motor. Canon's fast focus lenses
EF-S- Canon's crop lens mount
IS- Canons Image stabilisation
APO- Sigma designation for apochromatic coated lens elements
DG- Sigma's crop lens mount
DI- Tamrons crop lens mount
OS- Optical stabilisation, Sigmas version of IS
 
sparker said:
I've been looking through this weeks AP.....can some one please explain what all the letters mean after camera lenses ie , USM, EF-S, IS, APO, DG, DI etc, I'm really confused:shrug:

Thanks
Simon
Click to expand...

You dont need to know what they mean, just make sure you are able to quote them when chatting to the guy with something inferior to your camera in his hand :thumbs:
 
TCR4x4 said:
USM= Ultra sonic motor. Canon's fast focus lenses
EF-S- Canon's crop lens mount
IS- Canons Image stabilisation
APO- Sigma designation for apochromatic coated lens elements
DG- Sigma's crop lens mount
DI- Tamrons crop lens mount
OS- Optical stabilisation, Sigmas version of IS
Click to expand...

DG isnt Sigma's crop mount. DG = "These are large-aperture lenses with wide angles and short minimum focusing distances. With an abundance of peripheral illumination, they are ideal lenses for Digital SLR Cameras whilst retaining suitability for traditional 35mm SLRs" so its both crop and FF, and is in actual fact their higher spec' lens.

DC is their crop lens mount.

And I think for the Tamrons its only Di II that is crop only. DI lenses can be used an FF as well IIRC?

APO is a little more than the coating as they use Special Low-Dispersion glass in the elements as well.
 
Last edited:
EF ..... Electro Focus

EF-S... Electro Focus - Short Back Focus
 
odd jim said:
And I think for the Tamrons its only Di II that is crop only. DI lenses can be used an FF as well IIRC?
Click to expand...

This is correct.

The Sigma ones are on their websites here.
The Tamron ones are on Wikipedia here.
The Canon ones are listed in this article under the "Canon Alphabet soup" section.

If you need any other manufacturers' systems then do a google search for "X lens nomenclature" or "X lens designations" where X is the manufacturer you're interested in.
 
True, got my DC and DG's mixed up.. Never guess I dont use Sigma or Tamron lenses would you?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top