Lens - Jargon Explained

[Jetl3on]

Is there a Jargon Buster and Recommended section for equipment on here, what to look for and what all the acronyms mean?
Ideally I want an all-in-one Nikon 18-200 to replace the 18-55, but might have to settle for a 55-200 or 70-300 as they are so much cheaper, as I just want it for personal use.

Then there is the DX,VR,DC,ED,IF,F3,F4,2.8,5.6,6.1 to consider.

Thanks in advance.

[Simpo Two]

Jetl3on said:

Then there is the DX,VR,DC,ED,IF,F3,F4,2.8,5.6,6.1 to consider.

Ooh, ooh, me me!

DX - Nikon's crop format (all DSLRs below D700)
VR - Vibration Reduction - the current marketing panacea as everybody suddenly has shaky hands)
DC - Sigma speak for 'only suitable for crop format'
ED - Extra Dispersion glass (better than not ED)
IF - Internal Focusing (front element doesn't rotate, which is good)
f-anything is the maximum aperture of the lens. Zoom lenses frequently have two, as it varies from one end of the zoom to the other.

[jon-]

What's the Nikon version of L?

[Simpo Two]

jon- said:

What's the Nikon version of L?

Good question - you can identify the 'pro' lenses by the price - usually £1K+!

[jon-]

I always thought VR stood for Very Rubbish Joking aside I'm sorely tempted to jump to Nikon (d700) as there's nothing really in the Canon lineup that rivals it, plus I was shooting with a d300 plus the 105 f2.8 and the 24-70 f2.8 on Sunday and really liked the feel of it. The 5d MKII is nice but the AF is the usual non-pro canon standard, poor, and I need something that can focus quickly and accurately.

The only thing stopping me is the 60d / 7d announcement due next week. You might not be the only pro loserNikon user for long I prefer the Nikon bodies, but I like the canon range of glass. The two companies should clearly merge.

Edited by jon- on Tuesday 11th August 16:38

[...Mole...]

OS on Sigma lenses is Optical Stabilzer (Vibration Reduction)

Edited by ...Mole... on Tuesday 11th August 16:43

[GetCarter]

jon- said:

What's the Nikon version of L?

I always thought ED was the Nikkor version of L (but may be wrong)

[jon-]

Just to round this off for Canon:

EF / EF-S: The lens mount. EF will mount any modern Canon DSLR where is EF-S is for the 1.6 cropped bodies only (xxxd and xxd)
IS: Image stablised
L: Pro glass
USM: Ultra sonic motor (fast quiet focusing)
TS-E: Tiltshift
MP-E: Macro

[Ravell]

GetCarter said:

jon- said:

What's the Nikon version of L?

I always thought ED was the Nikkor version of L (but may be wrong)

ED stands for Extra Low Dispersion glass, which is a type of optical glass with a lower refractive index, the result is less chromatic aberation in the corners. While this type of glass was initialy used exclusively on Nikon's pro lenses, its now much more availible and most lenses now have 1 or more glass elements with it.

Most pro lenses I've seen from Nikon have a gold ring near the front element.

[Simpo Two]

Ravell said:

ED stands for Extra Low Dispersion glass, which is a type of optical glass with a lower refractive index, the result is less chromatic aberation in the corners. While this type of glass was initialy used exclusively on Nikon's pro lenses, its now much more availible and most lenses now have 1 or more glass elements with it.

I have to say the 70-300 ED doesn't strike me as too good in the CA department, is soft at 300mm, has a max aperture of f4-5.6 and was only £225 new. Hence I certainly wouldn't call it a professional lens. IMHO it it fits between the 'G' and 'VR' versions both in price and quality.

[jon-]

Ravell said:

GetCarter said:

jon- said:

What's the Nikon version of L?

I always thought ED was the Nikkor version of L (but may be wrong)

ED stands for Extra Low Dispersion glass, which is a type of optical glass with a lower refractive index, the result is less chromatic aberation in the corners. While this type of glass was initialy used exclusively on Nikon's pro lenses, its now much more availible and most lenses now have 1 or more glass elements with it.

Most pro lenses I've seen from Nikon have a gold ring near the front element.

That's what I was trying to think of, Nikon have the gold ring! I forgot to mention above, L lenses is more than just great glass, they're weather sealed and generally built like tanks.

[Ravell]

Simpo Two said:

Ravell said:

ED stands for Extra Low Dispersion glass, which is a type of optical glass with a lower refractive index, the result is less chromatic aberation in the corners. While this type of glass was initialy used exclusively on Nikon's pro lenses, its now much more availible and most lenses now have 1 or more glass elements with it.

I have to say the 70-300 ED doesn't strike me as too good in the CA department, is soft at 300mm, has a max aperture of f4-5.6 and was only £225 new. Hence I certainly wouldn't call it a professional lens. IMHO it it fits between the 'G' and 'VR' versions both in price and quality.

Well, it's supposed to improve it, doesn't always work as well and there will be vastly more engineering effort put in the pro lenses to make one or more ED elements work, whereas on consumer lenses, they are more likely to put an ED element in to please the marketing department and not worry too much about how effective it is.

[grumpy bear]

jon- said:

Ravell said:

GetCarter said:

jon- said:

What's the Nikon version of L?

I always thought ED was the Nikkor version of L (but may be wrong)

ED stands for Extra Low Dispersion glass, which is a type of optical glass with a lower refractive index, the result is less chromatic aberation in the corners. While this type of glass was initialy used exclusively on Nikon's pro lenses, its now much more availible and most lenses now have 1 or more glass elements with it.

Most pro lenses I've seen from Nikon have a gold ring near the front element.

That's what I was trying to think of, Nikon have the gold ring! I forgot to mention above, L lenses is more than just great glass, they're weather sealed and generally built like tanks.

This is Nikon's own list of their 'Pro' equipment

Nikon F5, F6
Nikon D2X, D2Xs, D2H, D2Hs, D3, D3x
Nikon D200, D300, D700

400mm f/2.8G ED VR AF-S Nikkor
500mm f/4G ED VR AF-S Nikkor
600mm f/4G ED VR AF-S Nikkor

AF-S DX 35 f1.8G
AF-DX 10.5MM F/2.8G
AF-S 50 f1.4G
AF 16 F/2.8D
AF 18 F/2.8
AF 28 F/1.4D
AF 14 F/2.8
AF 24 F/2.8D
AF 20 F/2.8
AF 28 F/2.8D
AF 35 F/2D
AF 85 F/1.4
AF 85 F/1.8
AF DC 105 F/2
AF DC 135 F/2
AF 180 F/2.8

AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S 14 - 24mm f/2.8G
AF-S VR 200-400 F/4G
AF-S VR 70-200 F/2.8G IF-ED
AF 35-70 F/2.8
AF-S DX 17-55MM F/2.8G
AFS 80-200 F/2.8
AF 24-85 F/2.8-4
AFS 28-70 F/2.8
AFS 17-35 F/2.8
AFS DX 12-24 F/4G

AF-S 600 F/4
AF-S 400 F/2.8
AFS 300 F/2.8
AF-S VR 200 F/2
AF-S 500 F/4
AFS 300 F/4
AF-S VR 300 F/2.8
AF-S 400mm VRf/2.8G ED
AF-S 500mm VRf/4G ED
AF-S 600mm VR f/4G ED

AF 60 F/2.8D
AF 105 F/2.8
AF-S 105 F/2.8 VR
AF-S 60 F2.8
AF 200 F/4
PC 85 F/2.8
PC-E 24 F/3.5
PC-E 45 F/2.8
PC-E 85 F/2.8

All of the above will qualify for the pro user scheme ie have six of this lot and you are a bit more pampered as well as rich and lop sided from the weight of carrying them.

[Simpo Two]

grumpy bear said:

All of the above will qualify for the pro user scheme ie have six of this lot and you are a bit more pampered as well as rich and lop sided from the weight of carrying them.

More pampered - well if a few e-mails from Nikon constitutes pampered, OK.
Rich - no.
Lop-sided from weight of carrying them - it does spoil the hang of one's jacket!



(NB To get in you need two qualifying camera bodies, and last time I looked the SB800/900 Speedlights also counted)

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 11th August 22:12

[grumpy bear]

The list was a copy from the Nikon site so I dont think the Speedlights count anymore. I got the email to say on was on the list when I registered my second D300. This is the blurb:

Nikon Professional Users Membership

To qualify for the exclusive Nikon Professional User Scheme*, you need to own at least two pieces of equipment form the Nikon Professional body and lens range, one of which should be a camera body. Please see below for a full list of qualifying products.

To apply for membership, simply register your professional Nikon product online. You will then receive an email asking you to confirm your request to join the scheme. Your membership pack will then follow . Here's what you'll receive as a member:

Nikon Professional Users Membership Card
Use your card to gain access to exclusive range of services.

Freefone Technical Support
Talk directly to Nikon Customer Support specialists with a dedicated telephone line.

Free Subscription to Nikon Pro magazine
Read features of leading professional photographers, including 'how they did it' articles.

Notice of New Products and Technology
Be amongst the first to hear about the latest Nikon product innovations.

Invitation to Free Seminars and Other Professional Events
Attend exclusive seminars and other professional events.

Discounted Nikon Training Courses
Learn more at our practical Digital Imaging Training Workshops. As a Nikon Professional User you can receive a 10% discount.

This is from the email they sent me

Do you earn a living from photography?

Do you own at least six items from our professional range, including two professional camera bodies?

If the answer is yes to both of these questions, then you may qualify to upgrade your membership to the Nikon Professional Services scheme. The scheme has many benefits for the modern professional photographer, aside from the service you already receive as an NPU member you will also get:

Pro Track Express Service - an express turnaround on all Pro repairs (3-5 working days)
NPS Allocation - priority allocation scheme for new products, available to NPS only
NPS Roadshow - NPS only events with free sensor cleaning and minor repairs

[Simpo Two]

Nikon Professional Users Membership said:

To qualify for the exclusive Nikon Professional User Scheme*, you need to own at least two pieces of equipment form (sic) the Nikon Professional body and lens range, ONE of which should be a camera body...

Do you own at least six items from our professional range, including TWO professional camera bodies

They seem to be confused themselves!

I joined last year - but it was having 2x SB800s that got me up to six.

[GetCarter]

I only have 5 of the above

Though I have owned 9 of them

[grumpy bear]

Yep got 5 myself, if the SB900 counted I would have 6

[Simpo Two]

But unless your profile needs updating Mr Bear, you don't earn your living from photography!




NB: We seem to have strayed rather; apologies to the OP.

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 12th August 10:56

[grumpy bear]

You're correct I don't currently earn all of my income from photography, not that it is at all relevant. However, as you say, we have strayed but in fairness the thread did ask for clarification of what constitutes a Nikon / Nikkor Pro lens, the list was posted to provide that information.