Manufacturer's abbreviations explained
Lens manufacturers use the strangest abbreviations in their lens names. Learn what they mean with the following list (most important ones are highlighted):
Canon
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| 1-5x | This speciality lens can achieve maximum magnifications from 1.0 x up to 5.0 x. It is used for extreme macro photography |
| 18-55mm | Shortest focal length: 18 mm (with APS-C cameras: 29 mm effective) Longest focal length: 55 mm (with APS-C cameras: 88 mm effective) |
| DO | Diffractive Optics aim to combine excellent color correction with small lens dimensions |
| EF | Unlike EF-S lenses this lens can be used with all Canon EOS cameras |
| EF-S | This lens can only be used with APS-C cameras (not with full frame cameras) |
| f/3.5-5.6 | Lowest available f-stop at shortest focal length: f/3.5 Lowest available f-stop at longest focal length: f/5.6 |
| Fisheye | A fisheye lens is an extreme wide angle lens that often covers an angle of view of 180° or more. Unlike standard wide angle lenses fisheys produce strong barrel-shaped distortions |
| II | This is the second edition of this lens. An earlier edition exists |
| III | This is the third edition of this lens. Earlier editions exist |
| IS | This lens features an image stabilizer |
| L | Professional grade lense of the "L"-series |
| Macro | Suitable for macro photography (maximum magnification at least 1.0 x) |
| MP-E | This lens is a speciality lens with an EF mount and thus can be used with all Canon EOS cameras |
| SoftFocus | Softfocus lenses soften surfaces within the image while retaining sharp edges. They are mainly used for portrait photography (e.g. to enhance the appearance of the skin) |
| STM | Stepping Motor lenses enable continuous AF during live view (e.g. while shooting video) when used with a camera that features Hybrid CMOS AF. They are usually less noisy and faster than conventional micro-motors and allow manual override during autofocus operation (One-Shot AF mode only) |
| Tilt-Shift | With Tilt-Shift lenses photographers can modify the light's route through the optical system. This allows for very flexible and unique depth of field effects and for intensive perspective distortion correction (used mainly in architectural photography) |
| TS-E | This lens is a speciality lens with an EF mount and thus can be used with all Canon EOS cameras |
| USM | Ultra sound motors are less noisy and faster than conventional micro-motors. They usually allow manual override during autofocus operation |
Tamron
| Abbreviation | Canon | Meaning |
| 1:1 | This lens is a true macro lens capable of maximum magnifications of 1.0 x | |
| 1:2 | This lens is suitable for close-up photography up to a maximum magnification of 0.5 x. Usually a lens is not considered a "Macro" unless it's capable of a maximum magnification of 1.0 x | |
| 18-200mm | Shortest focal length: 18 mm (with APS-C cameras: 29 mm effective) Longest focal length: 200 mm (with APS-C cameras: 320 mm effective) | |
| AF | This lens has an autofocus motor (the lack of this designation does not necessarily mean that there is no autofocus motor) | |
| Aspherical | This lens uses optics that are not portions of a sphere or cylinder. Lenses like that are more difficult to manufacture but achieve higher image quality | |
| Di | EF | Unlike "Di-II" lenses this lens can be used with all Canon EOS cameras |
| Di-II | EF-S | This lens can only be used with APS-C cameras (not with full frame cameras) |
| F/3.5-6.3 | Lowest available f-stop at shortest focal length: f/3.5 Lowest available f-stop at longest focal length: f/6.3 | |
| LD | Low Dispersion: this lens is made of special optics that introduce lesser color errors | |
| MACRO | This lens is suitable for close-up photography. Please note that Tamron name lenses "Macro" even if they don't reach a maximum magnification of 1.0 x. Look for the "1:1" designation for true macro lenses | |
| PZD | USM | Piezo Drive is a special ultra sound motor that's allows compact lens dimensions. Ultra sound motors are less noisy and faster than conventional micro-motors. They usually allow manual override during autofocus operation |
| SP | L | Professional grade lens of the "SP" series |
| USD | USM | Ultra sound motors are less noisy and faster than conventional micro-motors. They usually allow manual override during autofocus operation |
| VC | IS | Vibration Control: This lens features an image stabilizer |
| XR | Extra Refractive glass is used to make the lens more compact | |
| [IF] | This lens uses inner focusing - the lens does not extend while focusing |
Sigma
| Abbreviation | Canon | Meaning |
| 18-200mm | Shortest focal length: 18 mm (with APS-C cameras: 29 mm effective) Longest focal length: 200 mm (with APS-C cameras: 320 mm effective) | |
| APO | Apochromatic: this lens is made of special optics that introduce lesser color errors | |
| Circular-Fisheye | A fisheye lens is an extreme wide angle lens that often covers an angle of view of 180° or more. Unlike standard wide angle lenses fisheys produce strong barrel-shaped distortions. A circular fisheye will show the image as a circle that\s sourrounded by a black frame | |
| DC | EF-S | This lens can only be used with APS-C cameras (not with full frame cameras) |
| DG | EF | Unlike DC lenses this lens can be used with all Canon EOS cameras |
| Diagonal-Fisheye | A fisheye lens is an extreme wide angle lens that often covers an angle of view of 180° or more. Unlike standard wide angle lenses fisheys produce strong barrel-shaped distortions | |
| EX | L | Professional grade lens of the "EX" series |
| F4.5-5.6 | Lowest available f-stop at shortest focal length: f/4.5 Lowest available f-stop at longest focal length: f/5.6 | |
| Fisheye | Also called "Diagonal-Fisheye". A fisheye lens is an extreme wide angle lens that often covers an angle of view of 180° or more. Unlike standard wide angle lenses fisheys produce strong barrel-shaped distortions | |
| HSM | USM | Hyper Sonic Motor: ultra sound motors are less noisy and faster than conventional micro-motors. They usually allow manual override during autofocus operation |
| II | This is the second edition of this lens. An earlier edition exists | |
| Macro | This lens is suitable for close-up photography. Please note that Sigma name lenses "Macro" even if they don't reach a maximum magnification of 1.0 x | |
| OS | IS | Optical Stabilizer: This lens features an image stabilizer |