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Glossary of Terms (23)

A regularly updated collection of terms, definitions, abbreviations and acronyms related to photographic lenses. You must be logged in to add a term.

Sorted in Alphabetical Order

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BBAR

BBAR stands for Broad Band Anti Reflex

BBAR is Tamron's advanced multi-coating technique for suppresion of  internal reflections that cause ghosting and flare. You can read more about it here.

Source: Tamron
Posted by: Radovan 29.04.2015 23:28:22




eBAND

eBAND stands for Tamron’s proprietary Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency Coating. eBAND Coating is Nano-structured lens coating to protect against unwanted tangential reflection and ghosting. It is used in construction of Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD lens.

Source: Tamron
Posted by: Radovan 29.04.2015 23:03:22




XGM

XGM stands for Tamron's eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical lens element.It was designed to controls distortion and chromatic aberrations that affect wide-angle lenses. It's front lens element in Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD lens.

Source: Tamron
Posted by: Radovan 29.04.2015 22:40:54




Pixel peeper

Pixel peeper(plural Pixel peepers) can be used as derogatory term(usually is) to describe camera/lens performance-obsessed person/persons usually disregarding photos as faulty if not perfect at 100% magnification, without regard for composition, scene, artistic expression or anything else tat makes photograph great and optically pleasing. Wictionary gives a different explanation in direct contradiction with quotations used to show appropriate use. Some people are proud to be called pixel peeper and some call them self a pixel peeper. Harsher term or variation on theme is Pixel Nazi probably derived from Seinfeld TV show SOUP NAZI

Posted by: Radovan 13.09.2014 13:40:29




STM

Canon aberration STM describes new focusing motor type and stands for Stepper Motor. First EF lens to incorporate this type of motor was Canon EF 40mm f2.8 STM. Main purpose for this type of motor was to utilize more silent and smooth focusing and object tracking during video recording with new Canon camera releases like EOS 650D, EOS700D and mirrorless EOS-M and their new hybrid AF sensor. EF STM lenses will work with older types of EOS cameras but it is still questionable how will they preform regarding speed and accuracy of AF system not using hybrid AF sensor. ( this is a nice topic for Article About Lenses section)  EOS-M also introduced  new EF-M lens mount  which will be utilized only for Canon's  mirrorless cameras.  

Source: Various Canon and other sources
Posted by: Radovan 04.06.2013 11:26:22




AF

AF stand for Auto-focus and it is printed on lens barrel. It describes lens capability to work with camera body to achieve focus automatically. Details about AF systems and how they work can be found here.

Source: Wikipedia Auto-focus
Posted by: Radovan 24.03.2013 19:07:53




Front-focus

 

Look under Back-focus
Posted by: Radovan 24.03.2013 17:30:23




Back-focus

 

Back-focus or Front-focus is something that existed since auto-focus (AF) was introduced.
Referring that lens has a Back-focus or Front-focus problem is when focus point acquired by AF is constantly (in every photo) behind or in front of actual focusing point.
Different lenses on same body will not behave in same way most of them will be right on the spot but some might front-focus and other may back-focus.
In most new high end cameras there is setup option to correct this problem. For older and low end cameras you can always send them to service center for tune-up. (bare in mind that this will correct AF problem with your lens and camera combo but if you sell lens or upgrade camera body problem will reappear because lens was tuned to your old body)
Posted by: Radovan 24.03.2013 17:29:33




SP

SP stands for Tamron´s Super Performance and describes Tamron's high performance lenses featuring high design specifications. It is always placed as firt two letters in lens name eg. (SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD)

Source: Tamron Technical Glossary
Posted by: Radovan 26.02.2013 14:15:28




Picture Style

Picture Style is Canon's EOS digital camera built in system through which you can select the way image will be recorded. There are six predefined styles and three custom styles. Beside this built in styles there is also Picture Style editor in which you can apply different style in post processing or create your own style and upload it to camera's custom style. For all detail information and how to go here.

Source: Picture Style special syte
Posted by: Radovan 25.02.2013 13:15:13




USM

USM stands for Canon's Ultrasonic Motor it's an AF (auto focus) driving motor. Usually contained in lens name eg. (EF-S 15-85 mm f/ 3.5-5.6 IS USM) and in gold lettering on lens barel (ULTRASONIC). All detail about Ultrasonic Motor technology can be found here. Other after-market lens manufacturer call their ultrasonic motors by different name for Sigma it is called HSM and Tamron calls it USD

Source: Canon museum USM
Posted by: Radovan 25.02.2013 12:40:14




IS

IS stands for Canon's proprietary in-lens Image Stabilizer technology. Usually contained in lens name eg. (EF-S 15-85 mm f/ 3.5-5.6 IS USM) and in big lettering on lens barel (IMAGE STABILIZER). All detail about Image Stabilizer technology can be found here. Other after-market lens manufacturer call their image stabilizer system by different name for Sigma it is called OS and Tamron calls it VC

Source: Web page dedicated to explain IS technology
Posted by: Radovan 25.02.2013 12:11:01




USD

USD stands for Tamron's proprietary Ultrasonic Silent Drive used in their lenses to achieve silent and high-speed AF. Usually contained in lens name eg. (SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD) Translated to Canon terminology it equals to USM (Ultrasonic Motor) or for Sigma it's HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor)

Source: Tamron Technical Glossary
Posted by: Radovan 24.02.2013 22:32:58




VC

VC stands for Tamron's proprietary lens Vibration Compensation system. Usually contained in lens name eg. (SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD) Translated to Canon terminology it equals to IS (Image Stabilizer) or for Sigma it's OS (Optical Stabilizer)

More about VC and how it works can be found here

Source: Tamron Technical Glossary
Posted by: Radovan 24.02.2013 22:22:06




DN

DN stands for Digital Neo and it's used by Sigma to denote that lens is designed exclusively for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. Usually contained in lens name eg. (30mm F2.8 DN | A) 

Posted by: Radovan 24.02.2013 21:32:25




DG

DG is abbreviation for DG for Digital and used by Sigma to denote that lens is designed for full-frame digital SLRs but it'll also work with ASP-C size DLSRs. Usually contained in lens name eg. (150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro) 

Posted by: Radovan 24.02.2013 21:21:12




EX

This one is my favorite. Used by Sigma to accent lens EX-finish and to denote the superior build and optical quality according to Sigma standard. It's usually find in lens name right after F-stop number (eg. 150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro) and it is followed by four or five abbreviations. In real world abbreviations after EX are sufficient to explain lens superior build. In my opinion EX only denotes high end finish.

Posted by: Radovan 24.02.2013 20:42:00




APO

APO is acronym for Apochromatic used by Sigma to denote that lens has been made using special low-dispersion (SLD) glass and is designed to minimize color aberration. Usually contained in lens name eg. (150mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro) 

Source: Sigma product description
Posted by: Radovan 24.02.2013 19:46:51




DC

Abbreviation used by Sigma to describe special lenses designed for APS-C size sensors. Lens designated with DC are intended to be used only on cameras with ASP-C sensor. Usually contained in lens name eg. (18-50mm F2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM)

Source: Sigma product description
Posted by: Radovan 24.02.2013 18:53:39




HSM

Abbreviation used by Sigma to mark usage of Hyper-Sonic Motor in their lenses to achieve silent, high-speed AF. Usually contained in lens name eg. (18-50mm F2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM) Translated to Canon terminology it equals to USM (Ultrasonic Motor)

Source: Sigma product description
Posted by: Radovan 24.02.2013 18:29:23




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