Different manufacturers use very different abbreviations to describe the technology used in their own lenses even if the technology itself is very similar. Some abbreviations can be difficult to comprehend and easily mixed up. We’ ve already covered Nikon lens abbreviations . This article will help you understand Canon zoom lens naming terminology.

1) Canon Lens Format Abbreviations

• EF – this is the brand new fully electronic Canon lens attach introduced back in 1987. Lenses noticeable with EF are compatible with all Cannon EOS cameras, digital and movie, and are designed to cover 35mm full-frame image circle.
• EF-S – the only real difference between Canon EF plus EF-S lenses is that the latter continues to be designed for Canon digital cameras with APS-C sensors, such as the Canon EOS 700D. Canon EF-S lenses should not (and in most cases can not) be installed on Canon EOS film and electronic full-frame cameras with 36x24mm size sensors because of the larger mirror utilized in these cameras. If mounted, broken to the mirror may be caused on shutter actuation – it would strike the lens’ rear element. EF-S lenses feature a protective pin that will stops these lenses from getting mounted on a full-frame EOS digital camera.
• EF-M – a new lens file format specifically designed for the Canon EOS Meters mirrorless camera system with EF-M mount. Just like the EF-S lenses, EF-M are designed for APS-C sensor digital cameras. They will only fit Canon EOS M cameras, though, thanks to smaller flange focal distance (distance in between lens mount and film/sensor plane). EF-S and EF lenses could be mounted on EF-M lens mount by using appropriate lens mount adapters, yet EF-M lenses can not be mounted on the particular EF mount.
• FD – this is actually the old manual focus Canon zoom lens mount used before 1987. Since it was not suitable for autofocus, Canon chose to switch from FD and created the EOS system with EF mount. Canon FD is now stopped, but still used by film photography enthusiasts. There are several cracking lenses with the FD attach and, through the use of appropriate adapters, FD lenses can be mounted on modern EOS EF cameras. Adapters with an optic glass element allow infinity concentrate, while simpler adapters without an extra optical element will not focus on infinity.
• FDn – the same as FD, only with no coating designation within the lens front (used SSC zoom lens coating).
• FLORIDA – same install as FD, but without the capability to meter at full aperture.

2) Canon Lens Class plus Technology Abbreviations

• L – standing for “ Luxury”, the L designation marks Canon’ s top-end, professional grade lens with the most advanced optical formulas plus high quality, complex glass elements. These types of lenses are built to Canon’ s i9000 highest standards and often feature some type of weather protection as well as wide aperture setting. L lenses are costed according to their quality, but some are believed budget (within reason), like the 24-105mm f/4L lens . It sells for over $1100 at the moment and can barely be considered cheap, but for an D lens, this sort of price is very suitable. L class lenses are easily identified by the presence of a red ring round the front end.
• SSC – Super Spectral Coating. Originally discovered by Master Rayleigh in 1886 and improved by Carl Zeiss later, zoom lens coatings made a huge impact on upcoming optics. Basically, coating minimizes zoom lens reflections and increases contrast. Almost all modern Canon lenses are multicoated, so only the oldest of them possess the SSC marking on the barrel.
• I, II, 3 – Roman numbers in the lens name describe the particular lens’ generation. For example , there are 2 Canon 24-70mm f/2. 8L lens: the first one is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2. 8L USM , and the various other one is Canon EF 24-70mm f/2. 8L II USM . The only distinction in the name of the lenses is the “ II” designation of the second zoom lens, which means it is the newer, updated edition. Both are professional, tough L-grade lenses, but with different optics plus price. Generally, if a lens benefits IS – which is Image Leveling – it drops the previous numeral and should be considered a newer release.
• USM – this abbreviation means the particular lens is equipped with Canon’ s top-end focusing motor, the ring-type UltraSonic Motor. This is a fast, quiet plus powerful autofocus motor that allows full-time manual focus override. It is utilized in most current Canon lenses from cheap prime lenses all the way up to amazing telephoto and L-class lenses.
• Micro USM – this autofocus engine is smaller and simpler compared to USM used in most Canon lens. Like its big brother, it is quick and quiet when used in smaller sized lenses with lighter optical components. There is a disadvantage, though – Tiny USM does not generally allow full-time manual focus override. There are conditions. One notable lens to function the simpler Micro USM electric motor rather than full-sized ring-type USM however allow full-time manual focus small adjustments is the Canon EF 50mm f/1. four USM . Both USM plus Micro USM motors are pointed out as USM on the lens alone.
• STM – Stepper Motor made to minimize autofocus vibrations and sound during video recording, this autofocus motor has been gradually making its way straight into budget Canon lenses. The first zoom lens to sport STM was the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens . At this point, all EF-M lenses incorporate the particular Stepper Motor, but even several EF-S lenses have been updated, such as the EF-S 18-55mm f/3. 5-5. 6 CAN BE STM lens . STM lens use fly-by-wire focusing, which means switching the focus ring does not physically shift the elements, but tells the AF motor to do so.
• AFD – Arc-Form Drive is the first autofocus electric motor used in Canon EF lenses. It really is much louder than USM engines, somewhat slower and not as fast. It also has slower reaction period so does not follow subjects along with newer motors. There is no full-time guide focus override. If an autofocus Canon lens has no indication upon its barrel what sort of AF electric motor is used, it is either AFD or even Micro Motor.
• MM – this particular abbreviation stands for Micro Motor, that is the least advanced AF motor utilized in Canon lenses along with AFD. Essentially, it is a smaller version of the AFD motor. This autofocus motor is just used in the cheapest Canon lenses, such as the EF-S 18-55mm f/3. 5-5. 6 IS CERTAINLY II kit focus. This motor does not allow full-time manual focus override like the a lot more sophisticated USM systems do. Additionally it is somewhat louder in operation, although since the kit zoom is so light, the particular motor is also very small and the sound is rarely intrusive. If a good autofocus Canon lens has no sign on its barrel what sort of AF motor is used, it is either Tiny Motor or AFD.
• PZ – stands for Power Zoom and utilizes a dedicated motor to change the central length of the lens. I believe the only Cannon EF lens to use PZ will be the EF 35-80mm f/4-5. 6 PZ .
• IS – this is Canon’ ersus abbreviation for optical image stablizing, or simply Image Stabilizer – some technology that moves some of the lens’ optical elements to counter wring and provide sharper results when gradual shutter speed is used for stationary subject capture.

3) Specific Canon Lens Abbreviations

• Macro – a lens along with such designation focuses down to fairly short distances and provides 1: one magnification.
• Small Macro – comparable to regular macro lenses, Compact Macro can focus very close. So far as I know, there is only one such zoom lens – the EF 50mm f/2. five Compact Macro . There is a devoted converter available for this lens that will increases the working distance (distance among subject and front lens component at minimum focus) and allows 1: 1 magnification for this zoom lens. It is called the Canon Life-Size Converter EF .
• MP-E – there is just one Canon lens with such status, and it is the Canon MP-E 62mm f/2. 8 1-5x Macro lens . MP-E means very high magnification optical technologies – this lens starts to concentrate at magnification where regular macro lenses run out of puff. These lens is manual-focus only and focus at infinity. Instead, it could achieve magnification anywhere from 1: one to 5: 1 .
• TS-E – lenses with tilt and change adjustments used for creative portraits, scenery, macro and architecture photography. Amazing, expensive and manual focus just.
• DO – Diffractive Optics lens have special glass elements that will bend light more than regular cup. This allows them to be smaller compared to regular lenses of the same guidelines. A well-known Canon DO zoom lens is the telephoto EF 400mm f/4 PERFORM IS USM . It gives the great build quality with the L brothers and sisters, but has a green ring round the front rather than a red one.
• Softfocus – as you may have guessed, Softfocus lenses have optical formula which is meant to deliver softer results purposely. Such lenses used to be popular years ago among film photographers meant for portrait photography as they hid pores and skin imperfections and created a “ dreamy”, glowing effect. Suffice to say this kind of lenses are no longer popular today – it is easy to achieve soft focus impact using post-processing if one should want so. There is only one Canon EF lens with Softfocus feature, in fact it is the EF 135mm f/2. 8 along with Softfocus . It is possible to turn off the particular Softfocus by setting appropriate band on the lens to the value of zero (off), in which case the lens works like a normal 135mm f/2. eight would.

4) Lens Illustration

Now that most of us have the relevant abbreviations taken care of, let’ h analyze the name of an actual lens. What about the popular Canon EF 70-200mm f/2. 8L IS II USM ?

Based on the lens name we are able to easily tell that this is an costly and professional-grade optic (L designation). As a top-quality instrument, it also functions an advanced optical formula for best probable performance, including ED and Fluorite glass elements (L). Weather closing is a possibility with L lens and is indeed present in this particular situation. It is also designed with film and electronic full-frame Canon EOS cameras in your mind (EF). Naturally, it can be used on crop-sensor Canon DSLR cameras, too. The particular lens is optically stabilized – it features Canon’ s Picture Stabilizer technology (IS). This is furthermore the second version of such a lens using a stabilizer (II). Autofocus is powered by Canon’ s best electric motor. Full-time manual focus is available, whilst automatic focusing promises to be extremely snappy and quiet (USM).