Nikon Camera Lens

Let’s talk about lenses. Specifically, let’s talk about telephoto lenses. Every amateur photographer has their standard DSLR, but eventually, we all want to get ahead of the pack. This is where lenses come in. A camera lens separates the dabblers from the dedicated, and lets the masses know you are not to be trifled with, when it comes to your cameras. However, it can be daunting to figure out what any particular lens does, let alone figure out which lens is right for you. The naming system is opaque, filled with archaic acronyms and terms that the layperson may not understand. So today, we’ll focus (no pun intended) on how to interpret a Nikon telephoto lens, so you, too, can be a cut above.

Let’s start with something easy like a Nikon AF 70-300mm Telephoto Lens. Nikon signifies the brand of the lens, or the type of camera that this lens will be compatible with. AF stands for auto-focus, which have sub-categories of screw-drive and AF-S. AF-S lenses are great to start out with, because they will auto-focus with any Nikon DSLR. Screw-drive lenses only work on a few different cameras, so be sure to check your camera! Next, is the focal length, which is 70-300mm in this lens. This means that this lens’ focal length can from between 70mm, which is wide, to 300mm, which is for long-distance telephoto shots, and anywhere in-between.

Now for something more advanced, like this Nikon Normal-Telephoto 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor Autofocus Lens. Overwhelming, right? Let’s break it down. The first few are easy. It’s a 55-200mm telephoto lens for Nikon cameras, great. Then, we run into some trouble. What does f/4-5.6G mean? This signifies to maximum aperture, or how wide the lens is able to adjust itself. A lower number means it can let in more light, meaning faster shutter speeds. Depth of field increases as the number grows. This is not particularly important unless you want to do certain special shots, like action photography or nature photography. The G at the end means that there is no aperture ring, which may be a problem if you have an older camera. Again, be sure to check! IF-ED stands for internal focus. This means it is easier to use special filters because it doesn’t have to be adjusted. AF-S, again means that it has autofocus and is compatible with any Nikon DSLR. DX means that this lens is made for anything below a D700. If you have a camera above a D700, you can still use it, however, there may be negative effects. Almost done! The last part, VR, stands for vibration reduction. It helps make your pictures sharper and lets you take pictures without using a tripod. Handy! Whew, done.

So there is your crash course in interpreting Nikon telephoto lenses. Go impress your friends with your new knowledge and superior camera skills!

-Brian