Here's a neat glossary to help you remember what all the technology terms mean when it comes to choosing settings or buying a new lens
(Image credit: Future/Jean-Daniel Francoeur)
There's an amazing range of lenses on the market today, and ever-evolving technology is giving us more compact, clear and affordable optics than ever. But with sometimes comes a little confusion, too.
From the best lenses for landscapes to the best lenses for weddings, the sheer selection can be intimidating. When you're making a buying choice, you need to consider the variety of types, technologies and features available, and to work out what's right for you.
Of course, manufacturers don't always make it easy for us, and lenses tend to be bandied around with a lot of complex terminology. Only with a good knowledge of the lens and of the common pitfalls of the lens type can a photographer make informed decisions about each optic and get the best camera lenses.
The terminology of lenses is often far from self-explanatory, and is made more confusing by variations between different manufacturers. Modern lenses come armed with a wealth of advanced technology – some software based, some hardware and chemistry related. Each feature is responsible for a small portion of the overall design, which is tailored to produce the optimal sharpness and contrast, with minimal distortion.
Understanding the technology present in a lens is essential for making informed decisions about which models you need in your kitbag.
The glossary sheet below rounds up some common terms used in relation to lenses, and if you don't know your magnification ratio from your MFT, it should help you.
There's nothing groundbreaking in this lens glossary, but it will make hopefully sense of common terms, allowing you to dig further into areas should you need to. Why not save it onto your phone roll and refer back to it later?
Lauren is a writer, reviewer, and photographer with ten years of experience in the camera industry. She's the former Managing Editor of Digital Camera World, and previously served as Editor of Digital Photographer magazine, Technique editor for PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, and Deputy Editor of our sister publication, Digital Camera Magazine. An experienced journalist and freelance photographer, Lauren also has bylines at Tech Radar, Space.com, Canon Europe, PCGamesN, T3, Stuff, and British Airways' in-flight magazine (among others). When she's not testing gear for DCW, she's probably in the kitchen testing yet another new curry recipe or walking in the Cotswolds with her Flat-coated Retriever.
