Deciphering a camera’s specifications can be confusing, with all the acronyms and fancy names. I’ve compiled a list below to help you figure it all out… at least for Nikon and Canon.
I talk about a few of the terms in this video…
DSLR Nomenclature
Nikon | Canon | What is this? |
FX | Full Frame | Full-Frame Sensor |
DX (1.5x) | APS-C (1.6x) | Cropped Sensor |
n/a | APS-H (1.3x) | Cropped Sensor |
A | Av | Aperture Priority |
S | Tv | Shutter Priority |
M | M | Manual |
P | P | Program |
Continuous Servo Autofocus | AI Servo Autofocus | Continuous Focusing – the camera continues to focus after the shutter release is half-pressed |
Single Servo Autofocus | One Shot Autofocus | Non-Continuous Focusing – the camera stops autofocusing once the shutter release is half-pressed |
Continuous | Continuous Shooting | Continuous Shooting – as long as you hold the shutter release button, the camera will keep taking photos |
Single | Single Shooting | Single Shot Shooting – one press of the shutter release button equals one photo |
i-TTL (Intelligent Through the Lens) | E-TTL (Evaluative Through the Lens) | Flash metering pattern that weighs all parts equally |
Active D-Lighting | Auto Lighting Optimizer | In high contrast lighting conditions, it effectively lightens the dark areas, while holding the bright areas |
Interval Timer | Self-Timer Continuous | Photos taken at set intervals |
Lens Nomenclature
Nikon | Canon | What is this? |
AF-S | USM | Silent Autofocus- near-silent focusing |
AF | n/a | No autofocus motor in lens; to use autofocus, the camera body must have a focus motor |
Micro | Macro | Macro- allows the lens to focus when close to the subject |
n/a | EF | Designed for full-frame DSLRs & APS-H DSLRs (though a crop factor of 1.3x is applied) |
DX | EF-S | Designed for cropped-sensor DSLRs; on Canon, will not work on full frame DSLRs in cropped mode |
D | n/a | Aperture ring on lens |
G | EF & EF-S | No aperture ring on lens |
IF | Internal Focus System | Internal Focus- no moving focus ring on outside of lens |
n/a | Front Group Rotating | Non-Internal Focus- moving focus ring on outside of lens |
VR (Vibration Reduction) | IS (Image Stabilization) | Image Stabilization- prevents motion blur; especially helpful if shooting handheld at longer focal lengths |