lensabbreviations

If you've ever been Canon lens shopping, you've probably had to take a minute (or five) to figure out what the name of the lens actually means. With a string of seemingly random letters and numbers, these abbreviations have baffled photographers, beginners, and some professionals alike, for as long as they have been around.

Welcome to the world of photography, where geeky scientists make great lenses... and use all their secret codes to confuse consumers. Fret not, this guide will explain those EF-S, STM stuff to you, and a small history lesson to help you better understand.