jancology.com

When the Nikon F came first on the market in 1959 it did not have any lenses and the lenses of Nikon rangefinder cameras were used with an adapter.

AF - Auto Focus

After a first try in 1983 with the F3AF, in 1986 Nikon introduced the current line of AF lenses with the N2020 camera. These lenses were a radical change with the past. Most important change was the polycarbonate lens barrel.

AF-I - Integral build in focus driving motor

Introduced in 1992 with the 300mm f/2.8D EDIF and 600mm f/4D EDIF. This was later on superseded by AF-S

AF-S - Silent Wave focus driving motor

Introduced in 1996 with the 300mm f/2.8D EDIF and 500mm f/4D EDIF and 600mm f/4D EDIF. These seems to be a fraction faster then the AF-I versions from 1992.

AI - Automatic Indexing

Introduced in 1977 together with the Nikon FM because of a new metering system. It now made it easy to switch lenses fast. Most non-AI lenses can be converted.

AIS - Automatic Index Shutter

These lenses have a grove in the barrel to tell the body that the aperture is linear so it can be used for Program and Shutter priority modes.

CRC - Close Range Correction

Makes sure lens elements a realigned automatically as the lens is focussed at minimum distance.

D - Distance

Introduced in 1992 (together with AF-I technology). It includes a distance encoder chip. Nikon claims distance information information is used in ambient light matrix metering as well as flash metering. The meter attempts to match brightness of the scene to a library of stored scenes in order to optimize exposure, it is not unreasonable to use the focal distance as a additional parameter in order to improve the matching algorithm.

DC - Defocus Control

An extra dial on the lens will make it possible to magnify the amound of defocus in the forground/background.

DX - Digital

Lens designed for the nikon Digital SLR cameras which operate with an 1.5 crop factor. First lens in this series was the 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED announced in december 2002.

ED - Extra low Dispersion

First introduced with the 180-600mm f/8 in 1975. its a special coating giving the lens an amazing sharpness.

F3AF - Auto focus for F3

Special auto focus lenses for the F3.

G - No aperture ring

The aperture is controlled electronically by the body. In 1998 the first G lens was introduced, the AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED.

GN - Guide Number

Designed to make flash photography quick and easy byh matching thr flash guide number with the coupler attached to the focus ring.

IF - Internal Focus

The lens focusses on the back lens element which means that the size stays the same and the front lens element does not rotate. This is very handy for a polarizing filter.

IX - APS

A lens series for the Pronea line of cameras. Similar to DX but with a different image covering cricle.

Medical

Specialized lenses with ring flashes.

Micro - What others call Macro

Micro lenses can normally focus with a magnification of 1:1. A special version — Micro Compensating — was introduced in 1963. This lens could create 1:2 images and with the M-ring it could focus up to 1:1 magnification.

N - New

These lenses have the same optical formula as previous lenses but have a permanent front filter. In 1986 the 200mm f/2, 300mm f/2.8, 600mm f/5.6 and 600mm f/4 were introduced; all EDIF versions.

NOCT - Nocturnal

Lens to be used under low light conditions (example 58mm f/1.2 Noct).

P - CPU/Prototype

Introduced in 1988 was the 500mm f/4P. It had the CPU to integrate with the matrix metering system. For some lenses the P suffix means that the lens was a prototype like the 1200-1700 f5.6-8P.

PC - Perspective Control

The first of this type was the 35mm f/3.5 PC introduced in 1963. It allows the camera to stay parallel with the subject.

OP - Orthographic Projection

This gives the lens an even exposure for very wide angles (10mm f/5.6 OP Fisheye).

Series E - Nikon EM camera

In 1979 Nikon introduced the Series E lenses together with the EM camera. The difference between standard F lenses was that these lenses were assembled by machine. They also didn’t have the “rabbit ears” and therefor wouldn;t couple with older bodies.

UV - Ultra Violet

Special lenses designed to shoot ultra-violet light.

UW - Unter Water

Special lenses for the Nikonos series of under water cameras.

VR - Vibration Reduction

Nikon’s way to eliminate camera shake. It was announced in 2000 with the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED. It is said to add three stops extra without introducing camera shake.