Welcome to the Canon Store

Welcome to the Canon Store

Sign out
Search

Canon 3 items in your basket

Canon
Items subtotal £ 300.00
You have qualified for FREE delivery daf dafd You have qualified for FREE delivery
View basket & checkout

Empty basket

You don't have any items in your basket right now.

Canon lens terminology explained: How to read a lens name

You can tell a lot about a lens just by looking at its full name. Understanding what it means will be very helpful when you are trying to decide which lens to buy for your photography needs. Each lens name is made up of a series of letters and numbers that provide useful information about its characteristics and compatibilities. There are four main elements that make up every lens name: lens mount, focal length, aperture and any specific technologies used in the lens. At Canon we use specific terminology to reference our lenses and understanding this will help you choose the right lens for you. So, whether you’re a complete beginner, or want to refresh your knowledge on Canon lens specifications, use our guide to help you on your photography journey.

LENS MOUNT TYPE

At Canon we have four different types of lens mount: RF, RF-S, EF, EF-S and EF-M. Put simply, a lens mount is the interface between a camera body and a lens. This feature allows for interchangeable lenses. Depending on your camera, different lens types can be used with or without a lens mount adapter.

RF & RF-S – (eg. Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM Lens)

RF and RF-S lenses are specifically designed for EOS R system mirrorless cameras.
Good to know: Cameras from the EOS R range can be used with EF and EF-S lenses, when used with an adapter.

EF – Electronic Focus (eg. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens)

EF stands for Electronic Focus and is Canon’s longest established lens mount. It also has the widest compatibility and works with a wide range of Canon cameras. These lenses fit the entire EOS DSLR (Digital SLR) range including:

• Full-frame sensor DSLRs

• APS-C (Crop sensor DSLRs)

Good to know: EF lenses can also be used with an EOS M (EF-M mirrorless mount) and EOS R (full-frame mirrorless mount) cameras when used with an adapter.

EF-S – Short Back Focus (eg. Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens)

EF-S lenses are designed for APS-C (also known as crop sensors) DSLRs and are not compatible with full-frame DSLR cameras. By designing for the smaller APS-C sensor, the lens can be made smaller and lighter. For more information on whether your camera is an APS-C or full-frame DSLR, check the specifications on the individual product description.
Good to know: EF-S lenses can also be used with EOS M (EF-M mirrorless mount) and R (full-frame mount) cameras, when used with an adapter.

EF-M – EOS M Mirrorless Camera System (eg. Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM Lens)


EF-M lenses are designed specifically for EOS M (mirrorless) cameras.
Good to know: When used with an adapter, EOS M cameras can use EF and EF-S lenses.

We also have other specialist lenses including the TS-E (Tilt & Shift) and MP-E which have an EF mount. A TS-E lens allows the user to physically adjust the front of the lens, move it up and down, in order to adjust the apparent angle and plane of focus. This type of lens is mainly for specialist users and is ideal for a range of photography such as architecture, product and landscape photography.

Focal length

mm – Focal Length (eg. Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens)

The focal length measures the range of a lens showing its shortest and longest distance. The bigger the number (the ‘longer’ the focal length), the narrower the angle of view. This means subjects will appear to be closer to the camera.

UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

28mm

 UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

85mm

 UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

135mm

 UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

200mm

 UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

300mm

 UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

600mm

Aperture

f/ or F – Aperture (eg. Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM Lens)

Expressed as f-numbers or f-stop, aperture is the part of the lens where you control the amount of light that goes to the camera sensor. The smaller the number, the bigger the aperture and the more light can get to the camera. Controlling the aperture can benefit you in different ways. A wider aperture will create a very blurred background but a sharp subject or foreground. For example, F2.8 lets in more light than F11. Apertures of F2.8 and below are better suited for night photography and portraits.

UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

F/1.8

 UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

F/4

 UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

F/8

 UNiDAYS-lp-step1-lg3-V2

F/16

Generation

Written in Roman numerals, this tells you where the lens sits in terms of development. When a lens design is improved, it gets a new number. (eg. III is the newer version of II)

Technologies

Technologies offer more information in terms of features your lens has, and how it can help your photography.

L – Luxury Lens (eg. Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Lens)


L stands for Luxury. L lenses are professional lenses with great optical quality. They are used by professional photographers and offer the ultimate quality and performance.
Good to know: L lenses usually have a red ring around the end.

DO – diffractive optics (e.g. Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM Lens)


DO stands for Diffractive Optics and shows that a lens uses special elements to help make them more compact without compromising on quality.
Good to know: These are usually differentiated by a green ring around the front of the lens.

DS – Defocus Smoothing coating (e.g. Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM DS Lens)


DS lenses make the bokeh (out of focus elements) in a picture a lot smoother compared to regular lenses, bringing more focus to the subject of the photo.

Image Stabilisation

IS – Image Stabilisation (eg. Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens)

Image Stabilisation is a system that reduces the effects of camera shake for a sharper image. You will know if your lens has image stabilisation because there will be an “IS” in the name.
Good to know: Image Stabilisation is measured in stops. The more stops a lens has, the more effective the IS will be.

IS OFF

IS ON

Focusing Motor

USM – Ultrasonic Autofocus Motor (eg. Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM Lens)

USM

USM stands for Ultrasonic Autofocus Motor. This motor can be found in lots of our lenses. These lenses are fast and have a manual override, making them ideal for stills. Take a closer look at how USM works

Nano USM

Though it has “USM” in the name, Nano USM has benefits of both USM and STM. It offers fast, smooth and quiet focusing, making it ideal for action photography and videography. Take a closer look at how Nano USM works.

STM – Stepping Motor Technology (eg. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens)


STM stands for Stepper Motor. This has quieter, smoother focusing, making it ideal for filming – but is still great for photos. STM is found in many different lenses.

Macro

Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM Lens


Macro lenses are designed for close-up photography and capture details and close-ups. The minimum focusing distance of this lens is smaller, meaning you can get a lot closer to your subject.

Why buy online from Canon?

Free Next Day Delivery* and Returns

Enjoy FREE next day delivery* on all orders of £ 30.00 and more made before 3pm, as well as free 30-day returns on all orders

Learn more

2 Year Manufacturer’s Guarantee*

We give you the added reassurance of a 2-year manufacturer's guarantee (EWS) on our hardware products. Exceptions apply

Learn more

Extensive Product Range

Discover our full and extensive range of products in one place, including Canon site exclusives

Learn more

Customer Services

Information

Shop

1 Canon Europa NV (FCA Firm Reference Number 795160) is an appointed representative of Canon (UK) Limited, The Bower, 4 Roundwood Avenue, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, UB11 1AF, (FRN 669323) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Canon Europa NV is a credit broker not a lender and offers finance from PayPal UK Ltd. We do not receive any commission for introducing customers to PayPal UK Ltd. PayPal Credit and PayPal Pay in 3 are trading names of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH, (FRN 996405).

PayPal Credit Instalments is only available on final basket values greater than £199 after promotional vouchers and discounts. Terms and conditions apply. Credit subject to status and approval. UK residents only. 18+. Minimum payment and other terms apply. PayPal Pay in 3 is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Pay in 3 eligibility is subject to status and approval. UK residents only. 18+. Pay in 3 is a form of credit and may not be suitable for everyone. Use may affect your credit score or make credit less accessible or more expensive for you. Consider if affordable for you. See product terms for more details.

PayPal Credit offering is not available for products with subscription services. If your basket contains any subscription-based products, then the PayPal Credit offering will not be available for any of the products in the basket. In this case, we recommend placing separate orders for products where you want to use PayPal Credit and products with subscription services.

Representative Example:
Purchase Rate: 23.9% p.a. (variable) | Representative: 23.9% APR (variable) | Assumed Credit Limit: £1,200 Subject to status.
Terms and Conditions apply.

*Next day delivery is available on most orders made before 3pm. Next day delivery is free on all orders £ 30.00 and above. Next day delivery is not guaranteed even if you order before the order cut off (3pm). Any orders below £ 30.00 are subject to our standard delivery charge.

We accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro
United Kingdom | English
  • Canon Europa N.V.
  • Bovenkerkerweg 59, 1185 XB Amstelveen, The Netherlands
  • Registered in Amsterdam under no: 33166721
    WEEE registration number: WEE/AD5687ST