Every Camera lens manufacturers use general acronyms, abbreviations and terminology to best identify lens characteristics and its overall performance. At times they are confusing and as an amateur photographer you would have a daunting task to choose from.
I’ve listed below few lens brands with their native abbreviations and a short description. Hope this helps.
NIKON LENSES
Abbreviation
Description
AF
Traditional Autofocus lenses with a mechanical coupling between camera & lens
AF-S
Autofocus Lenses with Silent Wave motor using electronics to ensure speed
CRC
Close Range Correction to allow and optimize the lens to focus closer while retaining sharpness
D
These lenses allow distance information to the camera
DC
Defocus Control lenses are used exclusively to control the adjusting of bokeh
DX
Designed for APS-C Camera
ED
Extra-low Dispersion glass element to correct chromatic abberrations
FX
Designed for Full Frame Camera, can be used with APS-C cameras
G
Lens with no aperture ring; aperture is controlled from the camera body. These will not work on Manual focus cameras since there is no way to set aperture.
IF
Internal Focussing lenses focus closer and faster, since instead of moving all the elements further away or closer to the film/sensor to focus, IF lens move only certain internal elements
N
These lenses are with Nano Crystal Coat to reduce flare due to the internal reflection of light
RF
Rear Foccussing lens move only the rear group of elements to focus the lens
VR
Vibration Reduction lenses stabilizes lens and hand vibration while shooting in low light thus to avoid the need for a tripod
Kuwait Team 4 Global Warning over the last few years have successfully organized Earth Hour event in the State of Kuwait. Earth Hour has grown from a one-city initiative in 2007 to the world’s largest campaign for the planet, uniting hundreds of millions of people across 7001 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories and is still growing.
Earth Hour is held on 23rd March, 2013 at the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed International Stadium.This would be a full day event with the organizers going in for the countdown with the preparation and other activities to make the event success, although the focus of attention would be at 8:30 pm, when the event would be marked, encouraging households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for 1 hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change.
ShutterXpose team were part of the event last year and will be participating this year too as a part of our self commitment to Earth Hour.
Nikon has just announced the Nikon D7100, an update to the existing Nikon D7000 DSLR camera. Many DX users were anticipating for the high-end line up in the form of a D400 which was quite actively rumored to be on the horizon, but now seems to be just a rumor.
The new D7100 boost of 24.1 MP DX-format CMOS sensor without an OLPF (AA) filter, better ISO Range, EXPEED 3 image processor same as on the D4, D800 and D600 Full Frame Camera, High speed 6 frames per second, 2,016-pixel RGB (3D Color Matrix) metering sensor, 3.2-inch LCD display that is accompanied by an OLED display within the viewfinder itself and the Twin SD, SDHC, SDXC memory card compatibility.
If you intend to continue using DX body or if you are a new photographer looking for a DX camera, the D7100 is worth a buy in terms of specs, also note the earlier Pro-DX body has never had any updates in the last 4-5 years and the chances for a Pro-DX body release (if there has to be one) looks quite in the distant. The D7100 is available for Pre-orderwith Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX Lens for $1599 and the body alone for $1199.
If you have been waiting to buy Nikon lens, this is right time to purchase and take advantage of the offer. Nikon has been promoting its rebate program for a while now, they have recently launched a new rebate program starting from 17th Febrauary, 2013 with savings upto $350 on selected Nikon lenses. This recent program was heavily rumored by Nikon Rumors couple of weeks back. Well, Nikon has done it wisely this time since earlier if you need to classify for the Nikon rebate program, a purchase of DSLR camera was mandatory. Check on the discounted price [here], there is a wide range of choice to choose from Normal to Wide angle to Telephoto lenses. The rebate program ends on 02 March, 2013.
Click on the image to view the Dubai 360° Panaroma View
A 2.5 Gigapixel 360 degree Panorma gives “Cruise-eye view” from the pinnacle of the world’s tallest building.
It is arguably the greatest image on earth – a 360 degree panoramic view from the very top of the tallest building on earth, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. The giddying image shows the view across the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 828 metres above sea level captured in high resolution using some of the most advanced techniques in digital photography. It’s the view actor Tom Cruise made famous as he sat at the tower’s peak during the filming of Mission Impossible Four, ‘Ghost Protocol’.
The image has been released to celebrate the second Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Photography Award (HIPA), which will take place in Dubai in March. The award, the world’s richest photography award, will see prizes totalling $389,000 and attracts entrants from 99 countries. The grand prize awarded by HIPA is $120,000.
“This is an extraordinary image taken from an extraordinary location. It reflects the goals of HIPA, to extend the boundaries of photography and celebrate images of unusual beauty and quality that are truly outstanding,” said His Excellency Ali bin Thalith, the General Secretary of the award. The panorama takes in Dubai’s many landmarks, including the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, the world’s biggest mall, the Dubai Mall and the Meydan Racecourse and shows the remarkable growth of a city still on a fast track to developing as a business hub and tourist destination.
The image is composed from over 70 individual photos. Dubai based photographer Gerald Donovan created the shot using a mechanised panoramic tripod head to take a series of 48 panoramic images, each shot at a resolution of 80 megapixels. These were then stitched together with manually shot images to ‘fill-in’ gaps caused by equipment installed at the top of the tower such as the lightning conductor and aircraft beacons. The result is an image that can be zoomed, tilted and rotated, giving viewers a sense of how it must feel to sit atop the world’s highest building.
The top of the Burj Khalifa, developed by global property developer Emaar Properties, is over 200 metres above the highest point reached by the building’s elevators, which reach the 160th floor at speeds of some 10 metres per second. The tower’s celebrated public observation deck, At the top, Burj Khalifa is on the 124th floor. The journey to the pinnacle involves a steep ladder climb within the 200-meter spire that crowns the building.
Nikon Corporation celebrates the 80th anniversary of the launch of its NIKKOR photographic lenses this year.
In commemoration of NIKKOR’s 80th anniversary, Nikon hopes to strengthen and increase awareness of the historic and reliable NIKKOR brand with various promotions in 2013. The first step toward achieving this objective is the creation of a NIKKOR 80th anniversary logo that will be used in Nikon product brochures, advertisements, and various other forms of communication. The anniversary logo will embody NIKKOR’s image of taking the lead in every age based on optical technologies developed over its long history.
NIKKOR’s history began in 1932 with Nikon’s (then Nippon Kogaku K.K.) registration of the NIKKOR trademark, soon followed in 1933 with the first shipment of Aero-Nikkor aerial photographic lenses. Since then, Nikon has continued to develop lenses for both film and digital cameras. Always loaded with cutting edge optical technologies of the times, NIKKOR has grown to be a brand known for high-performance lenses.
In celebration of its 80th Anniversary, Nikon has released a special video to show behind-the-scenes look on its lens manufacturing process. The video follows the process from creating the glass through to the final assembly. To read more on the brand history, click [here]
Kuwait on Saturday entered the Guinness World record books with a massive display of firework. The show which costed KD 4.16 million (roughly around $15 million US) was spectacular with 77,282 fireworks launched using pyrotechnic over a period of one hour to secure the biggest and expensive firework feat ever. Thousands of people gathered around the Gulf road to catch the glimpse of fireworks, kite and laser show display staged to mark the 50th anniversary of the constitution. The road leading to the venue were closed from early afternoon, I decided to reach early for a change and found a convenient location to witness the event right behind the KFC outlet (Zone 5). Before the late evening firework I was lucky enough to watch 3-4 sorties of fire planes soaring the sky and display of kites beautifully flown by professionals pillion riders on Jet skies. Finally as other photo geek members and family joined, the place was flooded with people occupying every inch of land, there was a long wait before the firework began and I wished there were more entertainment on the sea side. I did manage to capture the couple of flying mannequin and other dressed up sea-creature character with security personnel as they were cheered by crowds walking the Gulf road. I rushed back to my spot to capture the firework which started couple of minutes after 8 pm to witness the greatest and most spectacular fireworks ever, with plenty of photographers and other watchers around, the place was truly a celebration. At the end of the show, the 3D projections displayed the Guinness World record banner for the maximum number of firework as well as for the longest line (from Kuwait tower to Green Island divided into 9 zones) as a representative from Guinness World Record announced over the national Kuwait Television.
Sigma has announced the release of its new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens, a fast maximum aperture, prime wide angle lens. This lens is the first of its new branded “Art-Series“ product line up, which by itself helps to redefine and unleash the expressive and unbeatable performance to bring in the artist in you. Sigma has recently decided on rethinking their range of interchangeable lenses into three product lines. Each line has its own clearly defined concept, and every lens developed here on will be assigned to one of these lines. Sigma’s new product lines are going to redefine the way you relate to photography. The lens is available for Sigma, Nikon, Canon & Pentax DSLR’s and is compatible for both full frame and APS-C camera. The lens has a sporty look with a silver “A” badge on the barrel.
Sigma have developed a special software (SIGMA Optimization Pro) that can update the lens firmware and adjust parameters such as focus . Using special USB Dock, the user will be able to connect the lens to their PC, and, using easy-to-operate on-screen controls, fine-tune focus and adjust other parameters to suit their personal preferences at the luxury of sitting at home.
Sigma reveals this lens at low apertures, for example can perform like a wide-angle lens, while if it’s opened up to f/1.4, it will give the background a pleasing bokeh effect and make the subject pop like a mid-range telephoto lens. What makes this lens so desirable is the wide scope it provides for artistic expression.
You can read more on the lens construction and technical specs here [link]. Sigma US announced the price tag of $899.
The good news is this remarkable lens will be available in Kuwait by the beginning of December exclusively in AAB stores at a truly competitive price of 239.950 KD.
* One photo out of focus is a mistake, ten photo out of focus are an experimentation, one hundred photo out of focus are a style. ~Author Unknown
* Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.
~ Author Tony Benn
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Every Camera lens manufacturers use general acronyms, abbreviations and terminology to best identify lens characteristics and its overall performance. At times they are confusing and as an amateur photographer you would have a daunting task to choose from.
Nikon has just announced the Nikon D7100, an update to the existing Nikon D7000 DSLR camera. Many DX users were anticipating for the high-end line up in the form of a D400 which was quite actively 
Nikon Corporation celebrates the 80th anniversary of the launch of its NIKKOR photographic lenses this year.
Kuwait on Saturday entered the Guinness World record books with a 
Sigma has announced the release of its new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM lens, a fast maximum aperture, prime wide angle lens. This lens is the first of its new branded “Art-Series“ product line up, which by itself helps to redefine and unleash the expressive and unbeatable performance to bring in the artist in you. Sigma has recently decided on rethinking their range of interchangeable lenses into three product lines. Each line has its own clearly defined concept, and every lens developed here on will be assigned to one of these lines. Sigma’s new product lines are going to redefine the way you relate to photography. The lens is available for Sigma, Nikon, Canon & Pentax DSLR’s and is compatible for both full frame and APS-C camera. The lens has a sporty look with a silver “A” badge on the barrel.
