Nikkor Acronyms

Nikkor is a lens brand that's manufactured by Nikon Corporation. The technology is so wide that they come out with so many acronyms for their lens, which proves to be confusing for all beginners, that means me too. So for my future reference and your knowledge, I list it all down here. I'm dSLR user, so old lens for manual SLR won't be cover here.

A (Bayonet Type Lens)
The original bayonet lens from Nikkor in 1959. It's a manual focus lens, it's only here to give you an idea of the Nikkor lens development.

AF (Automatic Focus)
Nikkor lens with focus screw in the body that allow camera motor to drive it for auto-focus. Take note that the lens itself does not come with motor and have AF only with camera built-in motor.

AF-I (Automatic Focus with Internal Motor)
Nikkor lens with the internal motor for self-focusing, disregard to the camera motor. It have a M/A button on the body for you to activate the motor or else. Not much available in the market though, old lens.

AF-S (Automatic Focus with Silent Wave Motor)
The new generation of internal motor from Nikkor for quiet operation in internal motor. It's the most common in the market and especially popular with Nikon's beginner dSLR. Note quiet motor is important in micro lens as well, to avoid scaring off insects / birds.

D (D Type)
CPU lens that's able to send additional distance information to the camera in EXIF.

G (G Type)
Identical to D type but aperture ring is removed from the lens body. Newer lens that has its aperture control from the body.

Micro
Nikkor version of macro lens. Well said.

ED (Extra-Low Dispersion)
This type of lens utilise the special Extra-Low Dispersion Glass for Nikkor's Telephotos. Expert claimed that ED is the reason why you buy Nikon. This lens have a gold band around the body and it help to minimise secondary chromatic abbreviation, that prevent speedy and sharp telephotos lens design.

IF (Internal Focusing)
Nikkor found that focusing is possible with adjustment of optics within the body rather than moving the front optics, so there is no moving part on the body during focusing. You can hold the lens body safely without worry it will damaged the motor. Those without this acronyms will have moving part on the outer lens body. So don't hold the lens, or you will risk damaging your lens / camera motor.

RF (Rear Focusing)
A special lens that use the rear optics for focusing rather than front optics as per normal lens. As it adjust the rear optics, there is no moving part also on the body, but not common in the market.

DC (Defocus Control)
The sharpest lens in Nikkor range. Defocus Control is the flagship of Nikkor lens that featured major improvement in super crispy sharp subject and superb bokeh effect. I've never seen one in action, yet.

VR (Vibration Reduction)
Nikkor version of Image Stabiliser from Canon. It's very important for micro and telephotos lens, which it allow sharp subject at f1/60s, effectively eliminate 3-4 steps of shutter speed. Important for every shot.

VR II (Vibration Reduction II)
A new development from Nikkor for advance improvement over the old VR. It's a relatively new technology and not very common at current time.

DX
Lens that's developed for the Nikon DX camera. It has a small circle and allow subject to fall onto DX sensor (1.6x crop). It's usable in FX, but you will lose out the full frame capability, where outer part of the sensor is black-out. You don't want this in FX camera, or you can, by losing the sensor advantage.

PC (Perspective Control)
Nikkor version of tilt-shift used by Canon. It allow the lens to be shifted to achieve a perspective change on the final photos. The usage and results are quite impressive. Do a search and find out yourself.


Example:
AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR
Nikkor G type lens for DX dSLR, auto-focus lens with silent wave motor, focal length 18-105mm, aperture of 3.5-5.6, come with vibration reduction and extra low dispersion glass.

AF Nikkor 50mm f1.8D
Nikkor D type lens (moving focus part), built-in focus screw without motor, prime lens at 50mm focal length and 1.8 aperture. It does not have any other features in Nikkor technology. That's why it's cheap.