Technology, at times, really does feel like a whole different language. It’s one thing to understand the words but then it’s another to understand how they fit into the specific matter at hand. In the world of digital cameras, you will notice that there are a ton of abbreviations and acronyms. What makes it even more confusing is the fact that these abbreviations differ from brand to brand. To make life easier for you, or even to serve as a refresher course, we are going to break down some of the most common Canon specific abbreviations for you here.
Just by glancing at the product name, you can learn a lot about the product. If you see EF, this indicates that the electronic device is compatible with full-frame and crop sensor cameras. If it says EF-S, it is only compatible with crop sensor cameras. The F before numbers dictates the aperture. Other common letters or acronyms that you will find include an L for luxury, IS for image stabilization, USM for the ultrasonic monitor, STM for stepping motor, SSC for super spectral coating, AFD for arc form drive, MM for micro motor, PZ for power zoom, and AF for autofocus.
This is only a taste of the jargon of these products, specifically from this brand. Honestly, we could fill up this whole page with more but not only would that be boring, that is not why you are here.