What is importance of values marked on dslr lenses like this f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX ?

Question

What is importance of values marked on dslr lenses like this f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX ?

Answer 1

I do believe they are numbers and letters,

and numbers and letters are terribly important.  

Answer 2

That's just how Lenses are. This is a Nikkor Lens, however all lenses for digital SLR cameras have these symbols and markings, just by default. I mean, can you expect them to make lenses which are blank? how much sense would that make? This is one of those things i just can't elaborate on, that's just how lenses are made. The f/4-5.6 is the lens aperture range. Those other things are marking to tell which cameras it's compatible on to autofocus etc. Also, the DX means it's meant only for cropped frame sensors.  

Answer 3

Okay, first the f/4-5.6 is your maximum aperture.  It's obviously a zoom.  The f/4 would be for when it is zoomed at it's widest, and the f/5.6 for when it's zoomed all the way out.  G, I'll have to look up.  I know it but I just forgot.  ED is for extra low dispersion glass.  It's the quality.  AF means auto focus and DX means it's digital, for a digital SLR.

Okay, see Pooky's link.  It explains it all.

Answer 4

f/4 - 5.6 = Range of maximum aperture. F/4 for the shortest focal length,  F/5.6 at the longest focal length.

G = No aperture ring - Aperture must be set from within the camera, and cannot be done manual. Not a problem with DSLRs.

ED = Extra low dispersion glass. Nikon's labelling of the type of glass used.

AF-S = Silent Wave Motor autofocus. This means the lens has very fast focussing as there is a motor built into the lens. It is fast, and silent. The older AF lenses were s***w-driven (motor in the camera).

DX = Digital format, can only be used on DSLR with the crop factor. If used on a full frame camera (D3, D700 or film-based), you will notice severe vignetting as the sensor is larger than the DX-format sensor (all other nikon DLSR cameras).

Answer 5

Terisu had already answered almost all the questions.

G means the family lenses without the ring for aperture. That belongs to Nikon only, other brands will identify their lenses in a different manner.

F 4.5 - 5.6 is for zooms, those lenses won't allow you to take good pictures under very criticl light conditions such as inside churches when flash fotography is banned.

Answer 6

It describes the aperature,  type of glass used in the lens, Series of the lens with respect to indexing and autofocus, and sensor size the lens is designed for

In this case this lens would have a maximum aperature of 4.5 at the shortest focal length and 5.6 at the highest or longest focal length

the G means that the lens is gelded - it does not have an external aperature ring. This is only an issue on older manual only film cameras and will not be noticed on ditgital camera as the aperature is set by the camera and controls on the camera not on the lens

ED means that the lens is made with extra low dispersion glass. ED glass helps eliminate secondary chromatic aberration

AF-s means it is an autofocus lens with a silent wave motor in the lens so it will work on all AF Nikons even those with no motor in the body like the D40/D60. AF-I also have the motor in the lens. AF and AF-D autofocus but only with a camera with a focusing lens in the camera body. AI and AI-s are manual focus only lenses that have Automatic Indexing

DX means it is a DX format camera so its designed for the APS-c sized sensor not a full frame 35 mm sensor or film. If you use a DX lens on an FX body there will be vingetting and or cropping. An FX lens can be used on a DX camera with not cropping  

I hope this helps If you need more email me

Answer 7

That's a lens from Nikon.

See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_F-mou...