Nikon is a world-renowned manufacturer of high-quality camera lenses, and the wide range of options means that there’s something to suit every kind of photography. The main types of lens available are prime and zoom lenses, but there are some other variations too – some even belong to more than one category!
AF-Type lenses (also known as F-Mount) fit all current Nikon DSLRs, including those with a swivel screen. They feature a focus ring with a locking prong to prevent the camera from accidentally indexing the lens to the meter, while others have switches on the lens barrel to turn VR and AF/MF mode on and off.
D-Type lenses are compatible with older cameras, but don’t have a focus ring and may not work with autofocus. They relay subject-to-camera distance information to the meter and also have an aperture control ring that can be used on the camera’s command dial, particularly useful for recording D-Movies with a higher-end DSLR.
C-Type lenses have an integrated coating that improves contrast and sharpness. They also have special nano lens coatings to reduce flare and ghosting, and low dispersion glass elements to limit chromatic aberration and color fringing.
ED-Mount lenses are not as popular as they once were, but they still produce excellent results and are a great choice for photographers who want to add an extra dimension to their images. They offer wider apertures and are compatible with most of the latest DSLR models, so they are well worth a look if you’re looking for an extra punch of image quality without breaking the bank!
D-C-Type lenses are more affordable than D-Mount versions and can be purchased as either a manual or autofocus lens. They can be used on DSLRs that don’t have a focus ring or aren’t compatible with autofocus, as well as on cameras that have a swivel screen, although these are more difficult to use than their AF-Mount counterparts.
DC-Mount lenses are also not as popular as their D-Mount counterparts, but they are still quite popular and can be purchased as either a manual focus or autofocus lens. They can be used with DSLRs that don’t have a swivel screen, as well as on cameras that have dimmer screens, although these are more difficult to use than those with AF-Mount counterparts.
M-Mount lenses are less expensive than ED-Mount lenses and are typically more compatible with older cameras than their D-Mount counterparts. They feature a focus ring with an aperture coupling prong and can be used on both DSLRs and non-DSLRs that allow manual control of the lens’s aperture.
PF-Mount lenses are not as affordable as ED-Mount versions and are typically more compatible with older cameras than those that have a swivelscreen, although these are more difficult to use than AF-Mount counterparts. They offer wider apertures and are compatible, though not as well-known, with most of the latest DSLR models, so are worth a look if you’re interested in improving your picture quality without breaking the bank!