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Lens markings

Find out what the numbers on the lens signify.

SAMSUNG 18-200 mm F3.5-6.3 ED OIS lens (example)

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No. Description

Aperture value

1A range of supported aperture values. For example, 1:3.5-6.3 means the maximum aperture value range from 3.5 to 6.3.

Focal length

The distance from the middle of the lens to its focal point

2(in millimeters). This figure is expressed in a range: minimum focal length to maximum focal length of the lens.

Longer focal lengths result in narrower angles of view and the subject is magnified. Shorter focal lengths result in wider angles of view.

ED

3ED stands for Extra-low Dispersion. Extra-low dispersion glass is effective in minimizing chromatic aberration (a distortion that occurs when a lens fails to focus all colors to the same convergence point).

OIS (p. 71)

4Optical Image Stabilization. Lenses with this feature can detect camera shake and effectively cancel out the movement inside the camera.

Ø

5The lens diameter. When you attach a filter to the lens, make sure that the diameters of the lens and the filter are the same.

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