Nikon Lens Terminology Explained.....

Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Olympus, and other lens manufacturers have their own ways to explain what features/technologies are used in their lenses.  Often times I have no idea what they mean nor care.  All the numbers most of us care about are focal lengths and f stops.  Since I'm an owner of Nikon gear, below are list of term used in Nikon lenses.

• Nikkor - It's simply name used for Nikon lenses.
• AF - Autofocus with built-in motor inside camera body. This means that it will not autofocus with basic SLRs without built-in motor.
• AF-I - Autofocus with built-in internal motor.
• AF-S - Autofocus with SWM (Silent Wave Motor) which means that it will work with all DSLRs.
• AF-D - Autofocus with built-in motor inside camera body.  This means that it will not autofocus with basic SLRs without built-in motor.  "D" designation means that the lens will communicate with the distance of focused subject for better flash exposure.
• DX - Designed for APS-C sensor size and not suggested to be used in full sensor, FX, bodies.
• VR and VR II - Vibration Reduction technology to compensate shaky movement that let you handhold at a slower shutter speed than normal.
• "G" - Without aperture ring and it relies on camera to change the aperture.  Omission of the aperture ring will not let you use the lens on old film bodies.  However, some have tried using a hack.
• ED - Stands for Extra Low Dispersion element that helps reduce/elimiate chromatic aberration or color fringes.
• IF - Internal Focusing means that lens barrel does not extend or retract when focusing.  It is all done inside the lens within it's given length.
• "N" - Nano Crystal coating is anti-reflective coating applied to increase lens' performance.

I am sure I am missing some but above are more common terms used by Nikon to describe their lenses.  I hope this helps you when you are shopping for a new Nikon lens an sales people are throwing bunch of these terms at you.