What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?

[paul]

What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?

Mine just says ED but I don't see that described elsewhere.

[Michael Benveniste]

On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 13:47:30 -0800, paul <paul@not.net> wrote:

>What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?
>
>Mine just says ED but I don't see that described elsewhere.

Internal Focus. With IF lenses, the front element does not change
position while focusing. (The focal length does change, but that's
another story).

--
Michael Benveniste -- [email]mhb-offer@clearether.com[/email]
Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $419. Use this email
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[paul]

Michael Benveniste wrote:

> On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 13:47:30 -0800, paul <paul@not.net> wrote:
>

>>What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?
>>Mine just says ED but I don't see that described elsewhere.

>
>
> Internal Focus. With IF lenses, the front element does not change
> position while focusing. (The focal length does change, but that's
> another story).

Hmm so what difference does this make in the real world?

I got a Nikon AF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED but when I google that all I see
is the same thing with IF added. I didn't get a lense hood is the only
difference I noticed. The lense does not rotate when I focus, did they
just forget to print IF on it?

[Darrell]

"paul" <paul@not.net> wrote in message
news:eOCdnUeausNu9kXcRVn-2g@speakeasy.net...

> What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?
>
> Mine just says ED but I don't see that described elsewhere.

IF=Internal Focus, not all lenses are IF. IF lenses barrells don't rotate
nor do the lenses get longer as you focus closer.

[Allan Wind]

On 2005-01-02, paul <paul@not.net> wrote:

> What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?

"Internal focus for fast AF operation" (first google hit, then clicked
on an IF lense
[url]http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=1940[/url]).


/Allan

[Doug Payne]

paul wrote:

> Hmm so what difference does this make in the real world?

Non-rotating front elements make it much easier to use such filters as
polarizers and rectangular split NDs.

[Bruce Murphy]

paul <paul@not.net> writes:

> Michael Benveniste wrote:
>

> > On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 13:47:30 -0800, paul <paul@not.net> wrote:
> >

> >>What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?
> >>Mine just says ED but I don't see that described elsewhere.

> > Internal Focus. With IF lenses, the front element does not change
> > position while focusing. (The focal length does change, but that's
> > another story).

>
>
> Hmm so what difference does this make in the real world?
>
> I got a Nikon AF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED but when I google that all I
> see is the same thing with IF added. I didn't get a lense hood is the
> only difference I noticed. The lense does not rotate when I focus, did
> they just forget to print IF on it?

The non rotating while focussing is a complete red herring. It is
solely about whether the lens assembly changes length.

B>

[paul]

Bruce Murphy wrote:

> paul <paul@not.net> writes:
>
> The non rotating while focussing is a complete red herring. It is
> solely about whether the lens assembly changes length.

It does not change length when focusing, only when zooming.

[Alan Browne]

Bruce Murphy wrote:

> The non rotating while focussing is a complete red herring. It is
> solely about whether the lens assembly changes length.

If you use pol-filters or 'Cokin' filter holders, a non rotating front element
is a blessing, neigh, a neccesity.

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[Bruce Murphy]

Alan Browne <alan.browne@freelunchVideotron.ca> writes:

> Bruce Murphy wrote:
>

> > The non rotating while focussing is a complete red herring. It is
> > solely about whether the lens assembly changes length.

>
> If you use pol-filters or 'Cokin' filter holders, a non rotating front
> element is a blessing, neigh, a neccesity.

While this is true, really doesn't have much to do with the IF being
discussed.

B>

[Crownfield]

Michael Benveniste wrote:

>
> On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 13:47:30 -0800, paul <paul@not.net> wrote:
>

> >What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?
> >
> >Mine just says ED but I don't see that described elsewhere.

>
> Internal Focus. With IF lenses, the front element does not change
> position while focusing. (The focal length does change, but that's
> another story).

does that mean that the lens does not have to pump air in and out
as it is zoomed and focused?

>
> --
> Michael Benveniste -- [email]mhb-offer@clearether.com[/email]
> Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $419. Use this email
> address only to submit mail for evaluation.

[Tyrone Laces]

"paul" <paul@not.net> wrote in message
news:eOCdnUeausNu9kXcRVn-2g@speakeasy.net...

> What does 'IF' stand for on Nikon lenses?
>

It means IF you're lucky you might get a worthwhile picture.