What are the terms used to describe the physical size of camera lenses?

[larry909]

What is the technical terms used to describe the size of the lenses? for example the Panasonic DMC-FZ300 camera versus the Panasonic ZS50.

On Imaging Resource by the lens column it just says the zoom equivalent but I don't see anywhere where it mentions the difference in the size of the physical lens in the FZ300 model is much bigger.

Also, Imaging Resource says the FZ300 has a max-aperture of 2.8, and ZS50 is 3.3, what does that mean?

 

[Braineack]

Inches are inches

 

[tecboy]

There are big lens, small lens, fat lens, and long lens. Depending on how many focus length and how big the aperture. There are wide angle, ultra-wide angle, telephoto, fast lens, and etc.

 

[OGsPhotography]

Fat glass.

 

[480sparky]

What is the technical terms used to describe the size of the lenses? for example the Panasonic DMC-FZ300 camera versus the Panasonic ZS50.

Height. Length. Diameter.

Also, Imaging Resource says the FZ300 has a max-aperture of 2.8, and ZS50 is 3.3, what does that mean?

One lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, the other is f/3.3. The smaller the number, the larger the aperture (relative to the focal length).

 

[KmH]

Yep. The little f represents the focal length of the lens.
So a lens aperture of f/3 means the lens opening diameter is 1/3 the focal length of the lens.
If the lens focal length is 100 mm the lens aperture diameter is 30.3 mm when the lens is set to f/3.3.
If the lens focal length is 50 mm the lens aperture diameter is 15.15 mm when the lens is set to f/3.3.

If the lens focal length is 100 mm the lens aperture diameter is 35.7 mm when the lens is set to f/2.8.
If the lens focal length is 50 mm the lens aperture diameter is 17.86 mm when the lens is set to f/2.8.

 

[benhasajeep]

The FZ300 is a 24x zoom as they like to say. It is equivalent to a 25mm to 600mm (24 X 25mm = 600mm) zoom lens on a 35mm camera. It's max aperture is listed as f/2.8.

The ZS50 is a 30x zoom. It is equivalent to a 24mm to 720mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera. It's max aperture is listed as f/3.3.

 

[snowbear]

What is the technical terms used to describe the size of the lenses? for example the Panasonic DMC-FZ300 camera versus the Panasonic ZS50.

Height. Length. Diameter.

and Weight.

 

[Derrel]

Focal length, usually in millimeters these days. Maximum f/stop, likie f/1.8 or f/2.8 or f/4.5~6.3 for say slow, consumer digitcam zoom lenses. Filter diameter, represented by a circle with a diagonal line through it on the lens. Weight. Length. Diameter.

 

[480sparky]

What is the technical terms used to describe the size of the lenses? for example the Panasonic DMC-FZ300 camera versus the Panasonic ZS50.

Height. Length. Diameter.

and Weight.

Weight is used to describe size?

 

[snowbear]

What is the technical terms used to describe the size of the lenses? for example the Panasonic DMC-FZ300 camera versus the Panasonic ZS50.

Height. Length. Diameter.

and Weight.

Weight is used to describe size?

Sure. "How big is it?"
"Weighs a jammin' ton"