XX elements in XX groups in lens specifications. :S

[Sash[DSL]]

I noticed this in every pro lens specifications. What does this mean and what effect does it have on image quality/reliability/whatnot?

 

[ksmattfish]

It's telling you the lens design. It doesn't really tell you much unless you are into building lenses.

Back in the old days it may have meant something as the more complex the design supposedly the better: anastigmat = 3 elements, tessar = 4 elements, planar = 5 or 6 elements. This isn't always true, so it probably started as a sales pitch.

These days any zoom is going to have lots of groups and elements. If you research lens designs you might be able to use this info to sort out similar lenses from different companies that use different model names (for instance the Schneider Xenotar and Zeiss Planar lenses are of similar design).

 

[Sash[DSL]]

oh. I see.