"L" from canon is the equivilant of what for Nikon lenses?

noob question- with canon lenses, the good ones are "L" lenses right? so with Nikon lenses, what are the "good" lenses called?

 

L = Low dispersion glass elements I think.

Everything else, such as weather sealing built quality and such do not realle relate to the L.

so there must be an equivalent with Nikon.

 

I thought that the "L" stood for luxury, a better line of Canon lenses. They have a red ring around them and are better quality lenses than the regular Canon ones, better optics and build. I don't think that Nikon really uses any letters or abbreviations to distinguish from their higher-grade lenses, but I may be wrong, usually you just look at the price tag

 

yes thats true...and the guy in the first reply is right too.....but im saying what is the "Luxury" or Nikon's lenses? do they have a line of 'better quality lenses'?

 

Nikon's Pro lenses don't have a single marking. ED stands for "Extra Low Dispersion" lens elements. All Pro lenses are ED but not all ED lenses are Pro. For example the 70-300 has ED elements in it, but it's not a Pro grade lens. If you are a Nikon shooter, you learn what glass is pro grade and what is not. It's good some pro-sumer glass has pro features without the pro price.

 

I might chance my name to the guy in the first reply ... or is it more like a title?

 

then, strictly speaking, ED is the equivalent of L ...

 

I know that Nikon's 'Pro' lenses are distinguishable by a gold ring, similar to the red ring of Canon 'L' lenses. And yeah, all pro lenses are ED lenses, but not all ED are pro.

 

Not always the case. The Nikkor 85mm f1.4 is most definitely a pro lens but has no ED elements and no gold ring.

 

just look at prices to figure that out. If its more than you would want to spend on a lens, its probably pro. Thats what i do ;-)

 

Generally if it is an f2.8 or an f1.4 it's top of the line.

Nikon doesn't seem all that interested in dissing their Non-Pro shooters that can't afford the fastest glass by making it obvious that you have the next step down.

 

Exactly. Also Nikons glass is still very good in the lower segement too. I have both ends of the spectrum and, both shoot just great. And the price jump for the L glass to me means Lunacy.