CCCWarehouse.com.au | Sigma Lens abbreviations guide

Sigma lenses use the following terms to indicate features of each lens. They differ slightly in how they denote aperture:

Common

123mm: Focal length
F/1.2: Maximum aperture (or F/1.2-3.4 for variable aperture zooms)

Compatible Body Brands

Sigma
Nikon
DG: Supports full-frame cameras
DC: Supports APS-C cropped-frame cameras (lightweight construction, smaller image circle)
Canon
DG: Supports full-frame cameras
DC: Supports APS-C cropped-frame cameras (lightweight construction, smaller image circle)
Minolta/Sony (A-mount/Alpha)
DG: Supports full-frame cameras
DC: Supports APS-C cropped-frame cameras (lightweight construction, smaller image circle)
DN: For Sony NEX E- mount mirrorless cameras
Pentax
Kodak (extremely limited)
Fujifilm
Olympus (limited)
Panasonic (very limited)
Leica (very limited)

In theory you can use Di II on full frame cameras. However as the Di II lenses pass in a smaller image, on the bigger sensor it will show a black halo (vignetting) (images courtesy of photographylife.com)

Unlike Canon EF-S series having a phyiscally longer bayonet connector to the camera body, Sigma DC uses the same short connector as Canon EF lenses, so physically it can fit, however you will still get the vignetting issue.

Features

HSM: Hyper-Sonic Motor (similar idea to Canon USM)
ASP: Aspherical lens element
APO: Aphochromatic (low-dispersion) lens element
A: Art Series
OS: Optical Stabilizer (similar idea to Canon IS, Nikon VR)
RF: Rear focusing
IF: Inner focusing
CONV: Teleconverter compatible (APO Teleconverter EX), not usually part of the lens name but mentioned in the product description
EX: Professional lens body finishing and construction (similar idea to Canon L series, Tokina Pro)
Macro: close focusing, but not necessarily 1:1 magnification

This article is aimed to keep thing simple, there are many more abbreviations used by Tamron you can see them directly on Tamron official glossary http://www.tamron.eu/service/glossary/

Some more info for shoppers comparing Sigma, Tamron, Tokina lenses with the Canon, Nikon and Sony equiv models.

Meaning	Nikon	Canon	Sigma	Tamron	Sony (A Mount)	Tokina
Image Stabilized	VR	IS	OS	VC	Not in lens	Not Marked
Fast Focusing Motor	SWM	USM	HSM	USD/PZD	SSM	IF-S
Pro Lens	Not Marked	L	EX	SP	G	ATX
Low dispersion glass	ED	ED	APO	LD	ED	SD
Full-frame	FX	EF	DG	Di	Not Marked	FX or not marked
APS-C Crop frame	DX	EF-S	DC	Di-II	DT	DX

Micro Four Thirds and Mirrorless System camera lenses have a slightly different set of abbreviations, this table is just for the Canon EOS, Nikon DSLR camera lenses.