Meaning of SONY Camera and Lens Terminology/Notation

α

The brand for autofocus SLR cameras, inherited from Konica Minolta.
The brand continues to be used for the mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras after the mount change, following the digital SLR series.

α Mount / A-mount

A mount inherited from Minolta's autofocus SLR cameras.
Camera bodies compatible with lenses made by Minolta and Konica Minolta are still being sold.

E-mount

A mount specifically for mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera systems.
It lost compatibility with the α mount inherited from Minolta, but can be used with a mount adapter.
However, this often places limitations on the camera body's performance.

ILCA

Abbreviation for Interchangeable Lens Camera / A-mount.
The camera model name follows ILCA to indicate the model number (e.g., ILCA-99M2).

NEX

Abbreviation for and meaning of New E-mount eXperience.
It was originally the brand name for mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, but after October 2013, the α brand was adopted and unified.

ILCE

Abbreviation for Interchangeable Lens Camera / E-mount.
The camera model name follows ILCE to indicate the model number (e.g., ILCE-6600).

Translucent Mirror Technology

Uses a fixed translucent mirror instead of the traditional quick-return mirror.
This improves autofocus tracking and increases continuous shooting speed.
It also features an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical viewfinder.
Therefore, models equipped with this technology are treated as "interchangeable-lens cameras" rather than "single-lens reflex cameras."

Exmor

The name of a CMOS sensor.

BIONZ

The name of an image processing engine.

Fast Hybrid AF

Combines the advantages of the contrast-detection method, which offers high AF precision, and the phase-detection method on the image sensor, which offers excellent AF speed, to achieve high AF precision while excelling in AF speed and tracking performance.

DT

Abbreviation for Digital Technology. Refers to lenses for APS-C SLRs.

G

Derived from the first letter of "Gold."
A designation given to higher-end lenses since the Minolta era.

GM / G-Master

Sony's top-tier lens series. Even higher-end than the G lens series.

Carl Zeiss

A series of lenses from a prestigious German brand.

Sonnar/Tessar/Distagon/Planar

Series of Carl Zeiss brand lenses.

Vario-

Carl Zeiss branded zoom lenses.
Examples include Vario-Sonnar and Vario-Tessar.

E

Signifies an E-mount lens.
Designed exclusively for APS-C. On full-frame cameras like the α7 series and α9, the image will be cropped.

FE

Full-frame E-mount.
Compatible with 35mm full-frame.

SAL

A prefix used in the model names of genuine A-mount lenses. Means "Sony A-mount Lens."
(e.g., SAL35F18)

SEL

A prefix used in the model names of genuine E-mount lenses. Means "Sony E-mount Lens."
(e.g., SEL50F18F)

OSS

Abbreviation for Optical SteadyShot.
Refers to the in-lens image stabilization function.

PZ

A prefix for motorized zoom lenses.
Abbreviation for "Power Zoom."
The model name includes P (e.g., SELP1650).

ZA

Signifies a genuine Sony Zeiss lens.

T*

A special coating applied to genuine Zeiss lenses.
Read as "T-star."

SSM

Abbreviation for Super Sonic-wave Motor. Refers to an ultrasonic motor.

SAM

Abbreviation for Smooth Auto-focus Motor. Features smooth and quiet AF.
Lower-end than SSM.