What does SP actually mean?

What does SP actually mean? Does it mean weather sealed?

Could you please put it in context?
SP could mean : Silky Pix (raw editing program) or Socialist Party or Special Product or.............(the latter on Tamron lenses)

Martin.

Well, I don't think Socialist Party has anything to do with photography! Anyway, I assumed anybody would understand that I referred to SP coating when talking about lenses. So I am sorry! I think SP stands for Super Protect(ion) but I am not sure. And my question was : does it mean a lens with SP coating is weather sealed?

Go here to find out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SP

I have only seen the mark SP on Tamron lenses. And I know on these lenses it means Special Product. And no.......they aren't weather sealed.
Look here and scroll down for info.

Martin.

For example the DA 55-300 has SP coating; if I understand well it protects its front lens against dirt and contamination but does it mean it is actually fully weather sealed? Apparently not but I just want to be certain. I suppose the fully weather sealed lenses are the Star DA lenses. Am I right?
Here is the link: http://www.pentax.co.uk/en/product/21720/Photo_Lenses.html

www.pentax.co.uk sometimes it isn't that hard

SP Coating

SP (Super Protection) coating is a special coating of the front lens element of particular PENTAX lenses. It is based on a fluoride bonding and prevents the contamination of the lens by waterbased or oily substances. SP coated lenses are much more easily cleaned of finger marks, smears or other matter than may come in contact with the lens.

edit: added smily

Found this on www.dpreview.com
The front surface of the optics is treated with the PENTAX-original Super Protect (SP) coating. Applying a special fluorine compound to the lens surface through a vapour deposition process, this coating effectively repels dust, water and grease, making it easy to wipe off annoying stains such as fingerprints and cosmetic marks.

Erm, I thought it refered to Spotmatic camera bodies!

The world is full of acronyms these days and sometimes it drives me mad. I was reading another posting somewhere which was going on about EVFs and OVFs. Eventually it dawned on me: electronic v. optical viewfinders. This was not helped by the fact that "viewfinder" is a single word reduced to two letters in order to ensure the Holy Grail of a TLA. (AKA: three letter acronym).

UGH.

And I thought it meant "Superb Pentax

Well I really knew it meant my Tamron macro was extra special but now I also know I can spit on my DA* lenses to clean them and they wont be harmed

You are right - the only fully weathersealed lenses are the DA* ones. The SP coating is similar to the anti-smear coatings that are often applied to glasses (spectacles) but do not offer sealing against the elements.

I was always led to beleive that with regard to Tamron SP stood for 'Super Performance', however on the Tamron website it says 'High-performance specifications'.!?