asking about Canon lens code
Hi experts, few queries to have your explanation :
1. Which Canon L lens series is without lens code ( age ) ? no need to talk about manufacturing place in Japan, just age.
2. Which Canon L lens series is with lens code ink printed and carved ? Are they the same all over the world ?
Thanks,
abc123
asking about Canon lens code
Quote:
Originally Posted by
abc123
1. Which Canon L lens series is without lens code ( age ) ? no need to talk about manufacturing place in Japan, just age.
As stated in the linked article, Canon started switching to 10-digit serial numbers in 2008, but it wasn't an across-the-board change. For L lenses, I believe they stopped putting date codes on lenses launched after mid-2010. For example, my 24-70mm f/2.8L II, 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS and 600mm f/4L IS II all launched after that time, none have date codes.
I think that lenses launched before that date, which have date codes, continue to have date codes even if they are produced after that date. There's one exception I'm aware of, more below.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
abc123
2. Which Canon L lens series is with lens code ink printed and carved ? Are they the same all over the world ?
Date codes for lenses I have (or had):
28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS printed on plastic
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS printed on plastic
35mm f/1.4L printed on plastic
135mm f/2L printed on plastic
MP-E 65mm printed on plastic
85mm f/1.2L II printed on metal
16-35mm f/2.8L II engraved on plastic
24-105mm f/4L IS engraved on plastic
70-200mm f/2.8L IS II engraved on plastic*
TS-E 17mm f/4L engraved on plastic
TS-E 24mm f/3.5L engraved on plastic
100mm f/2.8L Macro IS engraved on plastic
Based on that list (certainly not comprehensive, so this is a guess), it looks like they switched from printing to engraving in 2005 (28-300 is a 2004 launch, 24-105 is a 2005 launch). The 85L is an exception, since the rear element is so large, there's no plastic ring around it (it's a 2006 launch, but easier to print than engrave the metal).
Since all Canon's L lenses are produced in the same factory, I would not expect printed vs. engraved to vary geographically. It's possible that some lenses have switched from printed to engraved, although I have printed lenses produced well after 2005 based on date code.
*The 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II did change its labeling. The first production run had a date code (mine does, I bought at launch), but later runs did not. So for that lens, they did change mid-stream. IIRC, dropping the date code from that lens instigated the efforts to correlate the 10-digit serial number with production dates.
Hope that helps...