Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

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ac427
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p.1 #1 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

I want to purchase a Canon 5D Mark 2 body.

I have a serial number and would like to work out it's manufacture date.

I phoned Canon UK and was told that even Canon do hold the serial numbers! I know, but i managed not to laugh.

Is there any other i can trace the date or get any other info from the serial number?

Sep 05, 2012 at 08:30 PM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #2 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

If the SN is rubbed off the prior owner probabl had sweaty mitts and didn't use the battery grip. Unlike some lenses, cameras are not date coded but you could surmise a ball park date by comparing SN 5D2 bought at debut in 2008 with later purchases (they seem to be sequential).

Sep 05, 2012 at 09:20 PM

Jeroen Heus
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p.1 #3 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

Google is your friend

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=846051

Regards,
Jeroen

Sep 05, 2012 at 09:50 PM

retrofocus
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p.1 #4 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

Copied this from the link above:
------------------------
The first 2 digits may represent what month of the product cycle the camera was made.

For example;

Sept 08 -> 00
Oct 08 -> 01
Nov 08 -> 02
Dec 08 -> 03 [This makes sense with Luke Cerns serial number]
Jan 09 -> 04
Feb 09 -> 05
Mar 09 -> 06
Apr 09 -> 07
May 09 -> 08
June 09 -> 09
July 09 -> 10
Aug 09 -> 11
Sept 09 -> 12 [Makes sense with mine(Nerv) and dkim3202 serial numbers]
Oct 09 -> 13
Nov 09 -> 14
Dec 09 -> 15
Jan 10 -> 16
Feb 10 -> 17 [makes sense with aperkins serial number]
Mar 10 -> 18
Apr 10 -> 19
etc etc
------------------------
It also fits in my case: my first 5D II was purchased in 02/2009 and its serial number starts with 04 (produced in 01/2009). I purchased my second 5D II body in 03/2012 and its serial number starts with 37. With above calculation this would be a production date of 12/2011. Fits!

I believe that this allows clearly to see when the 5D II was manufactured!

Sep 05, 2012 at 10:14 PM

ac427
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p.1 #5 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

Jeroen Heus wrote:
Google is your friend

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=846051

Regards,
Jeroen

Thanks Jeroen, I had already post o that thread. Post 33 & 34 sadly disprove the sequential s/n numbering

"interesting....just got mine, a refurb, serial starts with 40, so January of 2012?
it had only 204 clicks on it...so, I guess it really doesn't matter, just makes you go "hmmm..."

"Same here. Just got mine new, two days ago, zero shutter clicks. Serial starts with 03. I bought from Buydig and I can't see them keeping this new 5D2 on the shelf for 4 years since 2008, or Canon not sending a new one out for that long. So I am thinking this theory is not right."

Sep 05, 2012 at 11:51 PM

Chris Tylko
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p.1 #6 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

My first 5D2 ser # began with 32 and was bought new in Jan '09.
My 2nd 5D2 ser # begins with 39 and was bought new in Jan '12.

Sep 06, 2012 at 02:09 AM

Mr.Lindy
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p.1 #7 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

Last week I just bought a brand new 5D II that starts with #04 and it came with a June 2012 Canon USA Warranty card & June 2012 printed Instructions Manual. Great camera out of the box, well worth $1839 delivered.
Other than the serial number all seemed perfect, packaging's perfect, box was brand new as was the camera wrapping. Didn't appear re-wrapped or repacked. I'm satisfied its a newly made 5D II that does not fit the serial number/build code observation.

My first 5D II bought last November 2011 does fit in with the first two serial numbers=build code observation, including the print date on it's Canon USA warranty card and instructions manual.

Sep 06, 2012 at 11:51 AM

retrofocus
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p.1 #8 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

Mr.Lindy wrote:
Last week I just bought a brand new 5D II that starts with #04 and it came with a June 2012 Canon USA Warranty card & June 2012 printed Instructions Manual. Great camera out of the box, well worth $1839 delivered.
Other than the serial number all seemed perfect, packaging's perfect, box was brand new as was the camera wrapping. Didn't appear re-wrapped or repacked. I'm satisfied its a newly made 5D II that does not fit the serial number/build code observation.

My first 5D II bought last November 2011 does fit in with the first two serial numbers=build code observation, including the print date on it's Canon USA warranty card and instructions manual.

What firmware version did the 04-camera had when you received it out of the box? If it had the latest firmware and it wasn't a refurbished model, then this really makes the number system questionable.

Sep 06, 2012 at 12:25 PM

Mr.Lindy
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p.1 #9 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

Firmware on serial #04 is 2.1.2 bought late August 2012 as new, not a refurb with June 2012 print dates on manuals & warranty card.

Firmware on serial #37 is 2.0.9 bought mid December 2011 as new, not a refurb with Sept 2011 print date on manuals & warranty card.

I've not updated either firmware.

Canon issued newest 5D II firmware version 2.1.2 on Feb 28th 2012

Here's canonrumors take on newest 5DII firmware:

http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/02/5d-mark-ii-firmware-2-1-2-update-not-too-exciting/

From Nov 13 2011, 5D II firmware 2.1.1 info:

http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/11/5d-mark-ii-firmware-2-1-1/

From May 29 2011 5D II firmware 2.0.9 info:

http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/05/firmware-5d-mark-ii-2-0-9/

Maybe Canon reset the first two digit build month serial number with firmware 2.1.2 ?
That would fit with my #04 month since newest firmware was issued and June 2012 print date on USA warranty card.
Just my guess, as that would also fit with the other odd serials on other 2012 purchases, #01, #02, which were mentioned on the POTN two year old 5DII serial number thread.

retrofocus wrote:

What firmware version did the 04-camera had when you received it out of the box? If it had the latest firmware and it wasn't a refurbished model, then this really makes the number system questionable.

Sep 06, 2012 at 01:00 PM

retrofocus
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p.1 #10 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

Mr.Lindy wrote:
Firmware on serial #04 is 2.1.2 bought late August 2012 as new, not a refurb with June 2012 print dates on manuals & warranty card.

Firmware on serial #37 is 2.0.9 bought mid December 2011 as new, not a refurb with Sept 2011 print date on manuals & warranty card.

I've not updated either firmware.

Canon issued newest 5D II firmware version 2.1.2 on Feb 28th 2012

Here's canonrumors take on newest 5DII firmware:

http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/02/5d-mark-ii-firmware-2-1-2-update-not-too-exciting/

From Nov 13 2011, 5D II firmware 2.1.1 info:

http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/11/5d-mark-ii-firmware-2-1-1/

From May 29 2011 5D II firmware 2.0.9 info:

http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/05/firmware-5d-mark-ii-2-0-9/

Maybe Canon reset the first two digit build month serial number with firmware 2.1.2 ?
That would fit with my #04 month since newest firmware was issued and June 2012 print date on USA warranty card.
Just my guess, as that would also fit with the other odd serials on other 2012 purchases, #01, #02, which were mentioned on the POTN two year old 5DII serial number thread.

Thanks - I have no better explanation. A reset of the number system is possible, and maybe others made the same experience, too. Interesting, still!

Sep 06, 2012 at 04:57 PM

J_Glowacki
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p.1 #11 · Canon 5D Mk. II - Serial number & Manufacture date

Just purchased new 5D II last week of July 2012, S/N starts with 03 ...........

Sep 06, 2012 at 06:26 PM

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