jhong79 wrote:
I picked my first copy up 2 weeks ago with date code UY0700.
Returned that copy coz of a big piece of crap inside the lens.
Had to wait a week for new stock to arrive. The current copy I have has no date code.
So I assume canon has stopped date coding the newer batches.
Notice also the coded copy I had came with a instruction booklet whereas the new one has a cd instead.
Regarding the CD, I bought a 24mm f1.4L MkII a couple of weeks ago with Date Code UY1003 which also came with a CD instead of a booklet. With the date code of Oct on this lens, it seems they're still using date codes on other lenses, but not the 70-200mm?
jhong79 wrote:
Notice also the coded copy I had came with a instruction booklet whereas the new one has a cd instead.
And I can confirm my "un-dated" lens also came with the CD instead of the printed manual. They do include a simple printed multi-language instruction sheet on that thin paper you can never fold back properly again.
The CD includes instructions for every single Canon EF lens currently marketed (not discontinued models though).
Chris Tylko wrote:
The CD includes instructions for every single Canon EF lens currently marketed (not discontinued models though).
If you actually go in to the PDF folder on the disc, there are some discontinued lenses in there as well. (17-35L, 300L Non IS for example) Unless of course you have a different disc?
Sir_Loin wrote:
If you actually go in to the PDF folder on the disc, there are some discontinued lenses in there as well. (17-35L, 300L Non IS for example) Unless of course you have a different disc?
Yes you're quite right. Too bad they didn't include the camera manuals too!
I received a 70-200mm II last week from Aden Camera in Canada and I also received the CD but no date code on the lens. Good news is it's the sharpest 70-200mm that I've ever owned!
Chris Tylko wrote:
And I can confirm my "un-dated" lens also came with the CD instead of the printed manual. They do include a simple printed multi-language instruction sheet on that thin paper you can never fold back properly again.
The CD includes instructions for every single Canon EF lens currently marketed (not discontinued models though).
Jred wrote:
No date code on my lens. Called B&H as well as Canon Customer service. Both clueless.
I have the 10 digit Serial Number 703000XXXX, any idea if the date of manufacture is in these numbers?
I know it seems petty, but when I pay over 2k for a lens I want a date code dammit!!
Concerned about resale as well.
In each country Canon sales and service dept. is an independent company - from Canon Japan and (usually) each other. That's why service varies so much between countries.
It isn't strange that they don't know about any changes to the serial numbering of lenses, they often get to know about new releases later than everyone else!
And if Canon UK/US/Canada etc.don't know how are retailers expected to?
Why worry about resale when you have the original receipt to prove when the lens was purchased?
It's one of the oldest MkII's anyway.........................
I bought 2 of these lenses about a week apart from B&H. The first one had a 6-digit S/N and a date code, the second had a 10-digit S/N and no date code. The warranty cards looked different too and the second one had a CD while the first one did not.
PaulB wrote:
In each country Canon sales and service dept. is an independent company -
Actually Paul, I was led to believe that Canon Canada is a subsidiary of Canon USA and that its basically the same company...which is why I can buy a lens in the US and Canon Canada honors the warranty (also why our warranty cards say USA/Canada on them).
In any event we're beginning to see FMr's in the US who are getting "Undated" 10 digit serial number lenses. Bet there's more to come!
I posted an email to Bryan Carnathan at The-Digital-Picture.com asking him if he knew anything about this. Someone should ask Chuck Westfall!
In the meantime folks:
a) make sure your purchase invoice shows the the lens serial number, and
b) KEEP that invoice!!!
I can confirm that the serial numbers for L-series lenses have shifted to a new 10-digit style as of 2nd-Half 2010 production. However, Canon is not releasing any further information on this topic.
As for Nikon, yes, you can find out how old is your lens base on the SN. It just make no sense to pay for a older date code lens while you can get a newer one at the same price.
Chris Tylko wrote:
And a reply from Chuck Westfall:
I can confirm that the serial numbers for L-series lenses have shifted to a new 10-digit style as of 2nd-Half 2010 production. However, Canon is not releasing any further information on this topic.
Hi Chris,
I looked but I could not find the actual note from CW. Can you please point me to it?
I looked but I could not find the actual note from CW. Can you please point me to it?
TIA.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Hi Yakim,
This was a personal reply to me via email.
(At the bottom of his "Tech Tips" column there's a link to send him an email...and a couple of days later he replied!) I think he's stopped doing the "Tech Tips" (I can't any since early this year) but obviously he still receives emails.
Don't they have men on the assembly line? 