Mine was hard to see at first, but there's a UY date code lightly etched into the black plastic on the other side of the mount from the electrical contacts.
Mine shows UY0300. It's in the usual place, on the face of the rear, black plastic cover assembly - directly opposite from the electronic contacts. It's a bit unusual, as it's stamped into the surface, instead of being printed there in a dark, or faint ink. Actually, the stamped characters are quite slender. I had to put on two pairs of glasses to read it.
OTOH, my 85/1.2L II has the date code engraved on the metal lens mount surface, as there's no rear, black plastic cover assembly - it's all glass!
Mike John wrote:
I'm just stating a true fact, especially with a high end lens most folks want to know the date code, it may not matter to you though.
Mike
I just think you were being mischievous and putting the wind up to OP.
Not a very nice thing to post if that was your intention.
You obviously don't know then that Canon regularly replace the plastic cover - with date code - for a blank one when necessary during lens servicing.
I would have thought that the original receipt for a lens was more important, in addition we all know that (for eg.) a 70-200/2.8L IS MkII cannot have been made before a certain date anyway and ten years down the line who cares as long as the lens performs correctly?
So presumably if Canon discontinue the marking of lens date codes the s/h market for lenses will collapse!
I'm sure that the posters who haven't found date codes on their lenses will do so if they lok hard enough - I have some L lenses on which it is difficult to make out the date code, even when I know they are there.
talk about a stupid remark your quote paul takes the cake. if later he decides to sell it will effect the sale of his lens and can lose a $100 or more. People will pay more for a newer lens, people will think something happened to the lens and Canon has made repairs and this will make a potential buyer what happened to the lens.
Interesting that BobbyBoy UK doesn't see a date code either.
I've looked again, very, very carefully and either they missed this one or the back plate was changed; its clean as a whistle. My suspicion is that this brand new lens may have been serviced by Canon already in which case it should have been sold to me as a "Refurb". I'll take it up with my retailer and my contact at Canon. (Will post results for all to see)
As for the Date Code not being much of an issue for me: I typically sell my used gear through a local on-line classified site here in Montreal because I get more net cash than if I sell here on FM. (Mostly because prices up here are higher than in the U.S. and I don't have to ship, Paypal, etc, etc.)
All my transactions are done in person. Most purchasers are amateurs or advanced amateurs who come over, see the lens or body, judge its condition first hand, and if we agree on a price (i.e. my price) its theirs. I've sold thousands of dollars worth of lenses and frankly never had anyone ask about the date code. Once in a while purchasers are interested in original invoices.
HAVING SAID THAT, were I to have to sell my stuff here on FM or similar on-line site, YES, I would be concerned at not having a date code simply because it's one more "check" we need when buying on-line from folks we don't necessarily know (...or trust). I've bought about a half dozen or more lenses here over the past 3 years and the date code has always been a primary factor in my buying decision.
I'll post a photo later, if somebody else doesn't do it first. 