how to tell ?

[myloplex]

How to interpret canon EF lense serial number ?
as date of manufacure
factory location
etc ...

got some info but still can't seem to locate they production date:
http://step.polymtl.ca/~dwarf/photography/eos/serial.html

anyone knows ?

 

[myloplex]

Know how to read liao

e.g: ULXXXX

1st alphabet:
F = Canon's SLR lens factory is in Fukushima
U = Canon's SLR lens factory is in Utsonomiya

2nd alphabet:
L - 1997
M - 1998
N - 1999
O - 2000
P - 2001
Q - 2002
R - 2003

the rest of the digits should be month / day or vice versa

my 17-40Lf is:
UR0700 --> Means manufactured in July 2003 at Utsonomiya
wow its real new !!

my other L lense is:
UQ0412 --> Means manufactured in April 2002 at Utsonomiya

SO when you guys buy 2nd hand lense, i suggest you ask for the production code. Some may claim is new but you cannot run from the production code

hope this helps

 

[Helbreath]

wad about flash?
i cant even find the serial no. of my flash, anyone can point out where to find it?

 

[oeyvind]

From what I can see, these codes only applies to L lenses right?

I can only see these on my L lenses, nothing like this on my normal non-L EF primes.

 

[Knighthunter]

From what I can see, these codes only applies to L lenses right?

I can only see these on my L lenses, nothing like this on my normal non-L EF primes.

Only applicable to L lenses and semi-pro 35mm and above.....
Actually this numbering tradion had been around since L lenses FD mount. I dunno is this numbering applicable to 1D/1Ds.
For 35mm film peek at the film chamber to see the number.

 

[Knighthunter]

I meant semi-pro 35mm SLR Body and above.

 

[ST1100]

From what I can see, these codes only applies to L lenses right?

I can only see these on my L lenses, nothing like this on my normal non-L EF primes.

Not really. The date code's on my 15/2.8 too, a non-L. It's also on my 35/2, another non-L.

My other non-Ls don't have it though, including 2 primes and 2 zooms. Anyone know how to interpret those numbers? Seven or eight digits followed by a letter, except for one lens which doesn't have a letter.

 

[myloplex]

maybe those are made in china !! haha
i also got a 50mm 1.8 lots of digits only

for flash think no code