PDA

View Full Version : Canon Date Code help

wxwax
Mar-25-2005, 04:04 AM
I have a mint 300mm f4 IS with a manufacturing code that appears to read U8-1103. Everything about it, including the box, suggests it's relatively new.

Anyone able to tell me what year this lens was made?

This link (However, in doing some quick Googling, it appears that my eyes lie, and that the code should actually read UB-1103. ) doesn't seem to be much help.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx
wxwax
Mar-25-2005, 05:22 AM
Anyone? :ear
wxwax
Mar-25-2005, 05:35 AM
Never mind.

I finally figured out that what looks like an 8 is in fact the letter Q. This makes the lens a 2002.
DJ-S1
Mar-25-2005, 05:59 AM
Glad we could help. :D
DoctorIt
Mar-25-2005, 08:36 AM
you sellin? :ear
wxwax
Mar-25-2005, 09:11 AM
you sellin? :ear
Yup. But I just discovered it ain't as mint as I thought. :cry
pathfinder
Mar-25-2005, 01:08 PM
Yup. But I just discovered it ain't as mint as I thought. :cry
Is that because it is 4 years old? Or because there are optical defects you just noticed? Good lenses rarely wear out. They can be damaged by dropping or scratching or being stored in a humid fungi-growning environment. But otherwise, older lenses can be just fine. :thumb Kind of like older wines and older gals:D
wxwax
Mar-25-2005, 01:11 PM
Is that because it is 4 years old? Or because there are optical defects you just noticed? Good lenses rarely wear out. They can be damaged by dropping or scratching or being stored in a humid fungi-growning environment. But otherwise, older lenses can be just fine. :thumb Kind of like older wines and older gals:D
Nah, slight problem with the hood, an easy repair. The glass and body look like new to me.

4 years old? :wxwax November 2002 manufacture date, which makes it 2 years and five months old, puhleeease.
pathfinder
Mar-25-2005, 05:45 PM
Nah, slight problem with the hood, an easy repair. The glass and body look like new to me.

4 years old? :wxwax November 2002 manufacture date, which makes it 2 years and five months old, puhleeease.
Duh, right I think :huh
Stan
Mar-27-2005, 02:49 PM
Duh, right I think :huh
How can you tell the age of a lens? my 28-70 2.8 was 2nd hand, but all the sales staff said there was no way of checking serials against online data bases.

I have no problem with the lens or the firm thatr sold it but out of curiosity I did ask the guy I dealt with. He then asked another guy who asked a third and none of them knew. So can you age a Canon?