topic Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11 in EF & RF Lenses

LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

Countryside59 — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 15:45:33 GMT

Hi,

Have just purchased a 70-200 2.8L is 11usm lens from Ebay, seller stated only 6 months old and looks in mint condition, but would like to check date of manufacture, Is it the 10 digit serial no on the box, if this is so which site do I need to check this out?

Thanks

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

Waddizzle — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 15:54:47 GMT

@Countryside59 wrote:
Hi,

Have just purchased a 70-200 2.8L is 11usm lens from Ebay, seller stated only 6 months old and looks in mint condition, but would like to check date of manufacture, Is it the 10 digit serial no on the box, if this is so which site do I need to check this out?

Thanks

Forget about the box. It might match the lens, and then again it might not. Look at the lens itself.

Can you see where is says "Image Stabilizer" near the lens mount? Good, now spin the lens 180 degrees, and you should see the serial number.

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

Countryside59 — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:14:35 GMT

Many thanks and it is the same number on the box too

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

ebiggs1 — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:20:51 GMT

"... but would like to check date of manufacture ..."

You don't want the serial number. You need to find the date code. Not all ef 70-200mm f2.8 lenses have one. It is a black on black stamped number on the lens mount. If it was ever there it could have rubbed off or just faded away.

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

diverhank — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:26:41 GMT

This link will provide you with all the information you need to determine date of manufacturing:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

ebiggs1 — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 16:40:50 GMT

diverhank,

The problem is the lacking or missing number on 70-200's. I have seen some with it but most do not have it for whatever reason.

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

diverhank — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 19:37:45 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
diverhank,

The problem is the lacking or missing number on 70-200's. I have seen some with it but most do not have it for whatever reason.

Not sure if it applies to your case but the website I posted did mention that some of the newer lenses no longer have the stamped number anymore and you need to discern the date from the serial numbers.

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

Countryside59 — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 13:47:52 GMT

Thanks for info

Have checked lens serial number against the listings, but still unsure when it was manufactured. [Mod Note: Serial number removed per forum guidelines]

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

diverhank — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 18:01:22 GMT

What were the first two numbers of the s/n? That's all you need to find the date

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

Countryside59 — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 20:17:31 GMT

Just got a reply from Canon, they state the date cannot be determined from the serial number, not a lot of help as no other info was offered

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

RobertTheFat — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 21:06:47 GMT

@diverhank wrote:
This link will provide you with all the information you need to determine date of manufacturing:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx

After the OP reported today that Canon had told him that the date cannot be determined from the serial number, I checked my brand new 70-200 f/2.8L IS II (bought from B&H about a month ago) against the table provided by that link. If the table is correct, my lens was manufactured in February 2008. That strikes me as extremely unlikely, given the continued popularity of the lens. All copies made that long ago should have been sold almost as long ago. So I doubt the credibility of that table.

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

ebiggs1 — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 21:11:23 GMT

RTF,

That is why I suggested you need the stamped on date code. I didn't think the serial number is accurate. Now I find that some or most of the 70-200's don't have the stamp or it has rubbed off. Mine is gone.

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

Waddizzle — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 22:23:21 GMT

"I checked my brand new 70-200 f/2.8L IS II (bought from B&H about a month ago) against the table provided by that link."

Back in the saddle again!

Re: LENS SERIAL NUMBER CANON 70-200 F2.8 IS 11

RobertTheFat — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 23:12:59 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
"I checked my brand new 70-200 f/2.8L IS II (bought from B&H about a month ago) against the table provided by that link."

Back in the saddle again!

Wellll... More like finishing my adjustment to being out of the saddle. The 70-200 that I had been using for the past several years belonged to the City I worked for, so I had to give it back when I retired. I had already concluded that doing without it was too painful to contemplate and had therefore accepted replacing it as an unavoidable cost of retirement.