How do I find information on Canon Serial numbers?

[sonofg]

I have a use Canon camera and I want to find the age of the camera by the serial number.

[amfoto1]

Canon themselves might be able to tell you. Send them an email directly.

Canon techs do drop in here on the forum occasionally. But mostly it's just folks who shoot with Canon gear, who are active here. So if you want a more precise answer, I'd suggest contacting them directly via email.

You can get at least the date that camera models were introduced off the Canon Museum website.

DSLRs: http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/dslr/chrono_1995-2004.html

Compact Digital: http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/dcc/chrono_1995-2000.html

Film cameras: http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/film/chrono_1933-1955.html

If you know the model that replaced any particular camera (such as that a 50D replaced 40D, and a 60D replaced 50D, etc.) you also can estimate the end date of a particular model at the museum website. That would give you at least a range of dates to work with.

***********
Alan Myers

San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7D(x2), 50D(x3), some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & PRINTROOM 

[sonofg]

Thanks, I tried Canon but no response yet.  Cool to see the Canon History site.

Also do you know anything on the firmware updates for Canon 50d's.  I have two I picked up that are used. One is a 1.0.3 the other is a 1.0.7 Is it worth it to upgrade the formware?

[amfoto1]

I think it's usually worthwhile to update firmware to the latest version, tho sometimes the "fixes" in it are pretty minor.

Even tho I've got 50Ds, I don't recall the details of firmware updates. The current version for the camera is 1.09, so both yours are a bit out of date.  

***********
Alan Myers

San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7D(x2), 50D(x3), some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & PRINTROOM 

[ScottyP]

Here's the answer, I think:

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

Does that do it?

[sonofg]

Those seem to be ok for the lenses, but I couldn't find ot how to correlate to the camera's

Thanks

[hsbn]

when people buy used body, they don't normally care how long ago it was made but they do care how much it was used. Thus, people want to know the number of shutter actuation. For example, I could have bought a camera 2 years ago, only took 200 photos then put it away or something. And my friend could have bought a camera 2 months ago and took 20,000 photos for his time lapse.

[sonofg]

I have the accuations, but the condition of the camera doesn't correlate with that number.

Thanks