Canon L Lens Codes

Does Canon automatically start shipping out the new year date codes on Jan. 1st of each new year.

The reason I ask is I want to take advantage of their double rebate but would much rather have an UV code (2007) vs an UU code (2006).

I checked with several online companys and nobody has the UV code in stock yet, And as we all know it must be purchased by Jan. 13 2007.

Why do you care?

i
...
http://picasaweb.google.com/iWorthington

--
Lundy

'Sometimes the best part of wanting something is not having it.' ME 1994

http://www.pbase.com/lundy

Just an FYI.

When I worked in manufacturing, the date code refers as it is suppose to, the date the item is manufactured.

Since it is not 2007 yet, it won't be used until the first lens are made in 2007. Most manufactures used the day of the year.
e.g. today (05DEC06) would be 06-339

or the week of the year e.g. 0648 for today (05DEC06).

If you want something with a 2007 date code, you'll have to wait until it is manufactured next year, then sent out.

So say a lens starts manufacturing the first week of January 2007, I don't know how long the process takes.

But say 1 week for the fun of it from start to being boxed, it would not leave Canon to the distributors until approx. 1-6-07 or 1-08-07, since the 1st is a holiday still.

More than likely if the place you by the lens from still have inventory, you may still get a 2006 code lens.

David

I echo the second comment why does it matter?

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

Lundy said:

What are UU and UV codes?

Click to expand...

Lundy said:

--
Lundy

'Sometimes the best part of wanting something is not having it.'
ME 1994

http://www.pbase.com/lundy

Click to expand...

I want a lens made on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Preferably after 10am, and before 11am. Or after 2pm, and before 3pm.
I've called all of the camera stores, and they don't seem to have any in stock.

Do you think you could help me?

--

'In 1983, the game of golf had a firm grip on the waist of my boxers and was administering the death wedgie. I had a dose of the atomic yips and after missing 10 of 11 cuts by a single shot, I was ready to quit and apply for a job as a wringer-outer for a one-armed window cleaner.'

• David Feherty

I have lenses from 1981 (Canon FD). They work perfectly. What are you afraid of?

--
When I ask which Canon lenses are best,
people tell me to 'go to L.'

While I'm sure there are some lenses more popular than others...I doubt Canon manufactures ANY of their L lenses "year round".

They most likely have a stock in inventory. once the stock falls below a certain level, they add that lens to the manufacturing schedule and bang out a thousand of them. (or however many they make per batch)

Depending on the stock levels...you might NEVER see a UV code for the lens your looking for.

I frankly don't see the point really. Many people buy L lenses used without a care about the manufacture date, as long as the glass is good, so it wouldn't impact resale value.

sean

I checked my 70-200 2.8L...I'd say one of their more popular L lenses...which I bought in August 2005. My date code is Jan 05. My retailer had just gotten his order of 5 of these lenses 3 weeks before.

So to answer your original question...it's quite possible that any lenses manufactured on Jan 2, 2007 won't see a store shelf for several months.

sean

hockeynut said:

I want a lens made on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
Preferably after 10am, and before 11am. Or after 2pm, and before
3pm.

Click to expand...

Me too. I have it on good authority that all the lenses with back-focussing problems are made between 11am and 2pm because that's when the QA inspector goes to lunch. I think Canon should expand the date code to include the actual day of the month and the time the lens was built so we know which ones not to buy (or leave for the suckers that don't read these forums

Steve H
--

With the more popular lenses, the time from manufacture to retailer can be quite short. I bought a 70-200 f4L in the UK on 3rd October and the code on the lens indicated that it had been manufactured in Japan in August 2006. Factor in the time for shipping from Japan to Europe/ UK and that's pretty quick from factory to retail warehouse.

Michael