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Why L-series telephotos are white

Started 4 months ago | Discussions
Dunlin Senior Member • Posts: 2,610
Why L-series telephotos are white

An interesting read.

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/features/why-are-some-canon-lenses-white

Apparently the white colour (not actually pure white) is for heat reflection.

Perhaps others already knew that, but it was new to me.

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Scott Larson Veteran Member • Posts: 7,505
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white

Yet no one makes white camera bodies. Because, you know, that would be silly.

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KiloHotelphoto Contributing Member • Posts: 770
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white
2

Scott Larson wrote:

Yet no one makes white camera bodies. Because, you know, that would be silly.

Pentax made several white bodies over the years and so has Canon.

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expro Senior Member • Posts: 2,274
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white
1

Plus bodies have considerably smaller surface area

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CameraCarl Veteran Member • Posts: 9,204
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white
2

And -- until Sony started making white lenses (I wonder why...) -- Canon supertelephoto lenses were the only white lenses at major sporting events and really stood out when the TV cameras panned across press photo pools. You would often see a sea of white lenses with a few black Nikon lenses in the mix.

neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,011
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white

KiloHotelphoto wrote:

Scott Larson wrote:

Yet no one makes white camera bodies. Because, you know, that would be silly.

Pentax made several white bodies over the years and so has Canon.

Minolta made a few white camera bodies as well .

Their APO G primes and a Zoom lens were also white , along with the 1x-3x autofocus Macro zoom lens also being white .

So not that uncommon.

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Scott Larson Veteran Member • Posts: 7,505
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white

KiloHotelphoto wrote:

Scott Larson wrote:

Yet no one makes white camera bodies. Because, you know, that would be silly.

Pentax made several white bodies over the years and so has Canon.

Where can I buy one of these white Canon bodies? My 1DX cameras get extremely hot in the sun.

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KiloHotelphoto Contributing Member • Posts: 770
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white
2

B&H has one in stock.

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Andy01 Veteran Member • Posts: 5,191
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white
1

Scott Larson wrote:

KiloHotelphoto wrote:

Scott Larson wrote:

Yet no one makes white camera bodies. Because, you know, that would be silly.

Pentax made several white bodies over the years and so has Canon.

Where can I buy one of these white Canon bodies? My 1DX cameras get extremely hot in the sun.

Only ever available on the entry level cheapies (Rebels & some M bodies) - presumably for their "trendiness". Never any enthusiast or "pro" bodies.

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Canon_Guy
Canon_Guy Senior Member • Posts: 1,489
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white
1

I think it is also good to mention that some part of the reason for big whites is also marketing. As mentioned above, white barrels shine in the crowd of others. It became a trademark for the Canon's best.

With some of today's lenses like RF 70-200/4 the white color is mainly if not only marketing and heritage. Firstly plastic is much less affected by dimension changes caused by heat and secondly it is comparably very small - much smaller than some black zooms.

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Scott Larson Veteran Member • Posts: 7,505
Re: Why L-series telephotos are white

Andy01 wrote:

Scott Larson wrote:

Where can I buy one of these white Canon bodies? My 1DX cameras get extremely hot in the sun.

Only ever available on the entry level cheapies (Rebels & some M bodies) - presumably for their "trendiness". Never any enthusiast or "pro" bodies.

I guess Canon has no idea how hot their cameras get out in the sun.

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