Just got brand new 50mm 1.2 date manufactured 09-2011?

Do you want the long version or the short version?

The long version:

A manufactuered date means the date a product comes off the line at a assembly plant (in this case in Japan).

Then the product sits in a distribution warehouse there until the US branch of the company requests it (that could be a day, it could be years depending on the product or part and its demand).

Then it gets put with a huge order, likely in a container, and loaded on a ship in Japan. It then crosses the ocean, ends up at a large US port (sometimes ships have to wait weeks offshore just to access the port if it is busy), the ship is unloaded, the container may or may not be checked by customs, then get taken to the US distributer on the west coast, who puts all those products in a warehouse there until their other regional distribution centers need them, in this case the North East US most likely for B&H. When the regional warehouse needs the product they request to have it transferred with their next order, likely by frieght truck, across the country, and then it gets to the east coast distribution center, finally an authorized dealer like B&H requests the product for their inventory, and the regional distribution center puts it in their next order on a truck to them, and once it gets to B&H, it sits on a shelf until someone wants to buy it.

All that above is not specific to Canon, since I have no idea their exact distribution, but I am probably not far off, and it all assumes the product is for general inventory, and not a rush order or brand new product they are hurrying to market.

Easily the above process can take months or even years, and it really doesn't matter, because they don't change the way they make the lenses (some lenses they sell have been built the same exact way for decades), which is why Canon and MANY MANY other companies have decided to eliminate model year designations from their serial numbers because of "gotta have it now" people who worry if you buy a product that didn't come off the factory floor ten minutes before you opened it, like you are waiting in line for a fresh donut at a Krispy Kreme store with the "hot now" sign on, there must be something wrong with it.

Unlike a donut, the lens is not going to go bad if it sits in its box for a year. If it would it most certainly is not worth its high price tag.


The short version:

Go take some pictures and enjoy your lens.

Excellent post Billginthekeys.

Billginthekeys wrote in post #14781140
Do you want the long version or the short version?

The long version:

A manufactuered date means the date a product comes off the line at a assembly plant (in this case in Japan).

Then the product sits in a distribution warehouse there until the US branch of the company requests it (that could be a day, it could be years depending on the product or part and its demand).

Then it gets put with a huge order, likely in a container, and loaded on a ship in Japan. It then crosses the ocean, ends up at a large US port (sometimes ships have to wait weeks offshore just to access the port if it is busy), the ship is unloaded, the container may or may not be checked by customs, then get taken to the US distributer on the west coast, who puts all those products in a warehouse there until their other regional distribution centers need them, in this case the North East US most likely for B&H. When the regional warehouse needs the product they request to have it transferred with their next order, likely by frieght truck, across the country, and then it gets to the east coast distribution center, finally an authorized dealer like B&H requests the product for their inventory, and the regional distribution center puts it in their next order on a truck to them, and once it gets to B&H, it sits on a shelf until someone wants to buy it.

All that above is not specific to Canon, since I have no idea their exact distribution, but I am probably not far off, and it all assumes the product is for general inventory, and not a rush order or brand new product they are hurrying to market.

Easily the above process can take months or even years, and it really doesn't matter, because they don't change the way they make the lenses (some lenses they sell have been built the same exact way for decades), which is why Canon and MANY MANY other companies have decided to eliminate model year designations from their serial numbers because of "gotta have it now" people who worry if you buy a product that didn't come off the factory floor ten minutes before you opened it, like you are waiting in line for a fresh donut at a Krispy Kreme store with the "hot now" sign on, there must be something wrong with it.

Unlike a donut, the lens is not going to go bad if it sits in its box for a year. If it would it most certainly is not worth its high price tag.


The short version:

Go take some pictures and enjoy your lens.

The Condensed Long Version...

Sort of like a new car sitting on a Dealer lot. It arrived in August and finally was driven off the lot in May the following year...

The Condensed Short Version...

Go have fun with the NEW lens!

CameraMan wrote in post #14781690
Sort of like a new car sitting on a Dealer lot. It arrived in August and finally was driven off the lot in May the following year...

Well not really, that car sitting on the lot was actually for sale the whole time, and has been subject to some age/sun/weather/wear and tear/mileage, probably has undesireable color or options or power, and car models change at least in some way just about every year, and durastically every few years. Sure you are still getting full warranty, but generally there is a reason if a car sits around for that long.

A lens sitting in a box in a warehouse waiting to need to be sold, is not going through anything of the sort, and they won't change the way they so much as put a screw in it for ten or more years. Whether you fly to Japan and have the guy at the end of the production line hand you your lens, or buy it after it has gone around the world and sat for a year won't make any difference as to how good of a lens it is.

SillyBoy81 wrote in post #14776143
is this normal? its been sitting at b&h for that long? should i go to b&h and ask them about it?

Lenses aren't like milk which has an expiry date.

yogestee wrote in post #14784919
Lenses aren't like milk which has an expiry date.

Really? I thought if they sat on the shelf too long, the glass elements start to curdle?

Just a thought. One possible concern/ramification of older Date Code could be resale value. The Date Code tends to be one the first inquiries when selling better lens.

Bakewell wrote in post #14786461
Just a thought. One possible concern/ramification of older Date Code could be resale value. The Date Code tends to be one the first inquiries when selling better lens.

That may be true, but that will not change the fact that the OP's lens is only dated last year (and less than 12 months ago). And that stock needs to be packaged, shipped, stored and may temporarily sit on shelves. I don't think the OP is going to do much better than the date code he received - unless he goes to the factory.

Bakewell wrote in post #14786461
Just a thought. One possible concern/ramification of older Date Code could be resale value. The Date Code tends to be one the first inquiries when selling better lens.

i agree. as much as i hate to admit, if i were to buy used, and two were for sale listed as identical condition and price, id go for the newer one. i know it probably makes no diff, but thats just me. i know some others feel that too since a lot ask what the date code is

SillyBoy81 wrote in post #14780103
b&h won't sell returns as brand new right?

PixelMagic wrote in post #14780115
Don't be a Silly Boy.

Hehehe. This is priceless. ^^^

Enjoy the lens, it's a great one.