Date code of newer lenses

Hi, I am looking to buy a lens which has a 7 digit serial number and no year code.

Is there anyway I could find the year of manufacture of this lens?

It is a 100 2.8L.....

Sorted, the seller was giving me only the serial and there is an actual date code printed on the lens that made it - lets say, a good few years older than was being advertised.....

Not on this forum

The 100 2.8L is only 5 years old, I wouldn't let that worry me if the price is right.

So many photographers obsessed over the 'age' of used L lenses, apparently, Canon stopped putting dates on their lenses.

So, unless you have an 'inside track' on what serial numbers were manufactured where and when, I suspect you are out of luck determining the age of a lens other than what the seller offers as documentation.

So what's the big deal about the age of a lens? Condition is far, far, far more important. My 80-200 f2.8L is 20 years old - bought used 3 years ago, in absolute mint condition and works perfectly.

There is only one issue....

It is how much you are willing to take the seller at his/her word. When the seller declares the lens is one year old and has been used only handful of times, and you find out the lens is atleast 3 years old, you wonder what else you don't know.

kram wrote in post #17231264
There is only one issue....

It is how much you are willing to take the seller at his/her word. When the seller declares the lens is one year old and has been used only handful of times, and you find out the lens is atleast 3 years old, you wonder what else you don't know.

lenses sit on shelves after they are made you know...

You can use the serial number to check too if it bothers you http://www.the-digital-picture.com …ses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx