why date code is important?

I've seen in so many post, that "date code is ..." .
Why it is important? And what date code is right?
I plan to buy a 24-70/2.8 L and 70-200/2.8 IS L. Which date code is good and which is bad with these L-s?

mjordanke wrote in post #4333067
I've seen in so many post, that "date code is ..." .
Why it is important? And what date code is right?
I plan to buy a 24-70/2.8 L and 70-200/2.8 IS L. Which date code is good and which is bad with these L-s?

I am not 100% on this but I think it has to do with lens quality on certain models. For some reason the early issue of certain canon lenses like the 100-400mm zoom and the 400mm DO off the top of my head had quality issues when first released. Since their release canon has fixed subsequent copies. So by knowing the date code you are avoiding these early copies which may have a problem with sharpness or AF.

HTH.

fyi

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

Significant changes in lens design are typically marked by adding a new designation, ie, Mark II. For a pro, or a committed amateur, knowing, for example, that image stabilization has been changed, can be important. Here is a useful link for anyone who wants to understand more about lenses and cameras. It is a great place to browse.

http://www.canon.com …-museum/camera/index.ht​ml

The datecode is useful in establishing a value for a lens. While professional lenses hold their value well, it is reasonable to pay slightly less for an older lens given equal condition. Some buyers will only buy a recently produced lens and datecode is the only way to determine that. In my experience, buying an older lens in excellent condition from a trusted seller at a fair price, is a fine way to build a kit. I bought two discontinued professional lenses, one with a very old datecode, and they've given me excellent service. A smart buyer needs to gather as much information as possible in assessing gear and datecode is jut one piece of such information. With regard to the lenses you're considering you don't need to worry about datecode. That said there is an EF 24-70L for sale on Fred Miranda at the moment with a UU datecode (2006) for sale for a very good price, $875, including shipping and Paypal fees. You might want to check it out.

http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/58958​5

It's very simple. Date codes tell you when the lens was made, nothing more. You will find that some guys will try and sell a 5 year old lens for the same price as a 6month-1year old lens. The date code will let you know what you are getting.

thx!

Thanks all. This neophyte is now a little less green. Although being a long time Velvia fan I suppose a little green isn't so bad.

However, a date code tells you nothing about how long a lens has been in use. For instance, you may buy a lens this year with a code showing manufacture in 2006. It's still a brand new lens with zero use, but it has sat for a year + in shipping / storage / etc.

Frankly, I couldn't care less about date codes. I used an 80-200L for 2.5 years, and it was 14 years old when I bought it. It worked flawlessly when I got it, and it worked flawlessly when I sold it.

mjordanke wrote in post #4333067
I've seen in so many post, that "date code is ..." .
Why it is important? And what date code is right?
I plan to buy a 24-70/2.8 L and 70-200/2.8 IS L. Which date code is good and which is bad with these L-s?

Never buy a lens made on Monday or Friday. And you will only get good food in a restaurant on Wednesday or Thursday night.

Jman13 wrote in post #4986410
However, a date code tells you nothing about how long a lens has been in use. For instance, you may buy a lens this year with a code showing manufacture in 2006. It's still a brand new lens with zero use, but it has sat for a year + in shipping / storage / etc.

Frankly, I couldn't care less about date codes. I used an 80-200L for 2.5 years, and it was 14 years old when I bought it. It worked flawlessly when I got it, and it worked flawlessly when I sold it.

That's my opinion as well. The date code tells you nothing more that when the lens was made. It certainly tells you nothing about how the lens was treated.

But if everything else was equal, equally good looking lens, design parameters, function, price, etc. which would you buy, a 6 moonth old lens or one that is 4 years old? I am not saying age is everything. I have some old (20-30 year) lenses that I love.

It's my experience that lenses don't typically fail unless they're dropped or abused in some fashion. Therefore functionality is far more important to me than age, all other things being equal. Once a lens is out of warranty, it's out of warranty and it's going to cost the same amount to repair or replace it regardless of when it's 13 months old or 13 years old. It's just a non-issue for me. For others, it may be quite different.

It's like model years on vehicles. With the exception of Chrysler in the 80s, one year isn't particularly better than another. It just tells you when it was made. You still have to look it over, size up the current owner, and take it for a spin know if you should buy it. Some people are pretty good at destroying everything they get their hands on within a year, rendering a 2007 Camry useless, while others will be so careful that a 1984 Prelude will be reliable for years to come.

Ended up with this on my Google search, thought some might find this interesting:

http://www.newschoolof​photography.com …ing-canon-date-codes.html

I have no way to ascertain the factual correctness of what's stated there.