White lenses... good or bad?

The following baseball stadium thread brought this to mind... https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=499356

Are Canon's white lenses good or bad?

I'm talking about the color specifically, not the performance. I also understand that it's probably as much a marketing thing for Canon as much as anything else, but I'm not addressing that, either.

We constantly get denied access to events when we display "professional" equipment. Do white lenses make the matter worse? Does Canon's white lenses hurt in this regard in that they give an added impression of "professional" to uninformed security people when it's quite often just casual people who own and use them? I suppose it doesn't help that most of the pros in the event are using white lenses, also, but still...

Or, is it a moot point, and would the same ignorance apply no matter what?

I think the white color is a negative, though not a big deal overall.

Canon says the color is to deal with heat, but they apply it to all 'L' telephotos regardless of flourite use which calls the premise into question.

I find the white lenses do attract attention, and there are few circumstances where additional attention is helpful to a photographer.

I'm not a fan. Make mine black please.

A can of spray paint would fix the problem. I suggest a nice hot pink, preferably Day-Glo.

JeffreyG wrote in post #5487905
I think the white color is a negative, though not a big deal overall.

Canon says the color is to deal with heat, but they apply it to all 'L' telephotos regardless of flourite use which calls the premise into question.

I find the white lenses do attract attention, and there are few circumstances where additional attention is helpful to a photographer.

I'm not a fan. Make mine black please.

Only the L's that are 300mm and up and the 70-200 series are white. Those lenses are so long that they would draw attention even if they were black.

Oh and I forgot the 200 f/1.8 & f/2 IS are also white

Get a camo lens cover,if anyone notices it they will just think your carrying a shrub instead of a camera

Or paint your 100-400 brass and tell people it is a trombone.

Let's not forget that the L line of lenses is the "professional" line... That being said, uniformed personnel who assume that a white lens is professional are technically correct.

the 70-200 2.8's dont have flourite (only the f/4's do) and they are white.

???

That's why I bought a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 .......

(actually cause I can't afford L..) lol

i would have preferred black. the less attention the better!

20droger wrote in post #5487927
A can of spray paint would fix the problem. I suggest a nice hot pink, preferably Day-Glo.

That would doubtlessly end all claims that the lens is professional gear

DStanic wrote in post #5488771
That's why I bought a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 .......

(actually cause I can't afford L..) lol

Not to get off topic but, how do you like the Sigma? I don't like the white of the 70-200 series myself, and I was thinking maybe next tax season I'll look into one.

JCH77Yanks wrote in post #5488220
Let's not forget that the L line of lenses is the "professional" line... That being said, uniformed personnel who assume that a white lens is professional are technically correct.

That wasn't really the question, though. It was more about the person/lens combo, and how the perception of the lens affects the perception of the person, not merely the lens by itself. You could say...

All professionals use white lenses, not all who use white lenses are professionals.

Not literally *all*, but you get the point.

Anyway, as others have mentioned, they just attract more attention this is usually a good idea. Even if I'm just walking down the street they attract more attention then I'm comfortable with. Now, I have made friends with other hobbyist photographers who struck up a conversation because they noticed the white lens, but I still fear the carload of losers driving by who might decide they want to mug the 'rich photo guy'.

I don't have a white lens, but know that this is based on not wanting to stand out. People may think I'm a better photographer than I am. Pretty stupid reason!

My NBA arena doesn't allow "professional" photo equipment into the arena, but my black lenses (mainly a 135L) get in with no problem. I bet a 70-200/4 would not get in.

White lenses are sexy, so are thin red bands... I've fallen hard for the marketing