This might be a bit of a duh question, but are the serial numbers for the following. F4 L IS: on mount itself, facing sensor when fitted - 7 digits. Determine the age of a Canon lens based on the 10-digit serial number To age a Canon lens using the 10-digital serial number,.With a 4-stop Image Stabilizer, precision L-series optics, fixed aperture and an ultra wide-angle zoom, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens is the professional's choice for shootingWhere to find your serial number.
Image credit: The Digital Picture
Instructive post by The Digital Picture. How to know the age of your Canon glass? First, let's quote The Digital Picture's post:
Canon has been transitioning to a 10-digit lens serial number (starting in 2008 with the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens) and ending the inclusion of a separate manufacturing date code. While date codes and the shorter serial number are still found on some lenses manufactured as late as 2012, this inclusion will likely end completely. We loved the date code because it made aging a lens easy. However, now we can age a lens based on the serial number alone.
So, want to know the age of a lens using the 10 digits serial numbers? No problem. First, split the serial number in three parts: DD C SSSSSSS. The “DD” part mens the year of manufacturing (see image above). Be aware that the code assigned to the year 2013 is a prediction, the code may also become “DDD”. The “C” indicates the batch, the “SSSSSSS” is the serial number assigned to the lens.
And what about lenses made before the 10 digits system? Check the date code beside the rear lens element, see image below.
![Lens Lens](https://www.canon.co.uk/media/EF-M_18-55mm_tcm14-1473754.png)
Image credit: The Digital Picture
The first letter (“U” in the image) indicates the factory where the lens was made. “U” stands for Utsunomiya, “F” for Fukushima and “O” for Oita, all in Japan. The second letter (“R” in the image above) is the code of the year of manufacturing. See below:
- A = 2012, 1986, 1960
- B = 1987, 1961
- C = 1988, 1962
- D = 1989, 1963
- E = 1990, 1964
- F = 1991, 1965
- G = 1992, 1966
- H = 1993, 1967
- I = 1994, 1968
- J = 1995, 1969
- K = 1996, 1970
- L = 1997, 1971
- M = 1998, 1972
- N = 1999, 1973
- O = 2000, 1974
- P = 2001, 1975
- Q = 2002, 1976
- R = 2003, 1977
- S = 2004, 1978
- T = 2005, 1979
- U = 2006, 1980
- V = 2007, 1981
- W = 2008, 1982
- X = 2009, 1983
- Y = 2010, 1984
- Z = 2011, 1985
Canon incremented this letter each year, starting with A in 1986 and before using A in 1960 (without the initial factory code).
Finally, the first two numbers (“09” in the example) mean the month of manufacturing, the final two numbers (“02” in the example) are an internal code used by Canon. Sometimes the month code comes without the leading zero.
[thanks to The Digital Picture]