PDA

View Full Version : Canon L series

Splog
22-06-2008, 20:06
Hi all :wave:

Is there a reason why some L series lenses are black and some are white? :thinking:
markta
22-06-2008, 20:09
Very good question and one I'd like to know too.

All I know is that the "L" stands for luxury...
Canon Bob
22-06-2008, 20:10
It's rumoured to prevent distortion of the lens body when the sun heats it up.

Bob
Albedo
22-06-2008, 20:11
I read somewhere (probably here) that the beige is to reflect heat...
oldgit
22-06-2008, 20:13
Not sure I really know the answer, but you'll find that all of the "long" zooms (>130mm??) are white, whilst the landscape lenses (<130mm) are black with a red ring.

Allegedly there is an "urban myth" that white lenses stay cooler than black ones and therefore work better .... (not sure I buy that).

More likely it's so that every one says "hey look he's got an expensive white lens"
MARKETING WORKS, CANON ARE NOT DUMB!!
Not that they make the best kit either .. other manufacturers and lens suppliers are available and may (I dunno) be even better

(said the man with a glorious super splendiferous expensive white lens :coat:)
joxby
22-06-2008, 20:21
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=54074&highlight=spot+nikon
fletch5
22-06-2008, 20:28
i think it is lenses 200 and over. most obvious is the status symbol, canon claim it is to reflect the heat.
i read somewhere on here the l stands for the coating on/type of glass, but dont quote me on that.
andrewc
22-06-2008, 20:35
The longer lenses contain flourite elements which is very critical on temperature (and is more brittle than glass) so the apparant reason is that its to reflect heat.

The real reason is probably marketing. Everyone associate white lenses with Canon.
Paul Tomlinson
22-06-2008, 20:57
L is for loads more money
davidbridges
22-06-2008, 21:04
L is for look at how crap nikon is
mav
22-06-2008, 21:12
could be a heat thing i was reading a review on spotting scopes
and one of them suffered in the heat the image degraded terribly
but when it was protected from the heat it was fine
andrewc
22-06-2008, 21:16
I certainly got more looks wandering around with a 100-400L than I do with my Sigma 100-300 (which is longer and bigger in girth)
PapaLazarou
22-06-2008, 21:32
Hi all :wave:

Is there a reason why some L series lenses are black and some are white? :thinking:


The heat thing as mentioned in post, but did you know they are not white, but light grey.