Canon L series.

[redondo]

Hi...

I went through the various sections of the forum for sales and can not understand why everyone always asks about L-glass production years?
Whether there is any change in optical-mechanical or otherwise improved for example, there is any visible differences in terms of image quality on 10 year old lens.

Interested in this because of 70-200 f4 non is recent purchase.

Thanks in advance.

 

[markmullen]

They run out of quality, they start off with a finite amount of quality to give, the more you use the less there is left to give, similarly if you only use a 6 megapixel body your lenses will last twice as long as if you use a 12 megapixel body

 

[redondo]

that's funny i need then a 4mpix body just to be sure it will last longest

 

[chrisphoto]

I could be wrong but I think its just the fact that they're older and the AF motors may be more likely to go.

 

[33L]

i agree i think its just to check how well used a lens maybe however its doesnt tell you how long the lens has been sat on a shelf prior to being sold.

If there are known batches that are bad (very rare) then you can avoid liek the plague etc...

 

[redondo]

I could be wrong but I think its just the fact that they're older and the AF motors may be more likely to go.

Ohh.. didn't think of it in that way.

But what if lens has been lain in cupboard since 1999(hard to imagine that) and af motors have not used at all ?

i agree i think its just to check how well used a lens maybe however its doesnt tell you how long the lens has been sat on a shelf prior to being sold.

If there are known batches that are bad (very rare) then you can avoid liek the plague etc...

So based on all this it's just a code when it was manufactured except few bad batches.

 

[God]

Over time Canon (and Nikon and other manufacturers) will make "silent" upgrades. Basically they do not make all of the components in house, meaning they outsource things like the AF motor etc (I believe, though dont quote me). Over time they will change the contractor they use to make certain components and some will be better than others, though we generally hope that the newer ones will be better. The reason theyre called silent upgrades is that they dont obviously announce these "upgrades" in outsourcing. One reason why certain batch codes are reputed to be "a poor batch" as they may have had a slightly less favourable contractor during this period.

There is also the factor that the older the lens is, the more use and ware it has seen...

 

[redondo]

Ok. Now i understand so it's not like with Sigmas 70-200 2.8 improvements over time

* 70-200mm F2.8 EX APO - Original version, minimum focus distance 1.8m (1999)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG - Adds 'digitally optimized' lens coatings to reduce flare (2005)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro (HSM) - Minimum focus distance reduced to 1m (2006)
* 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II - Improved optical performance (2007)

 

[God]

Ok. Now i understand so it's not like with Sigmas 70-200 2.8 improvements over time

Generally when there is a big improvement they announce it and release a relevant update, the 70-200 2.8 IS ii for example. Otherwise theyre generally pretty quiet about it.