How to know if lens is newly made?

[Reportage]

with digital camera slr lenses from 2000 or earlier still being made/sold even today, how do you know you have the latest made batch or simply stock made from long ago that just reached the shop so can say is new lah since never sold or opened.

Edit: Or do you even care as long price is better from initial launch? hahahaha.

 

[sammy888]

with digital camera slr lenses from 2000 or earlier still being made/sold even today, how do you know you have the latest made batch or simply stock made from long ago that just reached the shop so can say is new lah since never sold or opened.

Is this a case of I pay money so I want to be sure some how my lens is from the "latest" batch Kiasuism ?

The only reason most in my generation of SLR lens right up to modern day gears... we want to check out information against other industrial spy news of "sleeper" lens ...etc, good or bad lens from certain time line or track down serial numberings on unit that ceased production. You can find those details online in sites if you choose to SEARCH for it on google or yahoo.

Since I am in a spooning mood.... here is a link I have though not one of my best for Nikon stuff...but it will do to get you motivated to search it out yourself for the best information about this.

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

 

[2evans]

Here's a link to help decipher the canon code,

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

 

[ed9119]

"with digital camera slr lenses from 2000 or earlier still being made/sold even today"

were there even DC-dedicated slr lenses in 2000 ????? cant be more than a handful even if there were

this brings back lots of early memories...... 2.5-3 MP DSLRs

 

[Lord Soth]

Just wanted to add that in addition to checking the serial numbers on the lenses, the latest Nikon lenses come in boxes with the 75th Anniversary logo which look like the following :-

The older lenses come in plain gold boxes.

Finally, all Nikon lenses come with some sort of lens manual. The date (month/year) of the lens pamphlet is printed on the bottom corner. This can give you a rough indication of the production date of your lens.

 

[Reportage]

the old box?

example of new?

 

[Lord Soth]

example of new?

For the older lenses, this lens box is now considered old.

There is one newer than this box and it has the "millions of lenses sold" picture wrapped around the box.

It should look like the one below :-

 

[Reportage]

For the older lenses, this lens box is now considered old.

There is one newer than this box and it has the "millions of lenses sold" picture wrapped around the box.

It should look like the one below :-

So this one is the latest packaging for the whole line now?

 

[calebk]

What does it matter if the lens was made 5 years ago and made yesterday, but no one has touched it since it left the factory. Does it or does it not qualify as new to you? My qualification of a new lens is one that has not had a previous owner or user before me, and optics, aesthetics and mechanics are all unscathed and fully functional, even if it was made 10 years ago.

 

[night86mare]

you can smell it.

 

[Reportage]

What does it matter if the lens was made 5 years ago and made yesterday, but no one has touched it since it left the factory. Does it or does it not qualify as new to you? My qualification of a new lens is one that has not had a previous owner or user before me, and optics, aesthetics and mechanics are all unscathed and fully functional, even if it was made 10 years ago.

Just thinking, if the lens has been in production for a long time...it would make sense that from the original components would change with the time for example maybe they use better coatings or more refined techniques or better glass for lens assembly that are available today. Or would lens manufacturers die die never change the components used even if better ones were available for much cheaper?

 

[Lord Soth]

So this one is the latest packaging for the whole line now?

I bought a 20mm Nikkor AF-D f/2.8 a few months ago and it came in the type of box listed above.

I would think that an older lens would have come in the plain gold Nikkon lens box.

you can smell it.

It was really new....smelt new too.

What confirmed it for me too was the date on the lens manual/pamphlet which said May/2008.

 

[Lord Soth]

What does it matter if the lens was made 5 years ago and made yesterday, but no one has touched it since it left the factory. Does it or does it not qualify as new to you? My qualification of a new lens is one that has not had a previous owner or user before me, and optics, aesthetics and mechanics are all unscathed and fully functional, even if it was made 10 years ago.

All lenses have lubricants on their aperture blades and other moving parts.

These tend to dry out with age, so I can understand why the thread starter would be interested in getting a newer lens.

Anyway, it's just that SHIOK feeling of getting a virgin new lens which gives you bragging rights too! :bsmilie: