Question about serial numbers.

[Jwar1976]

Hi All,

I was in one of my local 2nd hand shops earlier like Cash Converters and noticed that they had a 70-200 IS F2.8 MKII for sale, works perfectly but the writing at the front of the lens is worn, the Lady allowed me to take some photos with it using my own camera, so I could check picture quality, before I decide on putting down the notes. Anyhow the thing that struck me as odd, was that the serial number on the outer casing, is a hell of a lot different to what is shown on the IfranView software.

On the outer casing the first few digits are 41100

But on the Software it is shown as 27302

Is there anyone here that can advise ?

Many Thanks

 

[Raymond Lin]

Hi All,

I was in one of my local 2nd hand shops earlier like Cash Converters and noticed that they had a 70-200 IS F2.8 MKII for sale, works perfectly but the writing at the front of the lens is worn, the Lady allowed me to take some photos with it using my own camera, so I could check picture quality, before I decide on putting down the notes. Anyhow the thing that struck me as odd, was that the serial number on the outer casing, is a hell of a lot different to what is shown on the IfranView software.

On the outer casing the first few digits are 41100

But on the Software it is shown as 27302

Is there anyone here that can advise ?

Many Thanks

One legitimate expanation is if you damage the casing, Canon will replace it and put back it with your existing internals.

I cracked the little focus distance screen window on my old 35L and sent it to Elstree, I’d thought they just replace the little plastic window but they end up replacing the entire outer body. It came back with a different serial number but I also had papers to prove what had happened.

 

[Jwar1976]

One legitimate expanation is if you damage the casing, Canon will replace it and put back it with your existing internals.

I cracked the little focus distance screen window on my old 35L and sent it to Elstree, I’d thought they just replace the little plastic window but they end up replacing the entire outer body. It came back with a different serial number but I also had papers to prove what had happened.

Thank you very much for that information, I had no idea that Canon done that. I thought I would ask on here first as the asking price is £799, so am really tempted.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Thank you very much for that information, I had no idea that Canon done that. I thought I would ask on here first as the asking price is £799, so am really tempted.

I don’t have the lens anymore, nor the paperwork as i kept it with the lens in the box for reasons just like this. But I recall the worksheet stated something along the lines of “new outer barrel, note new serial number”

It does also mean it didn’t match the serial on the box either.

 

[Retune]

I'm not sure that they would be expected to match. For example, the LensSerialNumber tag recognised by ExifTool has the note: 'apparently this is an internal serial number because it doesn't correspond to the one printed on the lens':

https://sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/TagNames/Canon.html

Do the serials match for all your other lenses? Are there any other users of this specific lens who can check?

 

[Jwar1976]

I'm not sure that they would be expected to match. For example, the LensSerialNumber tag recognised by ExifTool has the note: 'apparently this is an internal serial number because it doesn't correspond to the one printed on the lens':

https://sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/TagNames/Canon.html

Do the serials match for all your other lenses? Are there any other users of this specific lens who can check?

Thank you for that, I had never seen that Exiftool before. No all my other lenses are different as well.