Why are big Canon lenses white?

f1charlie

f1charlie

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Charlie
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Is there any scientific reason? :shrug:

Is it only Canon that paint them that colour?
 
It's a mixture of 2 things, because white reflects heat better, stops things changing temperature inside and altering how the lens behaves (canon's version), or it's just a way to recognise the brand. L lenses are easy to spot a mile away, and anyone walking around with one is basically a Canon advert!

Chris
 
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Officially it's to disperse heat, in reality it's just a marketing ploy, although as Joe says, Nikon do grey lenses and Sony also sell whites ones, I think...
 
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The Canon white lenses were developed following an interesting research paper by Dr Iman Ghooly at the Bombay Institute for advanced Optics.Ghooly and his team noted that black lenses when repainted white produced significantly sharper images than the control group painted black.Curiously this effect was only noticeable at focal lengths exceeding 70mm.
Canon immediately realised the cost benefit ratio was weighted heavily in their favour if they adopted this colour scheme and have been coining it in since adopting it for their L Teles.
Hope this helps.
Pete.
 
Joe T said:
Its so that they reflect heat - which prevents them heating up and the elements warping.

In reality its for canon lens whores :p :lol:

Edit: and you can get certain Nikon lenses in 'tropical grey'. :)
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you can get a few Nikons in whiter than canon white
 
Minolta were making white lenses before Canon (& there were white lenses before Minolta).
 
My L lens is not white, it would look bloody awful if it was, mine is more like a mushroom colour :D
 
I thought they were more a very light grey colour, just like the rest of Canon's photocopier range...
 
Some element that Canon use in the glass does not cope well in harsh humid heat. It causes the lens to 'mist' up, which essentially cripples it. The huge glass that (serious) wildlife photographers use yield a large surface area for the sun to heat up, hence white was chosen since it 'reflects' heat.

Nikon do not use that substance for that very reason.

Or so I was told adamantly by a Nikon fan :-)
 
Why don't Canon make their bodies white to match, then they really would stand out - Pentax has produced a white SLR.

I suppose the corollary is - why are most lenses/cameras black?
 
It was inspired by Nikonite agents planted in the Canon factory so that when you are walking around inner cities taking gritty urban shots the local villains see the Canon lenses sticking out like a sore thumb mug them and leave the users of black Nikon lenses alone
 
f1charlie said:
Why don't Canon make their bodies white to match, then they really would stand out - Pentax has produced a white SLR.

I suppose the corollary is - why are most lenses/cameras black?
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Black was once the exception and silver the normal.

Paint used to rub of the corners of well used black Nikons to reveal superb brass underneath.

I think that Pentax are about to bring out a limited edition white body.

My personal preference is firmly with black.
 
The huge glass that (serious) wildlife photographers use yield a large surface area for the sun to heat up, hence white was chosen since it 'reflects' heat.
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So why do "serious" wildlife photographers camouflage them? ;)
 
One of my L lenses is black and the other is mushroom coloured like Galaxy66's! I'm not too fussed though; they're not just for show, and I got them both for a steal :p
 
Norseman said:
So why do "serious" wildlife photographers camouflage them? ;)
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Now this does baffle...I've had all sorts actually land on my uncamouflaged 70-200 2.8 IS when I've been firing it remotely! It doesn't seem to bother them in the slightest. Not sure if it is something that larger birds/animals might be wary of, but the smaller stuff certainly isn't!
 
TheWombat said:
The Canon white lenses were developed following an interesting research paper by Dr Iman Ghooly at the Bombay Institute for advanced Optics.Ghooly and his team noted that black lenses when repainted white produced significantly sharper images than the control group painted black.Curiously this effect was only noticeable at focal lengths exceeding 70mm.
Canon immediately realised the cost benefit ratio was weighted heavily in their favour if they adopted this colour scheme and have been coining it in since adopting it for their L Teles.
Hope this helps.
Pete.
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How come nikon produce better results and they are black :D
Imagine if they were White :D
 
alexisonfire said:
How come nikon produce better results and they are black :D
Imagine if they were White :D
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You would obviously benefit from a personal visit to Dr Ghoolys institute.:lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
Everybody knows the answer, but won`t say,so I shall.

Big Canon lenses are white so that the male owners can paint purple veins on them, thus achieving something they can`t in real life..............:p
 
Lots of envious Nikon whores on here!! :)
 
OK, lets have ten rounds between nikon and canon. No blows below the belt.

Round 1: is it white or mushroom
Round 2: Ect ect ect
 
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