Canon lens date codes and EF lens chronology
Lens manufacturing codes (updated Dec '12)
 Some older Canon lenses are stamped with a manufacturing code consisting of two letters and (typically) four numbers.
Before 1986, the code may be in a letter/4 digit/letter format
The first letter indicates the manufacturing site:
U = Utsunomiya, F = Fukushima, O = Oita
The second letter is the year the lens was made
| A = 2012, 1986, 1960 |
B = 2013, 1987, 1961 |
C = 1988, 1962 |
D = 1989, 1963 |
E = 1990, 1964 |
F = 1991, 1965 |
| G = 1992, 1966 |
H = 1993, 1967 |
I = 1994, 1968 |
J = 1995, 1969 |
K = 1996, 1970 |
L = 1997, 1971 |
| M = 1998, 1972 |
N = 1999, 1973 |
O = 2000, 1974 |
P = 2001, 1975 |
Q = 2002, 1976 |
R = 2003, 1977 |
| S = 2004, 1978 |
T = 2005, 1979 |
U = 2006, 1980 |
V = 2007, 1981 |
W = 2008, 1982 |
X = 2009, 1983 |
| Y = 2010, 1984 |
Z = 2011, 1985 |
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So the UC1204 Canon Date code would indicate a lens made at Utsunomiya in December 1988
The 3rd and 4th digits are an internal Canon manufacturing code. Starting in 1990, Canon only date coded some specific lenses
| All L-series lenses |
EF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye |
EF24mm f/2.8 |
EF28mm f/2.8 |
EF28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 |
| EF28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 II |
EF35mm f/2 |
EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 |
EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 |
EF35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 |
| EF35-135mm f/3.5-4.5 |
EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5 |
EF50mm f/1.8 |
EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro |
EF70-210mm f/4 |
| EF100-200mm f/4.5 |
EF100-300mm f/5.6 |
EF135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus |
MP-E65 f/2.8 Macro |
TS-E45mm f/2.8 |
| TS-E90mm f/2.8 |
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Note that the codes have become less common on recent lenses, with serial numbers in a different 'xx y zzzzzzz' format.
This is indicated on this EF8-15 f/4L fisheye zoom 7900001555
The first two digits are a date code, indicating month and year of manufacture.
In this case '79' equates with June 2011'
The next number '0' is believed to be a batch or manufacturing revision number.
The remaining seven digits '0001555' are a basic serial number (this was a very early lens - one of the first shipped in the UK)
How to interpret the date code? It's been suggested that the code starts in January 2008 with the number 38 and increments each month of the year. Note that the code for February 2013 is missing, since no-one knows for sure if it will reset to 00, 01, or go to 100.
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2008 |
38 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
43 |
44 |
45 |
46 |
47 |
48 |
49 |
| 2009 |
50 |
51 |
52 |
53 |
54 |
55 |
56 |
57 |
58 |
59 |
60 |
61 |
| 2010 |
62 |
63 |
64 |
65 |
66 |
67 |
68 |
69 |
70 |
71 |
72 |
73 |
| 2011 |
74 |
75 |
76 |
77 |
78 |
79 |
80 |
81 |
82 |
83 |
83 |
85 |
| 2012 |
86 |
87 |
88 |
89 |
90 |
91 |
92 |
93 |
94 |
95 |
96 |
97 |
| 2013 |
98 |
99 |
? |
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| 2014 |
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The code seems to work for modern 'L' lenses, but take this example of an EF50/1.4
The lens was purchased in March 2012, so the code '83' for October 2011 is reasonable. The digit '5' for a revision code is also reasonable for a lens that's been around for a few years (1993), but we are left with a 5 digit serial number.
So, a way of identifying dates, but not quite so clear as the old letter codes.
Canon EF lens chronology
When was a lens announced, and is it still a current model?
Note that this is not always the same as when it first shipped - some lenses were 'previewed' a long time before they were officially released (the 200-400 being a notable example).
| Current EF lens |
Current EF-S lens |
Discontinued EF lens |
Discontinued EF-S lens |
Current EF-M lens |
Active links go to that lens's information page on this site - see the site home page for review links for all Canon EF lenses
| Year |
M |
Lens |
Year |
M |
Lens |
Year |
M |
Lens |
| 1987 |
3 |
EF50mm f/1.8 |
1988 |
6 |
EF28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 II |
1989 |
4 |
EF28-80mm f/2.8-4L USM |
| 1987 |
3 |
EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 |
1988 |
6 |
EF35-135mm f/3.5-4.5 |
1989 |
9 |
EF50mm f/1.0L USM |
| 1987 |
3 |
EF35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 |
1988 |
6 |
EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5L |
1989 |
9 |
EF85mm f/1.2L USM |
| 1987 |
3 |
EF100-300mm f/5.6 |
1988 |
10 |
EF35-70mm f/3.5-4.5A |
1989 |
9 |
EF80-200mm f/2.8L |
| 1987 |
4 |
EF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye |
1988 |
11 |
EF24mm f/2.8 |
1989 |
10 |
EF20-35mm f/2.8L |
| 1987 |
4 |
EF28mm f/2.8 |
1988 |
11 |
EF200mm f/1.8L USM |
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| 1987 |
5 |
EF70-210mm f/4 |
1988 |
11 |
EF600mm f/4L USM |
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| 1987 |
6 |
EF100-300mm f/5.6L |
1988 |
12 |
EF100-200mm f/4.5A |
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| 1987 |
10 |
EF135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus |
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| 1987 |
11 |
EF300mm f/2.8L USM |
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| 1987 |
11 |
EF28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 |
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| 1987 |
12 |
EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro |
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| 1987 |
12 |
EF50-200mm f/3.5-4.5 |
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| |
| 1990 |
3 |
EF35-135mm f/4-5.6 USM |
1991 |
3 |
EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 |
1992 |
3 |
EF500mm f/4.5L USM |
| 1990 |
4 |
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro |
1991 |
4 |
EF 400mm f/2.8L USM |
1992 |
4 |
EF35-80mm f/4-5.6 USM |
| 1990 |
6 |
EF70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 USM |
1991 |
4 |
TS-E24mm f/3.5L |
1992 |
6 |
EF20mm f/2.8 USM |
| 1990 |
6 |
EF100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM |
1991 |
4 |
TS-E45mm f/2.8 |
1992 |
6 |
EF85mm f/1.8 USM |
| 1990 |
9 |
EF35-80mm f/4-5.6 |
1991 |
4 |
TS-E90mm f/2.8 |
1992 |
6 |
EF35-105mm f/4.5-5.6 USM |
| 1990 |
10 |
EF35mm f/2 |
1991 |
4 |
EF35-105mm f/4.5-5.6 |
1992 |
6 |
EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 USM |
| 1990 |
11 |
EF80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 |
1991 |
10 |
EF100mm f/2 USM |
1992 |
6 |
EF80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 USM |
| 1990 |
12 |
EF50mm f/1.8 II |
1991 |
10 |
EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 USM |
1992 |
11 |
EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM |
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1991 |
12 |
EF14mm f/2.8L USM |
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1991 |
12 |
EF200mm f/2.8L USM |
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1991 |
12 |
EF300mm f/4L USM |
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| 1993 |
1 |
EF35-350mm f/3.5-5.6L USM |
1994 |
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No lenses in 1994? |
1995 |
2 |
EF38-76mm f/4.5-5.6 |
| 1993 |
3 |
EF20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM |
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1995 |
3 |
EF35-80mm f/4-5.6 III |
| 1993 |
5 |
EF400mm f/5.6L USM |
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1995 |
3 |
EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM |
| 1993 |
6 |
EF50mm f/1.4 USM |
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1995 |
3 |
EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 II USM |
| 1993 |
7 |
EF1200mm f/5.6L USM |
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1995 |
3 |
EF80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II |
| 1993 |
9 |
EF35-80mm F4-5.6 II |
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1995 |
7 |
EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 II |
| 1993 |
10 |
EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II USM |
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1995 |
8 |
EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 III USM |
| 1993 |
11 |
EF28-70mm f/2.8L USM |
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1995 |
9 |
EF28mm f/1.8 USM |
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1995 |
9 |
EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM |
| |
| 1996 |
3 |
EF200mm f/2.8L II USM |
1997 |
3 |
EF300mm f/4L IS USM |
1998 |
2 |
EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM |
| 1996 |
3 |
EF400mm f/2.8L II USM |
1997 |
12 |
EF24mm f/1.4L USM |
1998 |
3 |
EF22-55mm f/4-5.6 USM |
| 1996 |
4 |
EF135mm f/2L USM |
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1998 |
3 |
EF55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 USM |
| 1996 |
4 |
EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM |
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1998 |
11 |
EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM |
| 1996 |
4 |
EF17-35mm f/2.8L USM |
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1998 |
12 |
EF35mm f/1.4L USM |
| 1996 |
9 |
EF24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM |
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| 1996 |
9 |
EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 |
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| 1996 |
9 |
EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 IV USM |
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| 1999 |
4 |
EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II |
2000 |
3 |
EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM |
2001 |
9 |
EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM |
| 1999 |
4 |
EF28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 V USM |
2000 |
9 |
EF28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 |
2001 |
12 |
EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM |
| 1999 |
4 |
EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III |
2000 |
9 |
EF28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM |
2001 |
12 |
EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM |
| 1999 |
4 |
EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM |
2000 |
10 |
EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 |
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| 1999 |
7 |
EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM |
2000 |
10 |
EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 USM |
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| 1999 |
7 |
EF500mm f/4L IS USM |
2000 |
10 |
EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM |
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| 1999 |
9 |
EF400mm f/2.8L IS USM |
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| 1999 |
9 |
EF600mm f/4L IS USM |
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| 1999 |
9 |
MP-E65mm f/2.8 Macro |
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| 1999 |
9 |
EF70-200mm f/4L USM |
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| 2002 |
9 |
EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 II USM |
2003 |
5 |
EF17-40mm f/4L USM |
2004 |
6 |
EF28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM |
| 2002 |
9 |
EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II |
2003 |
9 |
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 |
2004 |
6 |
EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM |
| 2002 |
9 |
EF28-105mm f/4-5.6 USM |
2003 |
9 |
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM |
2004 |
9 |
EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM |
| 2002 |
9 |
EF90-300mm f/4-5.6 USM |
2003 |
9 |
EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 II |
2004 |
9 |
EF28-90mm f/4-5.6 III |
| 2002 |
11 |
EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM |
2003 |
9 |
EF55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM |
2004 |
11 |
EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM |
| |
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2003 |
9 |
EF90-300mm f/4.5-5.6 |
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| 2005 |
3 |
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM |
2006 |
2 |
EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM |
2007 |
2 |
EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM |
| 2005 |
3 |
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II |
2006 |
2 |
EF85mm f/1.2L II USM |
2007 |
8 |
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS |
| 2005 |
9 |
EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM |
2006 |
8 |
EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM |
2007 |
8 |
EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS |
| 2005 |
9 |
EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM |
2006 |
8 |
EF50mm f/1.2L USM |
2007 |
8 |
EF14mm f/2.8L II USM |
| |
| 2008 |
2 |
EF200mm f/2L IS USM |
2009 |
2 |
TS-E 17mm f4/L |
2010 |
1 |
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM |
| 2008 |
2 |
EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM |
2009 |
2 |
TS-E 24mm f3.5L II |
2010 |
8 |
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM |
| 2008 |
9 |
EF24mm f/1.4L II USM |
2009 |
9 |
EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS |
2010 |
8 |
EF 8-15mm f/4 L USM fisheye |
| 2008 |
9 |
EF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 IS |
2009 |
9 |
EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM |
2010 |
8 |
EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS II USM |
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2009 |
9 |
EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM |
2010 |
8 |
EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM |
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| 2011 |
2 |
EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM |
2012 |
2 |
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM |
2013 |
3 |
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM |
| 2011 |
2 |
EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM |
2012 |
2 |
EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM |
2013 |
5 |
EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x |
| 2011 |
2 |
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III |
2012 |
2 |
EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM |
2013 |
6 |
EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM |
| 2011 |
3 |
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II |
2012 |
6 |
EF 40mm f/2.8 STM |
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| 2011 |
6 |
EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II |
2012 |
6 |
EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM |
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2012 |
7 |
EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM |
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2012 |
7 |
EF-M 22mm f/2 STM |
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Note that discontinued lenses may still be available and current listed lens may be in the process of being discontinued. There is often no clear termination process, particularly with Canon's global market.
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