Canon red label on the 300mm L glass..is it common?

<p>Just wondering as I have not noticed this canon branding in any other FD lens so far:<br>

<br /><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah222/Luis_Gabriel_Gerena/c00_zpsn5fbfvnk.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="629" /><br>

I am about to buy it so was wondering if this has any meaning.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I have been into Canon FD stuff since 1976 and I have never once seen that on a lens that I can remember. And I have been on multiple Canon FD dedicated forums since 2000. Oh and I am the Moderator here on this forum.</p>

<p>if that is factory it is amazingly rare (I have seen more OD Green F-1's) </p>

<p>How is it applied to the lens? is it a decal? A sticker? paint? </p>

Never seen it before and like Mark i 'm into Canon for Some years...

 

Rob

<p>Never seen it before, and not on my 300/4. If original, probably rare...but IMHO it does cheapen the look.</p>

<p>I am not sure how I feel about it. If its originally there not a decal then that could be interesting if I plan to sell it in the future..a little unique version but at the same time, I kind of dont like the look that much so I am in the middle of cool not cool right now. It will be my first L glass so I kind of wanted it to be perfect. :D</p>

 

<p>Possibly this was from an early iteration of Canon's CPS loaner system.</p>

<p>Henry Posner<br /><strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

<p>Interesting Henry!<br>

the owner does not know if it was from the store he got it from (Japan) or what so I guess I will have to see it and see if I can remove it.</p>

<p>Never seen it before,i have one (1989),and more strange is the letter L is not red,very strange indeed,and i collecte fd stuff since 1970.</p>

<p>My guess is that it was perhaps intended for use by a press photographer at public events like football matches etc. It would be good advertising for Canon. It certainly wouldn't put me off buying the lens.</p>

<p>Wow now you got me worried. The letter L indeed is not red like now I am seeing on all other L lenses. I mean could this guy have been fooled by the Japan store he bought it from?<br>

I mean, is there a chance this is not really the L version?</p>

<blockquote>

<p>the owner does not know if it was from the store he got it from (Japan) or what so I guess I will have to see it and see if I can remove it.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Personally, if you do buy it, I'd keep the red logo. It’s different, and may even become a collector’s item someday. </p>

 

<p>Yeah I will probably keep the logo there for that reason indeed but now is the WHITE L that is worrying me since I am searching all over google and cant find any other one in white. :/</p>

<p>Huh, interesting.</p>

<p>My guess: maybe it's an early, demo lens intended for taking around to photo shows like Photokina? Having 'Canon' shown prominently would be something companies do to their products to highlight them. And it would explain the white "L" since it could be an early prototype?</p>

<p>Yes, first thing that came to mind when I saw the logo was like an engineering sample in the CPU world.<br>

I am just trying to find if there are any specific differences between the L and non L versions that can tell me 100% for sure is the real deal.<br>

At the same time, I feel a bit let down that this will be my very first L lens and is not looking like the rest...a good and bad thing at the same time. <br />I was buying tomorrow so now I must decided quick.<br>

I mean, maybe looking at the blades or something I could tell?</p>

<p>I <em>may</em> have your answer; but I am no expert and I cannot attest to the accuracy of the MIR website:</p>

<p>http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/300mm.htm</p>

<p>But if you compare the two lens designs (300mm F4 vs F4L) you will see that the L type has a flat glass front "element" while the non-L type does not. As a 300mm F4L owner I <em>can</em> attest that the front element is "just" flat glass (which I know is not "just" flat glass but optically flat). I have never seen a non-L 300mm F4 to know if they do or do not have the front flat glass element.</p>

<p>I actually got a reply from Canon too.<br />Does not help me since I cannot see the L on that photo but at least they replied fast!</p>

<p>Dear Luis G,<br /><br />We appreciate your continued correspondence regarding the Canon FD 300mm f/4L.<br /><br />The FD 300mm f/4L lens, as it appears on the Canon Camera Museum [<a href="http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/lens/fd/data/100-800/fd_300_4l.html" target="_blank">Link Here</a>] is a black lens with white lettering. That lens came out in December of 1978. The decal on the barrel could indicate that it was once a part of CPS back in the day, a news room or someone may have stuck a Canon sticker on there for aesthetics. <br /><br />I hope this information is helpful to you. Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.<br /><br />Thank you for choosing Canon.<br>

<br>

This is the link:<br /><br />http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/lens/fd/data/100-800/fd_300_4l.html<br /><br>

</p>

Gabriel, as Canon's provided link showed us the original 300/4 L used an original silver-ringed breech lock mount...is that

what yours has? I have one of these original 300/4 L units and the "L" is RED.

<p>Don’t know if different color lettering is significant or not. Early production olive drab F-1’s had white lettering. Canon later changed the lettering color to yellow. </p>

<p>As for the 300mm lens you’re interested in, the only sure way to identify one from the other is to weigh the two lenses. The “L” version is 115 grams heavier than the non-L version.</p>

 

<p>Rick Janes, that is an excellent point!<br /> If this was an early version it would have the breech lock but no, it is actually the FDn mount as well which makes the whole white L even more strange.<br /> I dont feel comfortable buying this lens any more. It may very well be some oddity and be the real thing but if I ever need to sell it, I will probably have some problems because of this.<br /> Better look for a different copy :/</p>

<p>Jim, this is a lens I was planning to buy so I wont be able to weight it until I buy it sadly.<br>

<br />PS<br>

Someone pointed out that the lettering is embossed if its real and also the Canon FD 300mm etc is on a different location for the L and regular version in order to leave space for the red band which looks embossed as well so that kind of makes it look indeed like the real deal.<br>

I mean, if they were able to fake the red band and move the lettering higher why would they miss the L? <br>

Still, just something makes me feel bad about having the "weird" L lens.</p>

Now if someone were trying to counterfeit a 300/4 L why would they do things which invited closer scrutiny like the white

"L"? That's almost self-defeating.

 

I wonder if it could be a factory blem, and here's why: in my collection is a New FD 85/2.8 Softfocu...yes, Softfocu. It

should be engraved Softfocus, but the final letter S was never struck, it is simply not there yet it left the factory anyhow.

 

Likewise, perhaps the white painted "L" was simply misapplied by a tired worker not paying full attention?

<p>Yes that is what I mentioned above about missing the L but between the decal and white L, I am afraid how it will affect resale value in the future if I ever get rid of it so I am going to pass on it and look for another copy. :/</p>

 

<p>I saw a lens like this in Tokyo back in the mid-1980s, but it was a display model. Cool find.</p>

<p>I wonder how being a display model affects its build quality if it does at all. :)</p>