I was wondering how did Canon ended up making lenses in white? What was the reason? Marketing or there is more to it?
I am guessing it's marketing. People come from all around me when I am shooting and ask that silly question: "are you a photographer" I don't think they would notice me if I had the common black lenses on.
There are those who think it is just maketing hype, but stick a black lens in the hot sun all day long and feel it, and then do that with a white lens.
I know most of us do not spend the entire day in the sun, but think of the shooters at the NFL games or the World Soccor League games - those lenses may be in the sunlight all day long and still have to work. Canon says the Flourite lens elements tolerate high temps more poorly than glass lenses.
I would prefer black lenses, as white lenses just draw too much attention, but there you go. Then I'd have to shoot a Nikon I guess.scratch
I had always assumed it was to reduce air expansion inside due to pressure build up from heat. Maybe a bit of both.
I have heard the heating up the inside of the lens often and the pressure thing is probably the technical reason but I can tell you why I like it. Shooting in AZ, the white lens don't get too hot to touch unlike black bodies and lenses.
Bob
Phoenix, AZ
Canon Bodies
Canon and Zeiss Lenses
what you said is probably true gus, but i think its partly marketing too, i mean. you can have a 70-200 f/4L on there, and people still look at you like you have a 600 on it. they're just baffled by the white, and the next thing they always look at is my neck-strap... so i think its part legitimate reason, part marketing.
what you said is probably true gus, but i think its partly marketing too, i mean. you can have a 70-200 f/4L on there, and people still look at you like you have a 600 on it. they're just baffled by the white, and the next thing they always look at is my neck-strap... so i think its part legitimate reason, part marketing.
well, then why isnt the 17-40L white? or the 85L, etc etc...but guess that goes both ways
I would prefer it black in a heartbeat. As PF said it draws lots of unwanted attention.
Some good ..
marshal #1 "..whos that flamin' idiot hangin' over the track wall with the huge white lens ?" ..
marshal #2 ".. dunno, ive been ignoring him...just another bloody stupid freelance photographer ..i bet he will move quick when a car hits the wall there though"
Some bad ..
Me under a tree in the park on my knees using a tripod aiming vertically into a tree with maybe 300 screaming fighting rainbow lorikeets in it.
Passerby ...".. what are ya takin' a photo of mate ?...the birds ?"
they're smaller even though i don't think the 17-40 could be considered small... *shrug* maybe they set the bar at 70-200 zooms and up for primes?
right...warping would makes sense on the longer lenses, but likely not as big and issue on the shorter, leading to the conclusion that it aint all marketing....
Stuff and nonsense, just your typical urban legends being repeated here.
Good grief.
The truth, as usual, is a lot less glamorous. On February 13th, 1984 at the Canon Oita manufacturing plant on Kyushu Island, Fujin Dansei was on the catwalk above the long lens assembly line. The plant was undergoing some renovations and Dansei, notoriously stumblefooted, or as they say in Japan, "amai", kicked the bucket of whitewash off the catwalk and right onto an assembly line. Whitewash completely coated the lenses.
As luck would have it, Canon President and CEO Fujio Mitarai was touring the manufacturing facility that very afternoon. When the whitewash made a splash, everything came to an abrupt stop. It was one of those terrible, infinitely long pauses when nobody moved, nobody said anything. They all just looked in horror at what had happened, and waited to see how President Mitarai would react.
You may not be familiar with it, but in Japan the concept of saving face, or "boke bonkura", is a big deal. Mitarai, although the CEO, was very aware of lowly Dansei's "bijin bishonen", literally translated as "nakedness to exposed rear." Always a quick thinker, Mitarai saw the whitewash all over the expensive, immaculate production line... and broke out into a huge smile and clapped his hands with approval, a tradition known as "aho." In order to save Fujin Dansei's face, he declared that Dansei had given Canon a bold new look, and that from that moment on, all Canon big glass would be white instead of black. To further cover Dansei's "bonkura", the Canon lab came up with the heat dispersion story.
So there you have it. The real reason why Canon long lenses are white instead of black. By the way, here's a handy guide to all those Japanese words.
Stuff and nonsense, just your typical urban legends being repeated here.
Good grief.
The truth, as usual, is a lot less glamorous. On February 13th, 1984 at the Canon Oita manufacturing plant on Kyushu Island, Fujin Dansei was on the catwalk above the long lens assembly line. The plant was undergoing some renovations and Dansei, notoriously stumblefooted, or as they say in Japan, "amai", kicked the bucket of whitewash off the catwalk and right onto an assembly line. Whitewash completely coated the lenses.
As luck would have it, Canon President and CEO Fujio Mitarai was touring the manufacturing facility that very afternoon. When the whitewash made a splash, everything came to a abrupt stop. It was one of those terrible, infinitely long pauses when nobody moved, nobody said anything. they all just looked in horror at what had happened, and waited to see how President Mitarai would react.
You may not be familiar with it, but in Japan the concept of saving face, or 'boke bonkura", is a big deal. Mitarai, althought the CEO, was very aware of Dansei's "bijin bishonen", literally translated as "nakedness to exposed rear." Always a quick thinker, Mitarai saw the whitewash all over the expensive, immaculate production line... and broke out into a huge smile and clapped his hands with approval, a tradition know as "aho." In order to save Fujin Dansei's face, he mandated that Dansei had given canon a bold new look, and that from that moment on, all Canon big glass would be wite instead of black. To further cover Dansei's "bonkura", the Canon lab came up with the heat dispersion story.
So there you have it. The real reason why Canon long lenses are white instead of black. By the way, here's a handy guide to all those Japanese words.
thats funny. does anyone have any examples of long lenses that were made black before this happend?
The word on white
While we're all sitting on our hands waiting for the Canon with one "n" story, here's the poop on why their lenses are white (or off-white).
This page tells the story of the white lenses. Click #22, uses FLASH:
Since it is only the biguns, I'd say it is so the TV audience can tell Canon from Nikon on the football sidelines, ofcourse Tamron made a few big whites as well, but most are Canon.
Comments
I am guessing it's marketing. People come from all around me when I am shooting and ask that silly question: "are you a photographer" I don't think they would notice me if I had the common black lenses on.
not all "L" lenses are white, some of the shorter ones are black...but ALL have the "L" red ring
I know most of us do not spend the entire day in the sun, but think of the shooters at the NFL games or the World Soccor League games - those lenses may be in the sunlight all day long and still have to work. Canon says the Flourite lens elements tolerate high temps more poorly than glass lenses.
I would prefer black lenses, as white lenses just draw too much attention, but there you go. Then I'd have to shoot a Nikon I guess.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
I have heard the heating up the inside of the lens often and the pressure thing is probably the technical reason but I can tell you why I like it. Shooting in AZ, the white lens don't get too hot to touch unlike black bodies and lenses.
Phoenix, AZ
Canon Bodies
Canon and Zeiss Lenses
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
smugmug: www.StandOutphoto.smugmug.com
they're smaller
smugmug: www.StandOutphoto.smugmug.com
Some good ..
marshal #1 "..whos that flamin' idiot hangin' over the track wall with the huge white lens ?" ..
marshal #2 "..
Some bad ..
Me under a tree in the park on my knees using a tripod aiming vertically into a tree with maybe 300 screaming fighting rainbow lorikeets in it.
Passerby ...".. what are ya takin' a photo of mate ?...the birds ?"
right...warping would makes sense on the longer lenses, but likely not as big and issue on the shorter, leading to the conclusion that it aint all marketing....
Good grief.
The truth, as usual, is a lot less glamorous. On February 13th, 1984 at the Canon Oita manufacturing plant on Kyushu Island, Fujin Dansei was on the catwalk above the long lens assembly line. The plant was undergoing some renovations and Dansei, notoriously stumblefooted, or as they say in Japan, "amai", kicked the bucket of whitewash off the catwalk and right onto an assembly line. Whitewash completely coated the lenses.
As luck would have it, Canon President and CEO Fujio Mitarai was touring the manufacturing facility that very afternoon. When the whitewash made a splash, everything came to an abrupt stop. It was one of those terrible, infinitely long pauses when nobody moved, nobody said anything. They all just looked in horror at what had happened, and waited to see how President Mitarai would react.
You may not be familiar with it, but in Japan the concept of saving face, or "boke bonkura", is a big deal. Mitarai, although the CEO, was very aware of lowly Dansei's "bijin bishonen", literally translated as "nakedness to exposed rear." Always a quick thinker, Mitarai saw the whitewash all over the expensive, immaculate production line... and broke out into a huge smile and clapped his hands with approval, a tradition known as "aho." In order to save Fujin Dansei's face, he declared that Dansei had given Canon a bold new look, and that from that moment on, all Canon big glass would be white instead of black. To further cover Dansei's "bonkura", the Canon lab came up with the heat dispersion story.
So there you have it. The real reason why Canon long lenses are white instead of black. By the way, here's a handy guide to all those Japanese words.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
smugmug: www.StandOutphoto.smugmug.com
Sid,
I laugh out so fraking loud that my boss is asking what the hell...
Mannnn that was a good one. Tell me you waited for this reply!
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
i know you got that from an article, please tell me where. i have to bookmark it and show it to my Nikonian friends.:D
smugmug: www.StandOutphoto.smugmug.com
I got more. Wanna know why they only spell Canon with one 'n'?
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
share your wisdom sid.
smugmug: www.StandOutphoto.smugmug.com
Phoenix, AZ
Canon Bodies
Canon and Zeiss Lenses
Please!!! Pleaseeeeeeeeee.....
Glass: >Sigma 17-35mm,f2.8-4 DG >Tamron 28-75mm,f2.8 >Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro >Canon 70-200mm,f2.8L IS >Canon 200mm,f2.8L
Flash: >550EX >Sigma EF-500 DG Super >studio strobes
Sites: Jim Mitte Photography - Livingston Sports Photos - Brighton Football Photos
While we're all sitting on our hands waiting for the Canon with one "n" story, here's the poop on why their lenses are white (or off-white).
This page tells the story of the white lenses. Click #22, uses FLASH:
http://photoworkshop.com/canon/lessons/lessons_21-25.html
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
http://redbull.smugmug.com
"Money can't buy happiness...But it can buy expensive posessions that make other people envious, and that feels just as good.":D
Canon 20D, Canon 50 1.8 II, Canon 70-200 f/4L, Canon 17-40 f/4 L, Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro, Canon 430ex.
80-200 f2.8 L aka "the magic drainpipe" aka highest rated Canon zoom ever on photodo
thought the 70-200 2.8 was canon's highest rated zoom...
smugmug: www.StandOutphoto.smugmug.com
Nikon also has "white" (actually light gray) colored lenses as an option for some of their more expensive entries:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=242161&is=GREY&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=242161&is=GREY&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=242161&is=GREY&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=248293&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=278173&is=GREY&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=242157&is=GREY&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
ad nauseum.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=242157&is=GREY&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
smugmug: www.StandOutphoto.smugmug.com
You know... I, really am starting to believe that they [Nikon] are catching up to Canon! That's put them at 2nd palce.
What is said about the 2nd place; the first loser!
P.S. It does make me sad since I have never own any other SLR (Film or Digital) than Nikon.
I was told that the reason for the white paint is because the fluorite elements are much more temperature sensitive than glass.