Do you wish your 70-200L were black?

[sunnyVan]

Today for the first time ever I saw a refurbished 70-200L IS II 2.8 in stock. Never saw that before. Usually it's out of stock almost immediately. It was very tempting! !! But I decided to hold on to my f4 version and a 135L. It's nice to combine them in one package but it's nice when I want to be stealthy with the 135.

The white color is too showy. I always feel that it attracts unnecessary attention.

Boy...it's still tempting

 

[iSy]

The white lens does attract, I have even been asked if someone can take a photo of it during some street shooting lol

Plus side to this, I do a lot of weddings and it does demand some kinda professional respect as its just looks expensive (it is too) and I find you dont need to introduce as the official photographer as they basically know where as with the black lenses you do tend to blend in with the other togs I find.

I dont tend to flaunt my gear although I am not one to duct tape it all up like some people, although I am sure if they had an option for black or white they would sell a lot of black perhaps for photo journalists.

At least you can spot a Canon shooter when in the crowd

 

[RLPhoto]

Not in texas, Black gets hot quick.

 

[sunnyVan]

Not in texas, Black gets hot quick.

You'd need a white camera too then.

 

[RLPhoto]

Not in texas, Black gets hot quick.

You'd need a white camera too then.

Camera not so bad rubber grips, but a hot black hunk of metal 70-200L is not desired by me.

 

[crasher8]

Mine is, Tamron 70-200 Di VC

 

[vscd]

Yepp. Mine, too. 80-200L

 

[dstppy]

The 200mm 2.8 is nice incognito, but it gets warm in the sun . . . tradeoffs.

 

[Quasimodo]

Today for the first time ever I saw a refurbished 70-200L IS II 2.8 in stock. Never saw that before. Usually it's out of stock almost immediately. It was very tempting! !! But I decided to hold on to my f4 version and a 135L. It's nice to combine them in one package but it's nice when I want to be stealthy with the 135.

The white color is too showy. I always feel that it attracts unnecessary attention.

Boy...it's still tempting

It would look too much like a Nikon.. Kidding aside, - if it had the same temperature stabializing features as the white material in the 2.8 II, then maybe.

 

[CanadianInvestor]

Canon's lenses are distinctive: the optics, the build and in some cases the L ring and the white colour. The colour adds je ne sais quoi, that particular thing that is instantly recognisable. I know it appears to put me in a whole new strata in the observer's view when using it, 'though the output is, in my case, still pedestrian. I would not want it to be any other hue.

 

[hamada]

i lie awake every night and wish it was blue..... yes i have no other problems.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

There is a technical reason for the lens to be white, it contains a fluorite element which improves the lens performance, but is susceptible to extreme heat and cold. The white paint absorbs less heat.

Larger sized L-lenses, such as the 70–200 mm and 100–400 mm zooms and longer focal length primes (300 mm+), usually have an off-white barrel (sometimes referred to as the color "putty") to reduce heat absorption under the sun that may otherwise affect the performance of the lens,[4] as well as to identify Canon's lenses (for example at sporting events). However, shorter focal length L-lenses can be black (such as the Canon EF 24–70 mm f/2.8L and all L-lens primes under 300 mm, with the exception of the discontinued 200 mm f/1.8L and current 200 mm f/2.0L IS). Therefore L-lenses can be identified by either a lens barrel's off-white color or, as on all L-lenses, the distinctive red ring on the lens barrel.



http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_70_200mm_f_2_8l_is_ii_usm#Specifications

 

[AlanF]

The relationship between colour and temperature of bodies receiving radiation is not as straightforward as 99% of postings on the net say. Although black absorbs heat better than white, it correspondingly radiates heat better. The inescapable consequence is that black and white bodies reach the same temperature when they are in sunlight but black gets there faster. Conversely, the black body will cool down faster when taken out of sunlight. So, the Nikon lens heats up faster than the Canon L, but both eventually reach the same temperature and the Nikon cools down faster.

 

[RGF]

I started with Nikon and when I switched to Canon I missed the black lens. White lens show wear faster - plus stand out too easily. If I had a choice, I would pick black over white

 

[sunnyVan]

I never thought there's scientific reason behind the color of the barrel. I guess I learn something new everyday.

I would think perhaps marketing plays an important role here. The white distinguishes Canon from the rest. Technologically I guess there's probably some way to get around the heating issue if Canon wanted to.

 

[jthomson]

The relationship between colour and temperature of bodies receiving radiation is not as straightforward as 99% of postings on the net say. Although black absorbs heat better than white, it correspondingly radiates heat better. The inescapable consequence is that black and white bodies reach the same temperature when they are in sunlight but black gets there faster. Conversely, the black body will cool down faster when taken out of sunlight. So, the Nikon lens heats up faster than the Canon L, but both eventually reach the same temperature and the Nikon cools down faster.

While not as straight forward as some postings would indicate, the basic fact that a typical flat black object will reach a higher temperature in the sun that a typical white painted object is correct. The black traps more of the suns energy, the white reflects it. That is why things like propane tanks are painted white. You can verify this yourself on a sunny day. Put one hand on some ashphalt surface and the other on same grass alongside it. The asphalt will be much hotter than the grass, guaranteed.

 

[crasher8]

comparing a plant with a rock?

 

[Harv]

LensCoat to the rescue.....

 

[Pi]

comparing a plant with a rock?

How about comparing rock to rock? Black sand is hotter than white one.

 

[Loswr]

The relationship between colour and temperature of bodies receiving radiation is not as straightforward as 99% of postings on the net say. Although black absorbs heat better than white, it correspondingly radiates heat better. The inescapable consequence is that black and white bodies reach the same temperature when they are in sunlight but black gets there faster. Conversely, the black body will cool down faster when taken out of sunlight. So, the Nikon lens heats up faster than the Canon L, but both eventually reach the same temperature and the Nikon cools down faster.

I think chemistry ≠ physics.

While you're correct that the black object will both absorb and radiate heat faster, you are incorrect that they will reach the same equilibrium temperature under constant illumination by sunlight. You're not considering reflection, and the 'white' paint will reflect more of the incoming solar radiation than the black paint, meaning the equilibrium temperature (combination of the effects of absorption/radiation and reflection) will be higher for the black lens.

Try a simple empirical test - go to a decent-sized parking lot on a sunny day, find a black car and a white car parked next to each other that have been there for a while, and put one hand on the hood (or perhaps bonnet in your case?) of each. Your statements suggest that they will be the same temperature, but you'll find that's not the case. Don't leave your hand on the black one too long...