Analog Lounge · Serial numbers
Some Canon cameras and lenses carry a date code in addition to their serial number. This lookup reads the manufacturing month and the possible years within the supported coding system.
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Decode a Canon date code
JavaScript is required for the automatic lookup. The underlying data are also available in the tables below.
Supports the old format for 1960–1985 and the format with a leading factory letter for 1986–2011, plus A–H for 2012–2019. Not every Canon camera or lens carries such a code. All-numeric serial numbers, including ten-digit numbers, are not dated here.
How does a Canon date code work?
A year letter is combined with a one- or two-digit month. Two additional digits may form an internal code. In the old format, a factory letter, if present, comes last; in the newer format, U, F or O comes before the year letter. Examples: UT0308 means March 2005, U1140F means November 1980 and Y362 means March 1984.
Year letters repeat after 26 years. In the newer format, A can mean 1986 or 2012, for example. Without a known period, the lookup shows both covered possibilities for A–H. Select a period only if you know it independently. The letter cycle is not automatically extended to further years.
View the reference data
| Letter | Old format 1960–1985 | New format 1986–2011 | Covered repeat cycle 2012–2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1960 | 1986 | 2012 |
| B | 1961 | 1987 | 2013 |
| C | 1962 | 1988 | 2014 |
| D | 1963 | 1989 | 2015 |
| E | 1964 | 1990 | 2016 |
| F | 1965 | 1991 | 2017 |
| G | 1966 | 1992 | 2018 |
| H | 1967 | 1993 | 2019 |
| I | 1968 | 1994 | — |
| J | 1969 | 1995 | — |
| K | 1970 | 1996 | — |
| L | 1971 | 1997 | — |
| M | 1972 | 1998 | — |
| N | 1973 | 1999 | — |
| O | 1974 | 2000 | — |
| P | 1975 | 2001 | — |
| Q | 1976 | 2002 | — |
| R | 1977 | 2003 | — |
| S | 1978 | 2004 | — |
| T | 1979 | 2005 | — |
| U | 1980 | 2006 | — |
| V | 1981 | 2007 | — |
| W | 1982 | 2008 | — |
| X | 1983 | 2009 | — |
| Y | 1984 | 2010 | — |
| Z | 1985 | 2011 | — |
Frequently asked questions
How is a date code different from a serial number?
A date code contains letters and a short digit sequence used for dating. The ordinary serial number identifies the individual item and is a different marking. This lookup needs the date code; it does not convert an all-numeric serial number.
Why are two years sometimes shown?
Canon reused year letters. Within the supported newer format, A–H represents both 1986–1993 and 2012–2019. The code alone cannot distinguish these possibilities. An independently known period can narrow the choice.
Does the result confirm the model, authenticity or purchase date?
No. The lookup interprets the date code entered. It does not identify a model or authenticate an item. Manufacture and purchase dates may also differ. A missing or unsupported code does not mean that the equipment is counterfeit.
Sources and accuracy
Sources: Bob Atkins, Canon EOS FAQ: Canon Date Codes, and Bryan Carnathan, The Digital Picture: Determining the Age of a Canon Lens Using Serial Numbers and Date Codes. Verified mappings cover 1960–1985, 1986–2011 and A–H for 2012–2019. Checked on 21 October 2026; not an individual factory-record lookup.
Sources reviewed: 21.10.2026
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