50mm fraud! Canon warns users against fake 50mm f/1.8 lenses as counterfeits appear at service centers

 

 

Canon is warning users that they might be using counterfeit lenses. Canon’s service center has seen a number of EF 50mm f/1.8 II lenses that are not genuine Canon products, despite looking almost exactly like the real deal lens, at least externally.

Fortunately, if you take the lens off your camera, you can tell if it’s authentic or not. If you look at the mount of the lens and read the “Canon Inc.” text, the genuine product has a space between “Canon” and “Inc.,” but the counterfeit optic does not. You can see this is in the photos below.

 

From left to right: Where to look for the the tell-tale sign of a fake, what a genuine Canon lens looks like, and what a fake Canon 50mm f/1.8 looks like

This is not the first time that people have crafted counterfeit Canon products, so Canon has a guide to help consumers learn about counterfeit products and how to spot them.

Counterfeit products are about more than Canon losing out on potential sales, counterfeits are also more likely to be faulty and therefore put the consumer at risk. Further, they damage Canon’s brand, especially if a customer has a bad experience with a counterfeit but doesn’t realize it was not a genuine Canon product. This reflects poorly on Canon even though they had nothing to do with the product.

You can easily avoid purchasing counterfeit camera gear by purchasing from authorized retailers. For example, you can order a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens from B&H and rest easy knowing you have a genuine lens. You should also register all your Canon products online to protect your purchase and stay current with the latest news.

(Seen via DIY Photography)