Having Issues with Your Canon 50mm? It Could Be a Fake

Forget Gucci or Coach, unscrupulous retailers are selling knockoff Canon lenses.

Canon has issued a service advisory saying it has seen a number of counterfeit EF 50mm f/1.8 II in its service centers.

“While the exterior of the counterfeit EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens elaborately imitates the exterior of the genuine lens, the parts and electric circuits used inside the counterfeit lens are different from the those used inside the genuine lens,” Canon notes. “As such, these counterfeit products do not satisfy the safety standards of various countries and the safety/quality standards of Canon. Please note that Canon cannot be held liable for any malfunction, phenomena, damage or injury that occurs due to the use of these counterfeit products, so please exercise caution when making your purchase.”

So how can you tell if you have a fake? Canon says the writing of the company name on the lens is a dead giveaway, as the example below demonstrates.

This fake lens has no spacing between “Canon” and “Inc.”

The real deal. Note the spacing in the company name.