What Is the Red Ring on a Professional EOS Canon Lens?

Canon EOS "L-series" lens with red ring

If you have seen a professional photographer using a Canon lens that has a thin, red ring on the lens casing, you may wonder if the red ring has a function. That red ring simply identifies a particular series of Canon lenses.

Significance

The red ring on certain Canon EOS lenses identifies the lens as belonging to Canon's "L-series" line of DSLR lenses. These elite lenses offer special features beyond those of Canon's regular EOS lens families.

Explanation

The "L" in "L-Series" stands for "Luxury." Photographers choose these lenses for their wide apertures, allowing for excellent images in low-light scenarios, as well as crystal-clear images even toward the edges of the frame. The series features full-time manual (FTM) focusing, which allows the user to first auto-focus an image, then manually tweak it to achieve the desired focal length.

Considerations

While "L-Series" lenses offer advantages over Canon's other lens families, they also come at a hefty price. Before purchasing an "L-Series" lens, consider whether you will use its advanced features in your particular style of photography.

References

• The Digital Picture: Canon L Lens Series Information