Originally Posted by
jakegibs
If you look at the high end (longer) lenses from Canon, they are all an off-white color. This is supposedly due to heat concerns. Lighter color should make a difference, but not sure most people would even notice. It may be negligible differences.
Back when they used fluorite in their high end glass thermal expansion could cause the big glass element to crack. Later it became a marketing tool because the white lenses stood out in a group of pro photographers and help the brand look if not dominant a real contender in pro photography. Nikon then started offering high end lenses in optional white to dilute this. Kind of silly really. Except it's a lot easier on the hand to touch white colored metal in summer sun.
I've got two Giro helmets, one black and one white, live in South Georgia and can't tell any difference.
I like the look of a black helmet better.