new DateTime() vs default(DateTime)

Question

No, they are identical.

default(), for any value type (DateTime is a value type) will always call the parameterless constructor.

If you want to use default value for a DateTime parameter in a method, you can only use default(DateTime).

The following line will not compile:

    private void MyMethod(DateTime syncedTime = DateTime.MinValue)

This line will compile:

    private void MyMethod(DateTime syncedTime = default(DateTime))

The answer is no. Keep in mind that in both cases, mdDate.Kind = DateTimeKind.Unspecified.

Therefore it may be better to do the following:

DateTime myDate = new DateTime(1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);

The myDate.Kind property is readonly, so it cannot be changed after the constructor is called.