What? Made in Japan.

[albert]

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I am experiencing zero sour grapes regarding The made in Japan discovery. Although, quite humorous that Leica camouflaged the fact in muted gray print on the very bottom of the lens. They should celebrate the reality. I am thrilled with my CL and my 18-56 lens. I should be thrilled that it wasn’t manufactured in Afghanistan.

[Stonewall Brigade]

yep, with input from Panasonic

Panasonic, like the name brands Marantz, National & Quazar, is owned by Matsushita Electric Industrial, of Kusatsu CIty, Japan.  A manufacturing champion of hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, stereos, rice cookers, air conditioners, electric razors, TV, etc.  Photography is probably the smallest market segment for Panasonic. So that's the lineage for Leica's made in Japan goods - rice cookers and microwave ovens.

[jaapv]

Somewhat selective, aren't we?
https://www.panasonic.com/global/business.html

 

You might have missed that Nikon is controlled by Mitsubishi, BTW.

[earleygallery]

Panasonic, like the name brands Marantz, National & Quazar, is owned by Matsushita Electric Industrial, of Kusatsu CIty, Japan.  A manufacturing champion of hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, stereos, rice cookers, air conditioners, electric razors, TV, etc.  Photography is probably the smallest market segment for Panasonic. So that's the lineage for Leica's made in Japan goods - rice cookers and microwave ovens.

 

I don't think the the rice cooker people are responsible for the Leica lenses, nor do I think that they're made along side each other on the same production line.

 

I always laughed at the people here who stated that the Leica versions of the 'PanaLeica' cameras were made to higher standards (in the same factory by the way), that the better components were reserved for Leica's and the rest were used for the Panasonics etc. etc. Panasonic were a client of mine and I can say quite confidently that there's no way they would have agreed to any such arrangement!

 

But some people need to make up reasons to justify their choices.

 

We don't hear so many tales of woe about the Panasonic made products (or Kyocera if that's who it is) compared to the output from Wetzlar. I bet they wish they could acheive the same QC standards!

Edited August 15, 2018 by earleygallery

[albert]

Yeah, but, the point is: why try to fool people with dark gray lettering on the bottom of the 18-56 lens. “Wetzlar Germany-made in Japan”???????

[jaapv]

"Designed by Apple in California - assembled in China" - in nearly unreadably small lettering. I have never heard of anybody being fooled by his iPhone. 

 

I would say Leica's text is quite unambiguous. And it is a lot easier to find than the serial number.

[albert]

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Yeah, I can handle it.

[sblitz]

My VW Golf was made in Mexico.

My FIAT 500 POP was also made in Mexico.

My Newfoundland Dog was made in Minnesota.

Such is Life.

 

wow! the dog too!!!!!

[Stonewall Brigade]

I don't think the the rice cooker people are responsible for the Leica lenses, nor do I think that they're made along side each other on the same production line.

 

I always laughed at the people here who stated that the Leica versions of the 'PanaLeica' cameras were made to higher standards (in the same factory by the way), that the better components were reserved for Leica's and the rest were used for the Panasonics etc. etc. Panasonic were a client of mine and I can say quite confidently that there's no way they would have agreed to any such arrangement!

 

But some people need to make up reasons to justify their choices.

 

We don't hear so many tales of woe about the Panasonic made products (or Kyocera if that's who it is) compared to the output from Wetzlar. I bet they wish they could acheive the same QC standards!

 

I was joking about Panasonic.

[Stonewall Brigade]

Somewhat selective, aren't we?

https://www.panasonic.com/global/business.html

 

You might have missed that Nikon is controlled by Mitsubishi, BTW.

Nikon's ties to Mitsubishi includes the glass, sourced via the Mitsubishi subsidiary Asahi Glass.  I think Hoya is part of that overall ownership.

[Stonewall Brigade]

Somewhat selective, aren't we?

https://www.panasonic.com/global/business.html

 

You might have missed that Nikon is controlled by Mitsubishi, BTW.

 

I was joking regarding Panasonic making so many different products. But it is the GE or Philips of Japan.

[rob_w]

All true.  Odd though that the standout lens for the CL is the 35 Summilux-T which is made in Germany.

[HeinzX]

I do not care, where the lenses are produced - if the quality is OK and if I have not the impression

that I should be deceived. The quality is OK and I do not believe that Leica does want to deceive the

clients. By the way, I do even not know, if the SL 24/90 and the SL 90/280 are made in Germany or

elsewhere - I have no complaints regarding mine. And in the past at analog times even some M lenses were produced in Canada - i.e. one of the 35/1.4. And the lenses for the Hasselblads are made in Japan too. Therefore don´t worry - be happy - and make your photos.

[johntobias]

wonder who supplies the glass for my chosed filters B&W ?.......must say I've used B&W and Leica ones for ages and never had a problem, just picked up a vintage 39mm Leitz polarizer I have on my 18mm TL and it is fabulous considering it must be 50+ yrs old

[Stonewall Brigade]

wonder who supplies the glass for my chosed filters B&W ?.......must say I've used B&W and Leica ones for ages and never had a problem, just picked up a vintage 39mm Leitz polarizer I have on my 18mm TL and it is fabulous considering it must be 50+ yrs old

I've always head the German glass maker Schott provided the glass for B+W and heliopan filters

[jaapv]

That is correct.