Leica T - crazy cheap - any good?

[nicci78]

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On 3/14/2019 at 9:53 PM, Nordvik said:

The whole "Made in..." is of course a joke. Leica camera and lenses are assembled in Portugal, not in Germany. Still it says "Made in Germany".

It is indeed assembled at Wetzlar in Germany. You can even visit the factory in Leitz Park. 
Different parts of the camera or lens is made in Portugal. But final assembly will always be done in Germany. 
 

But essentially it is the same. Leica adaptors are made in Portugal. And nothing on earth come close to their build quality. Even made in Germany Novoflex adaptors look like toys, compare to them. 

[jaapv]

38 minutes ago, nicci78 said:

It is indeed assembled at Wetzlar in Germany. You can even visit the factory in Leitz Park. 
Different parts of the camera or lens is made in Portugal. But final assembly will always be done in Germany. 
 

But essentially it is the same. Leica adaptors are made in Portugal. And nothing on earth come close to their build quality. Even made in Germany Novoflex adaptors look like toys, compare to them. 

Forty years ago, the R cameras were assembled in Portugal - so they were marked "made in Portugal" Portugal still assembles some cameras, but I don't know which ones. Certainly not the M. 

https://leica.pt/assembly/?lang=en

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[nicci78]

Every real Leica cameras sold right now are made in Wetzlar Germany. None are made in Portugal anymore. Only accessories such as Adaptors. 
 

Of course « Real » Panasonic rebranded into « fake » Leica cameras are all made in China now. 
 

Leica acknowledges the fact that their customer expect made in Germany cameras and lenses. 
 

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, nicci78 said:

Every real Leica cameras sold right now are made in Wetzlar Germany. None are made in Portugal anymore. Only accessories such as Adaptors. 
 

Of course « Real » Panasonic rebranded into « fake » Leica cameras are all made in China now. 
 

Leica acknowledges the fact that their customer expect made in Germany cameras and lenses. 
 

So, why does the Leica Portugal site state that they assemble cameras? Are they lying?  This even suggests that the analog M is built in Portugal.

 

Quote

The main optical instruments produced in the company’s assembly lines include observation binoculars, telescopes, measuring binoculars, digital and analog cameras, objective and telescopic sights. All these products have the same production base based on the input of optical, mechanical and electronic components and the output of the final product.

 

Emphasis mine.

[nicci78]

I think that they did not update their website for ages. And maybe it is just a matter of wording. 

Leica Portugal makes part of camera manufacturing. But not the final assembly ! Which is made in Wetzlar.  

In both case they are making cameras. The beginning in Portugal. The finish in Germany. 
 

So nobody is lying to anyone. 
 

Because right now you can check that since 2015. Every real Leicas are made in Wetzlar in Germany. 
(except C-Lux, D-Lux & V-Lux Panasonic rebadged cameras) 

That’s the purpose of Leitz Park. Bringing back to Wetzlar, all final assembly. 
 

Made in Germany badge is essential to their Asian customers. 

Edited July 20, 2020 by nicci78

[jaapv]

That must be a very precocious website then - Leica R production ceased just after the turn of the century... Which does not explain the phrase : "output of the final product".

[rivi1969]

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http://www.fdtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/80FDTimes-LEICA-PortugalFactoryTour.pdf
 

There are M cameras and lenses completely made in Portugal even though they don’t say it. Leica manage to keep "Made in Germany" regardless of where the products are made. 

[rivi1969]

2 hours ago, nicci78 said:

I think that they did not update their website for ages. And maybe it is just a matter of wording. 

Leica Portugal makes part of camera manufacturing. But not the final assembly ! Which is made in Wetzlar.  

In both case they are making cameras. The beginning in Portugal. The finish in Germany. 
 

So nobody is lying to anyone. 
 

Because right now you can check that since 2015. Every real Leicas are made in Wetzlar in Germany. 
(except C-Lux, D-Lux & V-Lux Panasonic rebadged cameras) 

That’s the purpose of Leitz Park. Bringing back to Wetzlar, all final assembly. 
 

Made in Germany badge is essential to their Asian customers. 

You are wrong, check the pdf above. 

[jaapv]

13 minutes ago, rivi1969 said:

http://www.fdtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/80FDTimes-LEICA-PortugalFactoryTour.pdf
 

There are M cameras and lenses completely made in Portugal even though they don’t say it. Leica manage to keep "Made in Germany" regardless of where the products are made. 

They are quite smart; they don't say "made in". The cameras are just marked "Leica Camera Wetzlar Germany"

[rivi1969]

3 minutes ago, jaapv said:

They are quite smart; they don't say "made in". The cameras are just marked "Leica Camera Wetzlar Germany"

Interesting! Apparently some lenses, the SL and a digital M are made and assembly there. I wonder if saying "Portugal" instead of "Germany" takes too much of the mystic... 

[nicci78]

« Leica Camera Wetzlar Germany » is the official brand for every Leica cameras since 2014. Yes even the Panasonic made ones. 

You will also find the made in Germany label or the real Leicas. But never made in Portugal. Except for some accessories 

Edited July 20, 2020 by nicci78

[Yaakov]

I think its fare to say that they staff in Portugal is not making the same money that those in Germany, so Leica really need to explain their pricing.

[earleygallery]

Are all TL and SL lenses made in Germany? Leica had said previously that the TL lenses (and therefore most likely SL) are made by a third party company in the Far East. 

Much of any 'real' Leica is now made elsewhere, the electronics, the sensors etc. Final assembly is carried out in Germany to qualify for the 'Made in Germany' tag where it applies. 

It's the modern way.