grahamc Posted May 19, 2022 Share #61 Posted May 19, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) 1 minute ago, lct said: Interesting indeed. I have a German made 50/2 v4 in as new condition that does not feel plasticky at all. My German made 35/2 v4's are earlier than yours (3453*** & 3553***) but both has been CLA'd recently, this is perhaps an explanation. OK thanks yes that is encouraging about the serial numbers , thanks. By coincidence rather than intent, my 35:2 v4 and 50:2 v4 set are both 363**** serials Sorry to clarify, the 'plastic' comment I made about the 50:2 v4 was in relation to the overall build design including outer barrel etc . My 50:2 v4 is very clicky in the aperture so I wasn't referring to that, just the overall aesthetic . This pair is extremely light though of course Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 19, 2022 Posted May 19, 2022 Hi grahamc, Take a look here Difference in quality between Leitz Canada and German lenses?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
derleicaman Posted May 19, 2022 Share #62 Posted May 19, 2022 Here’s an image of the helicoid of my German v4 lens. Serial in the 3606xxx range. No plastic here. I did not take a picture of the lens cell, which is metal, no plastic. I changed out the original plastic focus tab for a metal one I got on Etsy. It matches the focus tabs on recent lenses like the 28/2.8 ASPH Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302245-difference-in-quality-between-leitz-canada-and-german-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4437697'>More sharing options...
derleicaman Posted May 19, 2022 Share #63 Posted May 19, 2022 Here’s the lens with the new metal tab installed Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302245-difference-in-quality-between-leitz-canada-and-german-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4437699'>More sharing options...
grahamc Posted May 19, 2022 Share #64 Posted May 19, 2022 41 minutes ago, derleicaman said: Here’s the lens with the new metal tab installed Thanks , that really looks great Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capuccino-Muffin Posted May 19, 2022 Share #65 Posted May 19, 2022 14 hours ago, derleicaman said: Here’s an image of the helicoid of my German v4 lens. Serial in the 3606xxx range. No plastic here. I did not take a picture of the lens cell, which is metal, no plastic. I changed out the original plastic focus tab for a metal one I got on Etsy. It matches the focus tabs on recent lenses like the 28/2.8 ASPH Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! No helicoid ever is made from plastic. The plastic part is the aperture mechanism, and there is a high chance that it’s plastic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
derleicaman Posted May 19, 2022 Share #66 Posted May 19, 2022 45 minutes ago, Capuccino-Muffin said: No helicoid ever is made from plastic. The plastic part is the aperture mechanism, and there is a high chance that it’s plastic. I realize no helicoid is ever made of plastic, at least on Leica lenses. I did not mean to misspeak. I was speaking of the lens assembly that screws into the female helicoid in the lens body on the German version. In the earlier Canadian v4 lenses, as you can see in this image below, the helicoid assembly is on the left which is made of metal, with the lens cell assembly on the right. The plastic (polycarbonate) parts of this assembly can be clearly seen here. It is lighter gray compared to the rest of the unit. It has fine threads which screw into the helicoid assembly. This is it's weak point. This can be overtorqued by using the lens hood for leverage while mounting and dismounting the lens. You end up with a cock-eyed hood on the lens, or worse, you shear it off completely. The aperture mechanism on the Canadian v4, not shown here, is also made out of plastic. This is what gives the click stops by the spring loaded ball bearing going into the depressions on that plastic ring. This ring has been known to fail as well. On the German v4 that I took apart, there is no visible plastic on the lens assembly unit, or for the aperture ring either. I regret not having made an image of that part of the lens when I had it disassembled. I have also studied the technical cutaway drawings of both versions of the 35 v4 Summicron lens. I do not have access to those drawings at this point, but it is very clear which are the polycarbonate parts on the Canadian version. In the cutaway drawing of the German version, it is also clear that there are no plastic parts indicated. In its efforts to make the M and lenses less expensive to make, Canada also made some internal parts of the M4-2 and M4-P in plastic. One of these was the mounting of the PC and Bulb sockets on the back of the camera. This part could esily fail and you would have a loose flash contact as a result. Other parts were made with plastic as well. I am sure DAG could fill us in on this. By the same token, Japanese makers used plastic components extensively with better seemingly better results. This was the trend back in those days. Today, most cameras, even the "professional" models feel like plastic pieces of crap. Leica on the other hand, has retained mostly if not all metal construction, which have a much higher percieved feel of quality. 3 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edstock Posted May 29, 2022 Share #67 Posted May 29, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have my 75 f1.4, Canada, and have used it for years, no problems. This lens ranks with Mandler's other legendary lens, the Noctilux Canadian. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickKop Posted July 9, 2022 Share #68 Posted July 9, 2022 How can I tell if my lens is from German, Japan or Canada? I remember when I bought it that it was from Canada, but it doesn't say Canada anywhere on it Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302245-difference-in-quality-between-leitz-canada-and-german-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4468021'>More sharing options...
andybarton Posted July 9, 2022 Share #69 Posted July 9, 2022 You can rule out Japan. There are lots of resources that will tell you the age and origin of any Leica lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted July 9, 2022 Share #70 Posted July 9, 2022 1 hour ago, rickKop said: How can I tell if my lens is from German, Japan or Canada? I remember when I bought it that it was from Canada, but it doesn't say Canada anywhere on it Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Wetzlar or Canada, may not be that important enjoy your lens From Wiki version "III" 3205801 3206800 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M (13-83+ELC) 1982 1000 3245101 3246100 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 1982 1000 3276401 3277400 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M (ELW) 1983 1000 3293401 3294400 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M 1983 1000 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erato Posted July 9, 2022 Share #71 Posted July 9, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, rickKop said: How can I tell if my lens is from German, Japan or Canada? I remember when I bought it that it was from Canada, but it doesn't say Canada anywhere on it Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3205801 3206800 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M (13-83+ELC) 1982 1000 3245101 3246100 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M Inscriptions - LEITZ LENS MADE IN CANADA ELMARIT 1:2.8/28 LEITZ ELMARIT 1:2.8/28 3XXXXXX ELC = Ernst Leitz Canada Edited July 9, 2022 by Erato Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 9, 2022 Share #72 Posted July 9, 2022 39 minutes ago, a.noctilux said: I remember when I bought it that it was from Canada, but it doesn't say Canada anywhere on it Never seen that so far but i may be wrong. You should see Canada engraved on the barrel of the lens like this if your 28/2.8 is a 11804: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302245-difference-in-quality-between-leitz-canada-and-german-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4468114'>More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted July 9, 2022 Share #73 Posted July 9, 2022 LCT wrong Quote. it must be quote from @rickKop the engraving can tell indeed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted July 9, 2022 Share #74 Posted July 9, 2022 lct beat me to it. In those early-1980s lenses, the "CANADA" (or "GERMANY") engraving shifted around a lot - location, and black-on-black vs. white-on-black markings. Leitz couldn't make up their minds. My 21mm/2.8 is a 326xxxx, and has the tiny black-on-black CANADA engraving on the base ring, opposite the DoF scale. My 28 v.3 is earlier (303xxxx, "tiger-claw" focus tab), and the "Lens Made in Canada" is around the front element in white (with the serial number engraved on the side of the aperture ring). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted July 9, 2022 Share #75 Posted July 9, 2022 14 minutes ago, a.noctilux said: the engraving can tell indeed It should at least . Sorry for the quote. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickKop Posted July 9, 2022 Share #76 Posted July 9, 2022 Well wouldja look at that! It's right there at the bottom. Thanks guys. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302245-difference-in-quality-between-leitz-canada-and-german-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4468216'>More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted July 9, 2022 Share #77 Posted July 9, 2022 23 minutes ago, rickKop said: Well wouldja look at that! It's right there at the bottom. Thanks guys. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Now you know 😉. Upset ❔ 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted July 9, 2022 Share #78 Posted July 9, 2022 (edited) 7 hours ago, Al Brown said: Funny how some people will endlessly argue whether German or Canadian Leitz lenses are superior while others will be making world class stories, reportages and gorgeous gallery worthy images with their M lenses while not giving a single **** about this brutally irrelevant information. I couldn't possibly agree more. Thank you. Philip. Edited July 9, 2022 by pippy 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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