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4 minutes ago, Herr Barnack said:

I'm disgusted with this whole business.  I'm ditching my M10M and Q2 for a pair of Pentax K1000 bodies and lenses for them.

I'm with you, I have gone back to using my Kodak Folding Autographic Brownie, made in the USA too.

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11 minutes ago, Matlock said:

I'm with you, I have gone back to using my Kodak Folding Autographic Brownie, made in the USA too.

Wimps.

We should call Leica's bluff. Offer to buy a Made in Portugal lens for 25% off list price to compensate for future depreciation. They have to accept. I'm gonna call them now.

Edited by LocalHero1953
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vor 59 Minuten schrieb logan2z:

The only 'bad luck' would be if they were actually labeled 'Made in Portugal' :)

As has been mentioned before, there have been some R-models which were labelled „Made in Portual“. There is a rumor, that the staff in Portugal objected to this labelling as they feared their products would be looked upon as second rate. 

Looking at the second hand market: The prices asked for  IIIf, IIIg, M3, M2 models which are engraved „Made in MIdland Ontario“ are much higher than the ordinary „Wetzlar“ models. For lenses it depends on the type: just have a look at the steel-rimmed 35mm Summilux, its second hand prices and its engravings...😲

If perhaps the US-tariffs are dropped after a certain date in next January, the „Made in Portugal“ lenses may become rarities  like the „Monte en Sarre“ cameras? 

Edited by UliWer
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vor 30 Minuten schrieb Matlock:

I'm with you, I have gone back to using my Kodak Folding Autographic Brownie, made in the USA too.

You may look for an M8, M9 or the first version of the M Monochrome. They have sensors made in USA. You might even get a replacement for an M9 or first Monochrome sensor  from the USA.

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The label "Made in Germany" was initially introduced in the nineteenth century in Britain as a caveat emptor measurement and to protect the British economy from, regarded as low quality, German products. Times change ;)

 

Edited by Arrow
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I don't get the outrage.  Leica has said same manufacturing, same materials, same designs, same tolerances, same warranty, but substantially cheaper by avoid Trump's 25% tax on German lenses.  No one is forcing you to buy the less expensive (but otherwise identical) option.  What's not to like?  Bravo to Leica for finding a way to lower their prices without sacrificing their design on build excellence.

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22 minutes ago, onasj said:

I don't get the outrage.  Leica has said same manufacturing, same materials, same designs, same tolerances, same warranty, but substantially cheaper by avoid Trump's 25% tax on German lenses.  No one is forcing you to buy the less expensive (but otherwise identical) option.  What's not to like?  Bravo to Leica for finding a way to lower their prices without sacrificing their design on build excellence.

I actually haven't noticed any outrage in this thread. The general sentiment seems to be "who cares?" Personally, I prefer to buy a 'Made in Germany' lens and don't mind paying a bit of a premium for the privilege.  Those who don't mind the 'Made in Portugal' label can save some money by buying a lens branded in that way.  Everybody wins.  

The only people in this thread who seem to be outraged in any way are those who claim that Leica has been less than truthful by labelling these lenses 'Made in Germany' when they've been 'Made in Portugal' all along.

Edited by logan2z
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48 minutes ago, UliWer said:

If the US-tariffs are dropped after a certain date in next January, the „Made in Portugal“ lenses may become rarities  like the „Monte en Sarre“ cameras? 

That's entirely possible, collectors are a strange bunch.  Imagine if one slipped through labelled 'Made in Portual'.  That would be worth a fortune 😉

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59 minutes ago, onasj said:

I don't get the outrage.  Leica has said same manufacturing, same materials, same designs, same tolerances, same warranty, but substantially cheaper by avoid Trump's 25% tax on German lenses.  No one is forcing you to buy the less expensive (but otherwise identical) option.  What's not to like?  Bravo to Leica for finding a way to lower their prices without sacrificing their design on build excellence.

The ”discount” is only 10% of the original price, not 25. 

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37 minutes ago, rivi1969 said:

The ”discount” is only 10% of the original price, not 25. 

Yes, but it is not that simple.

Leica actually cut back German-made lens profit on lenses sold into the US, to absorb part of the tariff shock. And juggled the prices of non-tariff products (cameras, finders, batteries) as well. Net lens prices in the US only increased 10% under the tariffs. Now the Portugal lenses cost about what a "German" lens would have cost a year ago, simply because Portugal was not included in the optics tariff.

And remember that Leica USA, as a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, has some leeway to adjust and set US prices, in $US, to suit the US market.

This occurs any time there are "international economic" issues, including large changes in exchange rates ($$ vs. €€, etc.) as well as tariffs.

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All of the Leica products I have purchased that were made at Leica Portugal are flawless.

Edited by rsh
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Interesting observation: if you enlarge one of the photos taken inside the Portugal plant, you’ll see the top plate of a M camera. It of course says: “Leica Camera Wetzlar Germany” on it. Wonder if the bottom plate says: “Made in Portugal” like some of the R series cameras did?

Doubt it. 
 

 

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