Official Announcement: Some Leica M Lenses Made In Portugal

[LUF Admin]

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Leica has started a second production line of Leica lenses in its Portugal facility.
As the USA have implemented 25% tariffs on lenses made in Germany, Leica lenses are much more expensive for US customers.

With lenses „made in Portugal“ Leica is able to offer less expensive lenses while keeping same quality and standards of the German made products.

Here is a list of Leica M lenses offered by BH Photo, including price comparison of „made in Germany“ and „made in Portugal“ lenses:

Lens	Price Made in Portugal	Price Made in Germany	Availibility
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. (Black)	3995 $	4395 $	August 2020
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. (Silver)	4195 $	4695 $	August 2020
Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. (Black-Chrome Edition)	4595 $	5095 $	August 2020
Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH (Black)	3295 $	3695 $	September 2020
Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH (Silver)	3495 $	3895 $	September 2020
Leica Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6 (Silver)	2595 $	2895 $	September 2020
Leica Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH.	2295 $	2595 $	December 2020
Leica Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH.	4395 $	4895 $	December 2020
Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2	2395 $	2695 $	December 2020

Announcement Leica USA

In 2019, the United States of America implemented tariffs of 25% on several European products including lenses that are made in Germany. These tariffs make Leica’s Made in Germany lenses significantly more expensive to USA customers. Through extensive efforts in our ongoing goals to support photographers and photo dealers, Leica Camera has made a large investment to establish a second production line in reaction to these global economic developments and market requirements.

With this new production line at Leica Camera’s state-of-the-art facility in Portugal, Leica has decided to offer USA consumers a choice to buy a selection of some of the most popular and essential Leica M-Lenses, stringent to the same quality and standards expected from Leica as our German-made products, Made in Portugal, at a much lower price than their Made in Germany counterparts. The price differential is a direct result of tariffs, and in no way indicative of quality standards. Leica Camera USA will now offer both Made in Germany and Made in Portugal lenses as part of our ongoing product offerings.

“We are committed to excellence and craftsmanship. As a result of the US Tariffs on Made in Germany products, we are offering select lenses made in our Portugal facility, delivering the pristine quality and service our customers expect from Leica.”

This selection of Made in Portugal lenses will only be available in the USA at prices that are not impacted by tariffs, with a scheduled release in stages as follows:

August 2020:

Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH., black – #11716
Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH., silver – #11717
Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH., black chrome – #11715

September 2020:

Leica Summicron-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH., black – #11708
Leica Summicron-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH., silver – #11709
Leica Summaron-M 28 mm f/5.6 silver – #11712

December 2020:

Leica Summicron-M 28 mm f/2 ASPH., black – #11707
Leica Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 black – #11719
Leica Elmarit-M 28 mm f/2.8 ASPH., black – #11711

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[LUF Admin]

I'll use this thread for official information from Leica, discussion here please:

 

[rivi1969]

"Leica has started a second production line of Leica lenses in its Portugal facility."

WRONG. They haven't start anything, the Portugal production line has been active for years. Several lenses including the M-50mm f2 who has engraved Made in Germany are actually made in Portugal. For some reason (probably legal) they have to come clean and this "second line" argument is the solution.

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

 

[UliWer]

vor 15 Minuten schrieb rivi1969:

WRONG...

You may visit the leica factory in Wtzlar, Germany, to learn, who is wrong.

Camera bodies with quite a lot of electonics and binoculars have been produced in Portugal for years. The lens pruduction is new. 

[jankap]

Does this discussion make sense? Leica signs for the quality of the lenses, wherever they are made.

My Toyota car was made in Turkey, etc. Times change.

[jaapv]

59 minutes ago, rivi1969 said:

For some reason (probably legal)

Errm.. It makes sense to actually read the press release by Leica. (bolding mine)

Quote

“We are committed to excellence and craftsmanship. As a result of the US Tariffs on Made in Germany products, we are offering select lenses made in our Portugal facility, delivering the pristine quality and service our customers expect from Leica.”

This selection of Made in Portugal lenses will only be available in the USA at prices that are not impacted by tariffs, with a scheduled release in stages as follow