Hello,

I would like to know where all the current Leica lenses are manufactured?

It is my understanding that the Canadian factory is long closed and that apart from the 35-70/4 for the R (which is made in Japan by Kyocera), all the other lenses (both M and R) are now made in Germany.

Is this true?

Please let me know.

Thanks!

-- Mike Foster (mike567@acgecorp.com), May 19, 2001

Answers

To my current knowledge, this is all exact. I believe that what was left of the plant in Midland Ontario (Elcan) was sold and is now producing spotting scope for riffle.

-- Eric Laurence (Edgar1976@hotmail.com), May 20, 2001.

The 80-200/4 Vario-Elmar-R is also made by Kyocera in Japan, as is the current version of the 28-70.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 20, 2001.

Thanks. What about the Noctilux? Someone said that is still made in Canada?

-- Mike Foster (mike567@acgecorp.com), May 20, 2001.

Not true, The Noctilux is curently made in Germany.

-- Eric Laurence (Edgar1976@hotmail.com), May 20, 2001.

Jay, are you sure the 28-70 is made by Kyocera? I've heard it's manufactured by Sigma.

-- Oliver Schrinner (piraya@hispavista.com), May 21, 2001.

The current 28mm-70mm in the beginning was made by Sigma but it is now made by Kyocera.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), May 21, 2001.

IMO, the important thing is not where a lens or camera is initially made, but where is it finally tested, and checked.

A few years ago, all M6, R6.2, R7 camera bodies were assembled in Leica Aparelhos Opt de Precisio S. A in Vila Nova de Famalicao of Portugal, then shipped to Solm for finally tests.

The R8 is probably made in Germany

Many Leica camera has no "Made in Germany" marking, only "Leica GmbH Germany"

Beside, "Leica" is not German any more, it is a Swiss company: Leica AG, in St Galen, of Switzerland, Leica Camera is a subsidiary.

Not many German camera company stay German for long time. Rollei was Korean for a few years, recently becomes German again through management buy out.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), May 21, 2001.

Eric,

The 50/1 Noctilux is still made in Canada.

Lucien

-- lucien (lucien@ubi.edu), May 29, 2001.