I wonder if there are any differences in optical and built quality between lenses that were made in Canada and Germany. For example, the 35mm Summicron and 90mm Summicron.

I see a price premium on German lenses and wonder if it means higher quality.

Thanks in advance. Jackson

-- Jackson Loi (jsloi@hotmail.com), June 01, 2001

Answers

Jackson

No, it is just collector's snobbery in my opinion.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), June 01, 2001.

I agree with you Robin; you can be totaly confident on Canada glass Jackson, early M4-2 bodies had some problems, but not lenses.

-- r Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), June 01, 2001.

Is there a difference? Of course! The Canadian glass is WAY BETTER!

(a completely unbiased opinion by a person who just happens to live in Canada)

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), June 01, 2001.

John:

The only problem with Canadian glass is that the only solutions that will properly clean it are VO or Crown Royal! :)))

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 01, 2001.

It tickles me and my wife (born in Sintaluta, Sask. and raised in Penticton, B.C.) that my entire Leica outfit (less the Hexar RF) is stamped "MADE IN CANADA." Definitely the country is the source of many good things ;^)

In a serious mode, manufacturers are always tweaking designs, and there have also been complete redesigns over the years, so there are always chronological differences in lenses. Since lens manufacture over time shifted from Wetzlar to Midland to Wetzlar to Solms, we might easily find that a 1998 German 28 is 'better' than a 1986 Canadian 28 is 'better' than a 1967 German 28.

In VERY informal comparisons I've noticed that my Canadians (21 2.8, 35 f/2, 90TE, 90 f/2) are slightly yellower than the current German 50 f/2, 90 2.8 and an early German 135 TE f/4. But since the 90TE and 35 are also a little cooler than the other two, this may just be variation among optical designs (or age), not among countries of origin. Then again, maybe someone DID clean them with VO!!

Speaking of glass...hoist one in honor of the Canadian Leica operation. If it hadn't been for a few diehards in the late '70s the whole M line would have died out, and probably never returned. Between 1976 and 1980, 16,000 M4-2s were the entire worldwide interchangeable- lens RF production. If they hadn't survived there would have been no M4-Ps, no M6s, no G1/2s, no Hexars or Hexar RFs, no Voigtlander lenses.

"Oh Canadaaaa, our home and native landdd....!!"

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), June 01, 2001.

Ernst Leitz Canada(Elcan) in Midland Ontario played an extremely important role in the development of high performance Leica lenses.

Dr. Walter Mandler of Ernst Leitz Canada was the first lens designer to use computer aided lens design program, and gave the world Summicron and Summilux, and the first APO lenses using extra low disperson glass.

Without Elcan, there would not be the superb Leica lenses of today.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), June 02, 2001.

Before the 50s, Leitz lenses, except the Elmar 50/3.5 were no match for Zeiss lenses. Hektor, Summar, Sumitar etc were acceptable, but no match for Zeiss Sonnar, Biogon, Hologon.

Then came along the great Dr. Walter Mandler of Leitz Canada, who's outstanding Summicron 50,35, 90, Summilux 50,35, Noctilux M 50/1, APO telyt 180/3.4 rewrote the lens design history.

"Made in Canada" means high quality.

In the early 50s, Germany was divided into two parts, nuclear armed Red army ocuppied East Germany, the threat of nuclear WW III hung over a divided nation. Getrude Leitz had the wisdom of moving a part of Leitz to the Midland Ontario, a beauty town on the shore of Georgian Bay, beautiful blue water merged with blue sky floating with white clouds; when autumn comes, the magnificent red and yellow fall colors provided the great lens designers of Wild Leitz Canada ( among them Walter Mandler ) inspiration to capture the beautiful colors of this peaceful landscape, far away from the Berlin Wall

In the mean time, Leitz Canada became a major military optical equipment designer and supplier for NATO. Elcan also designed the superb projector lens for IMAX giant screen movie theatre.

After Germany reunited, it was time for Leica to go back to its homeland.

Elcan was sold to Hughes Aircraft, which renamed the Midland plant Elcan Hughes Optical works, and for quite some time, they were making lenses for Leica Solms. Hughes later was sold to General Motor. For a while, there are actually some GM Leica lenses :)

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), June 03, 2001.

Hugh es Elcan Optical Technologies in Midland, Ontario

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), June 04, 2001.

Elcan at Leitz Road, Midland, Ontario, Canada

Now a part of Raytheon, USA

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), June 04, 2001.

If you plan on buying lenses or other used photo equipment on Ebay and the transaction is an international one then be prepared to pay duty when it crosses the border [into Canada for sure, and, I would assume, into the U.S.A. as well]. However, if you live in North America, you shouldn't have to pay any duty if the lens says "Made in Canada" on it since N.A.F.T.A. rules make it tax exempt since it was manufactured here and not in Germany. So buy "German" and pay duty if it has to come into your country. Or by the Canadian one. It's fine. Don't get caught up in this nonsense. Now get out there and shoot some pictures!

-- Bo Pryszlak (natabo@aztec-net.com), June 04, 2001.

Dear Bo:

There is no duties for any CAMERAS and LENSES if they are bought within North America. I buy most of my cameras and lenses from the States and ship them to Toronto (Canon EOS system, Hasselblad). No duties. Photo accessories such as film, filter, bags, etc. are another story. I once bought some cheap film and filters from the States and boom, haha, the duty surcharge is more than 50%. This will make sure that I will buy these items in my home and native land...

Jackson Loi

-- Jackson Loi (jsloi@hotmail.com), June 15, 2001.