The Leica Vario Elmar R 35-70 f:4.0, is apparently manufactured by a Japanese company. I wonder if it is available for other cameras under the maker's name, (such as Sigma, Tamron, etc)? TIA.

-- Wilhelm (bmitch@home.com), December 01, 2001

Answers

The 28 to 70 was made by Sigma, but it was a special production for Leica under much stricter quality control and manufacturing tolerance. Its not "just like" the 28 to 70 Sigma you could buy for less than a few hundred bucks for your Nikon or Canon. I think personally it was still overpriced for what you were getting, as reviews for the lens were not steller. I thought the 35 to 70 F4.0 was made by Leica. Some of the Tele zooms are/were made by Minolta and Kyocera, at least that's the word on the street.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), December 01, 2001.

The R 35-70 f/4 was designed by Solms and made by Kyocera of Contax fame. It is the bargain in the entire R line. Don't worry about who made it. Its quality is through and through Leica.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), December 01, 2001.

Any one concern about Leica M is assembled in Portugal ?

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), December 01, 2001.

It is perfectly OK to put a made in Japan Leica lens on a made in Portugal camera body.

There is only one 35mm camera that is 100% made in Germany, and it is not Leica, nor Contax. It is Minox GT-E

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), December 01, 2001.

I used to have a pair of Leica binoculars that were made in Portugal. The fit, finish, and optics were the best of any high end binos I've ever looked through. What exactly is the concern about things made in Portugal?

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), December 01, 2001.

I think Martin's point was that it really doesn't matter where something is made, as long as the quality is there.

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), December 02, 2001.

Martin,

The Minox GT-E is made in Portugal by Leica camera.

-- Lucien (Lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), December 03, 2001.

Regarding things German and Portugese: I'm wearing Birkenstock shoes today. Very German indeed, they are made in Portugal. They are the most comfortable damn shoes I've ever worn...

-- jeff voorhees (debontekou@yahoo.com), December 03, 2001.