canon-contax-zeiss??

[NealS]

Zeiss and Leica are just like Rolls Roys and Bentley, under whose fancy names is BMW and VW. Just like underneath German optics is nothing more than Yashica, Cosina, Minolta, Sony, Kyocera, Meopta, Fuji, and who knows who else makes this "German" famous brand stuff.

This is a bizarre comment. Do you really believe that a Japanese company makes Asph-Summiluxes, Noctiluxes, Apo-Summicrons, M7s under subcontract? Next time you are in Solms take the Leica factory tour and find out for yourself.

As for CZ, this is a very proud company. A large number of modern 35mm lens formulae can be traced back to CZ designers. If CZ says a lens is made in Germany, e.g. 85/2.0 ZM Sonnar, you can bet your life it is so.

Just like German electronics, also German photographic industry fame is surviving only because the Japanese are so bad in marketing and building up their own image. If they were just a little better, German optics names would not get past museums, swap meets, flea markets, and no one would use it to take pictures.

This is simply not correct. Clean Leica lenses from the 30s to the present era are highly sought after. Check out used Leica prices, surely not everyone is buying Leica gear to put in a display case.

As for German industry in general, why is Germany, despite sky high labour costs, the number one exporter in the world? Poor Japanese marketing, or intrinsic quality? Do you really believe Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax are bad at marketing their products?

[NealS]

According to CZ representatives, introduction of new Alpa mount lenses is a decision taken by Sony alone. At the moment Sony is trying to position the G lenses as their high end line and have not expressed interest in any new CZ optics. Perhaps this has to do with corporate pride, not to mention royalties.

I spoke (only 5 minutes...) with a Zeiss Rep at the Photo Plus Expo last October -the booth was full of Nikon and Canon users trying to see closer the lenses (all manual focus) they make. I asked about those manual lenses on Alpha mount and about the Rep told me that the collaboration with Sony is on AF lenses, so they won't bring manual lenses for the A mount, but they won't bring AF lenses for other mount that the A mount either.

In other hand, I don't find any interest for Canon to buy "Contax facilities"

Regards

[A1000]

Who grinds practically all the elements for Leica?

If Jena makes a Zeiss lens, it is made in Germany.

Germany is not No. 1 exporter.

[NealS]

1. Leica grinds its own elements and matches sets to minimise abberations. BTW, do you really think that grinding elements is all there is to manufacturing a lens?

2. Last time I looked at a map, Oberkochen was still in Germany.

3. Data available to the public (Google is your friend) clearly shows that Germany is the no. 1 exporter. China has not yet taken over the no. 1 position.

Who grinds practically all the elements for Leica?

If Jena makes a Zeiss lens, it is made in Germany.

Germany is not No. 1 exporter.