Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Robert, No one smelters their own metal. But there are camera and lens makers that do melt their own glass, for example: Nikon, Canon, Konica, Cosina, Minolta (the orginator ofthe R camera), and others. Peter K - -----Original Message----- From: Robert G. Stevens [mailto:robsteve@istar.ca] Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 1998 1:30 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: RE: [Leica] RE: Leica glass I guess all that matters is that the glass is made is to Leica specifications. I assume they don't smelter their own metals to make the bodies either ;-) Regards, Robert Stevens At 08:22 AM 12/16/98 -0800, you wrote: >Jim, > >Thanks. That confirms all I have read too! (Although I would not call Hoya >glass "mundane" as noted in the text considering they are the world's >largest glass manufacturer and supplier to more lens companies than most >realize, Leica included). With Leica being a small company, it makes sense >that they would not have the resources to melt their own glass, but spec it >out and buy it leaving Leica resources to focus on Lens design and >manufacturing. BTW, Pentax, Sigma, and many others DO NOT make their own >glass but buy it. > >Peter K. > >-----Original Message----- >From: Alan Ball [mailto:AlanBall@csi.com] >Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 1998 9:54 PM >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us >Subject: Re: [Leica] RE: Leica glass > > >Jim, > >>>From the few litterature sources that I have, it seems that Leica does >not produce any glass, though it has used a very small scale in-house >production unit in the past, mostly for tests. Nothing in thoses sources >ever stipulates that the glass supplied to Leica by makers such as >Schott and others (Hoya's name usually pops up here) is glass made to >order for Leica alone. I would suppose that Leica buys glass using >specifications that are in the current catalogue of the maker... > >You can catch on an earlier LUG thread on the matter through: >http://lq.corenetworks.com/lq/view.cgi?o=0&s=1&b=1&q=hoya+AND+glass&sp=&mid = >40261&ln=leicausers > >Alan > >Jim Brick wrote: >> >> I'm under the impression that Leica formulates, mixes, melts, and makes >> almost all of their own glass. They farm out what they do not have >capacity >> for. >> >> Jim >> >> At 04:13 PM 12/15/98 -0800, you wrote: >> >I don't believe Leica does its own glass melting. Even companies like >Sigma >> >and Pentax buy their glass from outside sources. This is fact. >> > >> >-----Original Message----- >> >From: Jim Brick [mailto:jimbrick@photoaccess.com] >> >Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 1998 3:06 PM >> >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us >> >Subject: [Leica] Leica glass >> > >> > >> >I was told, by the Leica folks, that all of the glass that they receive >> >from other companies (such as Hoya) is Leica glass, made to the Leica >> >formula, and that the supplier (Hoya) cannot in any way use the Leica >glass >> >that they supply to Leica. Leica's glass making capacity is overstressed >> >and they farm out the manufacturing to others. But using the Leica >patented >> >formulas. So it all is Leica glass. Just "cooked" in another facility. >> > >> >Jim >> > >> >At 05:39 PM 12/15/98 -0500, you wrote: >> >>At 01:02 PM 1998-12-15 -0800, Peter Kotsinadelis wrote: >> >>>OUt of curiousity, does anyone know if it is Schott that provides the >> >glass >> >>>for Leica lenses? >> >>> >> >> >> >>Yes and no. Hoya provides some glass for a couple of the R lenses. >> >> >> >>Marc >> >> >> >>msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 >> >>Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir! >> >> > > > > >