Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 3/9/00 6:03:49 AM Central Standard Time, arbos@silva.net writes: << am not an observant worshiper of "made in Germany" and prefer "made by Leica", although I know "made in Germany" still has special value to quite a few people. Cheers, Mikiro Strasbourg, Europe http://arbos.silva.net >> A number of longtime Leica users had been suspicious of the "made in Germany" label being slapped on "Leica" brand equipment because of the quality of the merchandise that was tumbling from boxes marked "Made in Germany." It is now apparent those concerns were well founded. This weekend I was shooting in a wild animal park that allows animals to approach the vehicles with the M-3 and the new APO-TELYT-M 3.4 135 MM lens. I found I was constantly having to check the diaphragm ring to be sure it was still set at 5.6. The slightest touch or rub against the clothing changed the diaphragm setting. Up return, I compared the APO-TELYT-M 3.4 135 MM lens with the Tele-Elmar that I purchased in the mid-60's. I almost wish I had not made the comparison. The old Tele-Elmar, after over 30 years of use still has a nice tight focusing feel and the diaphragm requires a definite effort to move it rather than a slight rub against the sleeve. The APO-TELYT-M 3.4 135 MM lens on the other hand, has a sloppy feeling focusing mechanism and the diaphragm feels as if it had been made in some area just coming out of the stone age and the adjustment was just plain sloppy. This "made in Germany" label must really shame true German craftsmen who know true precision craftsmanship and know this is not reflective of their "made in Germany" work. Thanks Mikiro for confirming this problem. Don