[Leica] See the video about the M9 at Solms? (long & boring)

[wbabbott3 at comcast.net (William B. Abbott III)]

Geoff,

Thank you very much for the up to date info. Somewhere in the past I  
believe I remembered that Leica had developed a glass with very  
special properties, but they have obviously changed their procurement  
plan since then. Make-or-buy decisions are not simple at all, and  
Leica's reputation hangs on getting theirs "right." I wish them well.

All the best,

Bill


On Sep 18, 2009, at 4:45 PM, Geoff Hopkinson wrote:

> Hi Bill, just for your interest on one point you mentioned. Leica  
> does not
> make any of its own glass. At one time they had a laboratory. It is  
> closed.
> All of their glass is purchased from external glass specialists in  
> blanks
> that are then ground, polished coated etc. Individually in the case  
> of M
> lens elements. I saw a considerable pile of cartons of blanks in the  
> factory
> corridor from one supplier. Ralph Hagenauer was conducting the tour  
> and was
> discussed the suppliers with us.
>
> 2009/9/19 William B. Abbott III wbabbott3 at comcast.net
> ....................I realize that Leica has in-house capability in
> specialty optical glasses, making some for their own use and buying  
> some,
> and I don't know if they compete with their glass on the open market  
> but I
> doubt it. They probably do the same thing successfully with complex,
> tight-tolerance machine parts too, making some and buying
> some....................
> -- 
> Cheers
> Geoff
> The new LEICA M9
> Passion for perfect pictures.
> http://www.m.leica-camera.com
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/
> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
>
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