Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/09/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At one time Leica had a research lab for glass development. I don't think they made production quantity but purchased it from others. Eventually major glass manufactures had developed glasses that had excellent characteristics for optical use. Glass characteristics are pretty easy to measure so it makes sense to not manufacture it but purchase on specification. I believe the major suppliers are Hoya and Schott. It can be expensive. I seem to recall they were paying $800 per kilo for some of the glass they use. William B. Abbott III wrote: > 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >