Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/09/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Bonus points if you can identify another then Dennis. I had never heard of them until I visted Solms. 2009/9/19 Dennis <dennis at hale-pohaku.net> > 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 >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- 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