Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/12/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Charlie, In this day and age, with global supply chains, it is almost impossible to keep China out of your camera bag or out of your life in general, unless you forsake all electronics made in the past 10 years. My Olympus E410 is assembled in China, as is my iPod, and as far as I remember, so is the Powerbook on which I write this message, and I just checked my new Apple Cinema display--yes, that too is assembled in China. I am not necessarily advocating that Leica go that far afield. If I remember correctly, the R8/R9 are/were made in Portugal, with just enough assembly and quality checking in Germany to be able to put on the Made in Germany label. Or to look at a completely different product, I remember reading in the very credible Motorcycle Consumer News that the most iconic American product, a Harley Davidson motorcycle (allegedly built in Milwaukee) has fewer US-made parts (by value) than a "Japanese" Honda Gold Wing. And so it goes. Just to troll a bit, I could also argue that sticking to German products made in the 1930s and 40s means that you are using equipment which was likely made or used by Nazis...(yes, I am aware of Leica's honorable record during those years, but still). Nathan On 2-dec-2007, at 18:14, Charlie Meyer wrote: > Oh, joy! Even with my 1935-1955 kit, it took vigilance to keep > China and India out of my bag. (Don sells N.O.S. Leitz lens > cleaning paper for $1 a packet.) Long gone are the days where Leitz/ > Leica not only made most of their own parts..but also the machines > that made them; First World design and craftsmanship is why Leica > commands the princely prices and enjoys the continuing value it > has. In response to Gandy's cheap Chinese half cases (no Buddah > ear option), Luigi introduced inexpensive half-cases made in > Italy. Not the art work of his traditional lines, but still well > made in Europe. I do hope that Leica keeps manufacture in the First > World. An 'offshored' Third World build Leica sounds just as bad as > a Guangdong Porsche....or the woman calling the other week from > Bangalore telling me her name was 'Jack, J-A-C-K, calling from > provider office'. > > At least the Europe is beginning to address the perils of > globalization. Maybe the anti-globalization protesters weren't all > anarchists and slackers after all...they were just smart enough to > get to the barricades first. > > Charlie > > > On Dec 2, 2007, at 10:45 AM, Nathan Wajsman wrote: >> and restructuring (I assume the latter means moving manufacturing >> out of Germany to the extent this has not already been done). >> >> Nathan > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > Nathan Wajsman nathan@nathanfoto.com General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com http://www.greatpix.eu http://www.frozenlight.eu Picture-A-Week: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog