[Leica] Re:Monster High-tech 50mm 1.4 from Sigma and everyone else

[Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com (Frank Dernie)]

Hi Seth,
If the part is correctly manufactured to the drawing it is the design  
which determines the reliability, quality and longevity, not the place  
of manufacture. Nowadays machines are generally sufficiently accurate  
to produce parts which need no or minimal selective assembly. If items  
are properly inspected there should be no concern.
FWIW the Nikon lenses of the 70s were notoriously variable from sample  
to sample.
Frank

On 5 Feb, 2009, at 14:19, Seth Rosner wrote:

> Hoooo! I'm so out-of-it that I wasn't aware that Nikon (and  
> others???) are now manufacturing in China. I wonder how that gear  
> will perform decades from now. What depth of experience and know-how  
> in this field do the Chinese have - no disrespect intended for they  
> have mega-experience in some areas.
>
> My 90/2,8 Elmarit is 35 years old, the 35/2,8 Summaron is 42 and the  
> 50/2 DR Summicron is 44, not even discussing the IIIc/IIIf  
> conversion (60+ years old!!!) and its lenses. And they all function  
> flawlessly and at world-class levels.
>
> Of course, for me it doesn't really matter since there is some  
> reasonable doubt that I'll be around 40 years from now! at least not  
> as fully functional as my Leica gear      :-(
>
> What it does illustrate is how manufacturers, Leica Camera and  
> perhaps others (Carl Zeiss & Schneider-Kreuznach Deutschland?)  
> excluded, regard their wares as throw- away stuff, expensive throw- 
> away but throw-away nonetheless. Not my kind of world.
>
> Seth