Made in Japan

<p>Does anyone know which Canon DSLR's are still made in Japan?</p>

<p>I think all of the upper level stuff is made in Japan. That would include all the 1D series, 5D series and at least the 7D, plus all the "L" series lenses (and some non-L lenses). Don't know about the 60D.</p>

<p>The lower end stuff (low end consumer zooms, digital Rebels) may be assembled offshore, though I think at least some of the parts are still made in Japan.</p>

<p>I doubt it matters all that much as Canon still have their own QC standards which apply wherever the stuff is put together. If the low end stuff was made in Japan it still probably wouldn't have to pass the same strict QC process that the high end stuff does. I'd imagine that every 600/4L IS II USM is individually tested and calibrated before it leaves the factory, whereas they probably just batch test the 50/1.8 II lenses.</p>

<p>I have several name brand cameras and lenses "made in China" and they all seem to be fine. If I hadn't looked at the label I'd have no idea they weren't "made in Japan".</p>

<p>All the pro (1Dx) and prosumer DSLRs (XXD, XD) are Japan made. I have a recent 60D and it is stamped "Made in Japan" on the bottom. All the Rebels I've seen are also made in Japan, even their their cheapest model, the XS. Also their high P&S are still Japan made. My S90 is Japan made. The cheaper P&S as well as low end Speedlites and lenses are made off shore.</p>

<p>My EF-s 15-85 3.5-5.6 IS USM was made in Taiwan and is one of the sharpest zooms I've owned. Fit and finish are excellent too. My 430EX is also Taiwan made and looks and works perfectly.</p>

<p>Rebel SX (EOS 1000):</p>

<p><img src="http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/Canoneos1000d/images/battery-compartment1.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="600" /></p>

<p>I was going to make a joke about cameras that glow in the dark coming from Japan. But I won't</p>

<p>A couple of years ago Canon relocated the production of all DSLR cameras to Japan, so all recent bodies are made there. That does not mean though that the entire body is made in Japan. It's possible that some parts are made outside of Japan and assembled in Japan. Sometimes there are rules about the value you have to add before being allowed to call a product made in country X.<br>

Not that it matters much. Personell costs in other counties are sometimes much lower than in Japan. This allows for a more stringent (visual) quality control, for instance when comparing China and Japan.</p>

<p>Keep in mind, however, that being stamped "Made in Japan" may not mean quite as much as you'd initially think. For example, it'll be marked "Made in Japan", even if only the final assembly was done in Japan, but every single part was made in some other country. I'm not trying to say that's necessarily the case with any particular camera, just warning about how little the marking can mean.</p>

<p>I really think that where a product is made really only matters if the construction requires highly skilled workers (excluding ethical considerations). I am not sure which parts of camera construction are done and tested by had but I suspect that there are some. In general the highly specialized and skilled workers who do this task are hard to find in lower labour cost countries and institutional learning and workforce longevity and experience become significant factors. In general good manufacturers understand this and manufacture their products accordingly.</p>

<p>Jerry brings up an interesting point; a similar issue exists in the watch world. A watch marked "Swiss Made" has a very specific meaning, whereas, "Made in Germany", for example, means (apart from the obvious national distinction) a somewhat different thing. Swiss Made watches (and other products) are required by law to follow very specific guidelines as to component origin and assembly location. German made watches, as well as those of other nations, are loser in their requirements and more subject to interpretation (and fraud). One would have to understand the use on the term relative to a particular nation, and whether or not there exist specific legal requirements. I'm not certain if the use of "Made In Japan" is governed by any specific law. However, as Bob stated earlier, this isn't really relevant to the issue of Quality Control.</p>

<p>I remember a salesman in Japan telling me that Canon's made in Japan really only meant assembled in Japan. I don't know. I don't know if it matters.</p>

<p>I live in Cambodia now but spent 32 years in Japan. Now I want to buy a Canon lens here in Cambodia. I am told there is NO warranty and nobody, including Canon dealers will tell me where the lens comes from. I think most of it is brought in from Singapore, but where it came from before that is anybody's guess. Also, I noticed the codings given on lenses made in Japan that give you the date of manufacture are absent from the lenses here. Does that mean the lenses available here are fakes or they were simply made somewhere else. Nobody seems to know. My biggest worry would probably be that "seconds" are off loaded here and passed off as "firsts" . I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything "made" in Japan from a Japanese dealer. Their customer service is the best in the world and second to none. </p>

<p>The Canon Rebel T3 is made in Taiwan.<br>

<img src="http://www.ephotozine.com/articles/1100d-16085/images/canon-eos-1100d-dslr-bottom.jpg" alt="" width="666" height="500" /></p>