Canada vs Germany

I wonder if there are any differences in optical and built quality between lenses that were made in Canada and Germany. For example, the 35mm Summicron and 90mm Summicron.

<p>

I see a price premium on German lenses and wonder if it means higher quality.

<p>

Thanks in advance.

Jackson

Jackson

<p>

No, it is just collector's snobbery in my opinion.

I agree with you Robin; you can be totaly confident on Canada glass

Jackson, early M4-2 bodies had some problems, but not lenses.

Is there a difference? Of course! The Canadian glass is WAY

BETTER!

<p>

(a completely unbiased opinion by a person who just happens to

live in Canada)

<p>

Cheers,

John:

<p>

The only problem with Canadian glass is that the only solutions that

will properly clean it are VO or Crown Royal! :)))

It tickles me and my wife (born in Sintaluta, Sask. and raised in

Penticton, B.C.) that my entire Leica outfit (less the Hexar RF) is

stamped "MADE IN CANADA." Definitely the country is the source of many

good things ;^)

<p>

In a serious mode, manufacturers are always tweaking designs, and

there have also been complete redesigns over the years, so there are

always chronological differences in lenses. Since lens manufacture

over time shifted from Wetzlar to Midland to Wetzlar to Solms, we

might easily find that a 1998 German 28 is 'better' than a 1986

Canadian 28 is 'better' than a 1967 German 28.

<p>

In VERY informal comparisons I've noticed that my Canadians (21 2.8,

35 f/2, 90TE, 90 f/2) are slightly yellower than the current German 50

f/2, 90 2.8 and an early German 135 TE f/4. But since the 90TE and 35

are also a little cooler than the other two, this may just be

variation among optical designs (or age), not among countries of

origin. Then again, maybe someone DID clean them with VO!!

<p>

Speaking of glass...hoist one in honor of the Canadian Leica

operation. If it hadn't been for a few diehards in the late '70s the

whole M line would have died out, and probably never returned. Between

1976 and 1980, 16,000 M4-2s were the entire worldwide interchangeable-

lens RF production. If they hadn't survived there would have been no

M4-Ps, no M6s, no G1/2s, no Hexars or Hexar RFs, no Voigtlander

lenses.

<p>

"Oh Canadaaaa, our home and native landdd....!!"

Ernst Leitz Canada(Elcan) in Midland Ontario played an extremely

important role in the development of high performance Leica lenses.

<p>Dr. Walter Mandler of Ernst Leitz Canada was the first lens

designer to use

computer aided lens design program, and gave the world Summicron

and Summilux, and the first APO lenses using extra low disperson

glass.

<p> Without Elcan, there would not be the superb Leica lenses of

today.

Before the 50s, Leitz lenses, except the Elmar 50/3.5 were no match

for Zeiss lenses. Hektor, Summar, Sumitar etc were acceptable, but

no match for Zeiss Sonnar, Biogon, Hologon.

<p> Then came along the great Dr. Walter Mandler of Leitz Canada,

who's outstanding Summicron 50,35, 90, Summilux 50,35, Noctilux M

50/1, APO telyt 180/3.4 rewrote the lens design history.

<p> "Made in Canada" means high quality.

<p> In the early 50s, Germany was divided into two parts, nuclear

armed Red army ocuppied East Germany, the threat of nuclear WW III

hung over a divided nation. Getrude Leitz had the wisdom of moving

a part of Leitz to the Midland Ontario, a beauty town on the shore

of Georgian Bay, beautiful blue water merged with blue sky floating

with white clouds; when autumn comes, the magnificent red and yellow

fall colors provided the great lens designers of Wild Leitz Canada (

among them Walter Mandler ) inspiration to capture the beautiful

colors of this peaceful landscape, far away from the Berlin Wall

<p> In the mean time, Leitz Canada became a major military optical

equipment designer and supplier for NATO. Elcan also designed the

superb projector lens for IMAX giant screen movie theatre.

<p> After Germany reunited, it was time for Leica to go back to

its homeland.

<p> Elcan was sold to Hughes Aircraft, which renamed the Midland plant

Elcan Hughes Optical works, and for quite some time, they were making

lenses for Leica Solms. Hughes later was sold to General Motor. For

a while, there are actually some GM Leica lenses :)

<a

href="http://www.elcan.com/products/Photography/photography.html">Hugh

es Elcan Optical Technologies</a> in Midland, Ontario

<center>

<img src="http://www.elcan.com/About_ELCAN/facilitiesimage1.jpg">

<p> Elcan at Leitz Road, Midland, Ontario, Canada

<p> Now a part of Raytheon, USA

</center>

If you plan on buying lenses or other used photo equipment on Ebay

and the transaction is an international one then be prepared to pay

duty when it crosses the border [into Canada for sure, and, I would

assume, into the U.S.A. as well]. However, if you live in North

America, you shouldn't have to pay any duty if the lens says "Made in

Canada" on it since N.A.F.T.A. rules make it tax exempt since it was

manufactured here and not in Germany. So buy "German" and pay duty if

it has to come into your country. Or by the Canadian one. It's fine.

Don't get caught up in this nonsense. Now get out there and shoot

some pictures!

Dear Bo:

<p>

There is no duties for any CAMERAS and LENSES if they are bought

within North America. I buy most of my cameras and lenses from the

States and ship them to Toronto (Canon EOS system, Hasselblad). No

duties.

Photo accessories such as film, filter, bags, etc. are another story.

I once bought some cheap film and filters from the States and boom,

haha, the duty surcharge is more than 50%. This will make sure that I

will buy these items in my home and native land...

<p>

Jackson Loi