[Leica] See the video about the M9 at Solms? (long & boring)

[hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson)]

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