Re: [Leica] Leica made in Germany

[Dan Cardish <dcardish@microtec.net>]

I thought you had confirmed the crappy quality of Leica ages ago...yet you
still are buying their stuff?   Serves you right.   

Dan C.

At 08:32 AM 09-03-00 EST, you wrote:
>In a message dated 3/9/00 6:03:49 AM Central Standard Time, arbos@silva.net 
>writes:
>
><<  am not an observant worshiper of "made in Germany" and prefer "made by
> Leica", although I know "made in Germany" still has special value to quite a
> few people.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Mikiro
> Strasbourg, Europe
> http://arbos.silva.net >>
>
>A number of longtime Leica users had been suspicious of the "made in
Germany" 
>label being slapped on "Leica" brand equipment because of the quality of the 
>merchandise that was tumbling from boxes marked "Made in Germany."  It is
now 
>apparent those concerns were well founded.
>
>This weekend I was shooting in a wild animal park that allows animals to 
>approach the vehicles with the M-3 and the new APO-TELYT-M 3.4 135 MM lens.  
>I found I was constantly having to check the diaphragm ring to be sure it
was 
>still set at 5.6.  The slightest touch or rub against the clothing changed 
>the diaphragm setting.
>
>Up return, I compared the APO-TELYT-M 3.4 135 MM lens with the Tele-Elmar 
>that I purchased in the mid-60's.  I almost wish I had not made the 
>comparison.  The old Tele-Elmar, after over 30 years of use still has a nice 
>tight focusing feel and the diaphragm requires a definite effort to move it 
>rather than a slight rub against the sleeve.
>
>The APO-TELYT-M 3.4 135 MM lens on the other hand, has a sloppy feeling 
>focusing mechanism and the diaphragm feels as if it had been made in some 
>area just coming out of the stone age and the adjustment was just plain 
>sloppy.
>
>This "made in Germany" label must really shame true German craftsmen who
know 
>true precision craftsmanship and know this is not reflective of their "made 
>in Germany" work.
>
>Thanks Mikiro for confirming this problem.
>
>Don 
>
>