Re: [Leica] Noctilux (from Canada or Germany?)

["Simon Lamb" <simon@sclamb.com>]

Dr H

The question does begged to be asked, so I will ask it - why does the
country of manufacture matter to you?  Is this merely an issue of interest
or does manufacture in Germany suggest a better quality product?  I have had
no problems with my Canadian Noctilux, and I believe it was Ted Grant who
stood proudly behind the Made in Canada marking 9as indeed he should, it is
an excellent piece of precision engineering).

Simon

Dr H L Lau wrote:
>
> After the ELCAN plant was sold to Raytheon in 1998, it was believed that
the production of
> the 75mm Summilux and the Noctilux would be moved to Solms; Stephan Gandy
on his
> website also stated this "expectation".  So far the "new" German-made 75mm
Summilux has
> appeared (order no. changed from 11815 to 11810, same optical design, but
a slightly
> different mechanical design in the helicoid resulting in some 40g
reduction in weight).
> But the German-made Noctilux has yet to come, at least as far as a
> newly-shipped-in-from-Solms Noctilux (which my friend bought from the
respectable Dr
> Joseph Yao a couple of weeks ago) went -- it was "made in Canada".  My
Noctilux bought
> last year (serial no. 3814xxx, which includes the signed Test Certificate
introduced in late
> 2000) was also made in Canada.
> One speculation was that Leica is just selling the unsold stock from
ELCAN. This is an
> interesting topic to follow, especially now when all Leica M lenses are
supposedly made in
> Germany.  The recent thread on LUG concerning the 35-75 mm f/2.8
Vario-Elmarit-R ASPH
> also shed light on the technical "problems" Leica has faced with. The
dealers that I know in
> Hong Kong, Japan and Germany also maintain that the Noctilux is being made
in Germany.
> This added to the "mystery" of where the Noctilux is currently produced
(those who couldn't
> care less of the country of manufacture can save their time and stop
reading on).
> When I enquired ELCAN of any currently produced lenses for still-picture
photography, their
> answer is that the Noctilux is still being made there!  I enclose their
e-mail reply in the
> following.  The big question now is not WHERE anymore, but WHY?
>
> Horace Lau
>
>
> Subject:    Re: Photography
> Date:        Tue, 20 Feb 2001 12:07 -0800 (PST)
> From:       bwveall@west.raytheon.com
> To:            shllau@zdnetonebox.com
>
> Dear Mr. Lau,
>
> Thank you for your enquiry.
>
> ELCAN still manufactures the Noctilux M f/1 50mm for the Leica 35mm
> rangefinder
> system of Leica Camera AG, Solms, Germany.
>
> This lens is available exclusively through the worldwide network of Leica
> dealers, through whom descriptive literature on Leica cameras, lenses and
> accessories is distributed.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Brian Veall
>
>
> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> Does ELCAN produce any lenses for still-picture photography at the
> present moment? If so, would you please supply more information.
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Horace Lau
>
>