I owned a nice Leica thread-mount camera that made awesome photos. Later I found out it was a Russian knock-off. The photos all sucked after that.
You are better off looking at Boeing if you want the best of American engineering.
I have a Sears Tower Type 3, an American branded, Japanese copy, of a German design. I'll have you know that it takes awesome photos when I use Kodak film, passable photos when I use Fuji film, and really lousy photos when I use Adox film. For some reason I can't get the Ilford stuff to work at all!
the modern term for 'overengineering 'is' robustness', and it is a good thing.
I thought these two terms were contrary to each other.
E. von H., the cars were bought new at the same time, owned, driven and serviced by the same people, side by side.
I know, having worked around cars for most of my life, that GM and the rest made some real boners. But, so have the others.
I worked for quite a while at a large truck dealership that sold Mercedes products, and was left thoroughly unimpressed. One of their engines was nicknamed "the grenade".
I just get a little tired of Mercedes being held up as such a big deal, because all of my experiences with them over a spread of about 35 years have convinced me that they're really not a lot better than most other products out there. But for the price, they certainly should be.
How can new Leicas claim to be made in Germany when the body, and, I presume, shutter, are made in Portugal?
Shit, the top plate is engraved in Portugal, and I read at least one report of it falling off! Ken Rockwell (and others I have read) have had many problems w/the M7 shutter. And this Leica QC?
I saw the M7 video, and they sure made no mention of either making or putting a shutter in. And the "MP" stands for "Mechanical Perfection"? Leica makes a BIG thing out of "Made in Germany". I can quite accept my Contax G system being produced w/Zeiss test machinery and supervised by Zeiss people, but it says "Made in Japan"!
You are better off looking at Boeing if you want the best of American engineering.
I see what you mean, as Boeing have factories and research facilities all around the world I guess that makes the Dreamliner their 'Portuguese Leica', something else that can also be blamed on foreigners ;-)
This is just an absurdist thread from the start though, taking a very narrow insular view of the world and trying to make a case against Leica from it. Almost any mechanical or consumer product will have sub-assemblies or materials from other parts of the world. Leica use Copal shutters in their digital FF cameras, they arrive built, not as a kit of parts. But a shutter is not a camera, just like an imported piece of rosewood is not a guitar, it has to go to a specialist to be made into something else. And just remember, when Leica were at their most vulnerable in the 1970's and 80's they were confident enough of their manufacturing standards that they could proudly engrave 'Made in Canada' on many of their high end bodies and lenses, some of which are now the most sought after.
Steve
Yes spot on, the f/1.0 Noctilux was fully Canadian, designed by Mandler.
Steve
A few of my long time Leica using friends tell me the Canadian Leicas were probably the best ones built. I have no way of verifying that, but they are people that have been photographers for many decades, making a living off of their skills and tools.
Canon offered a five year warranty starting in 1950.'made in Japan'means a lot to me. my Nikonsare a beacon of mechanical and electronic engineering; like them a lotand just as reliable as my Hasselblads.Most big-name companies have a multi national staff anyway, so, it is no longer an ethnic issue.the ethnic blend of talents is he secret to thr success of diversity.
You want something designed and made in the country of origin? Buy a Jeep then report back after 6 months.
"German Engineering" is I think more a product of the ad agency than anything.
Take a look at a Citroen Deux Chevaux some time - quite a bit of the cleverest engineering I've ever seen. The ealy Peugeot GP cars were way ahead of anything else. The American Miller racers were known as "the American Bugatti" and with good reason. The English marine chronometers were and are in a class of their own, as are the highest grade London guns. Swiss watches. Italian sports cars, from when that term actually meant something.
Many countries have produced superlative engineering. The only area Czechs take a backseat to anyone is in self promotion, perhaps.
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