Japanese lens manufacturing is a plate of spaghetti. Minolta got the lens for its first camera from Germany. Then it bought lenses from Asahi, before it started making it own. Many of its final manual-focusing lenses were made by Cosina and Tokina. Yashica got all of its lenses from Tomioka -- before it merged with Tomioka. Mamiya got much of its glass from Setagaya (Sekor) before merging. I could go on all day.
Since the manufacturing in China is getting far better, 50 years from now we may talk about who bought glass from who in Chinese optical manufacturers.
If you thought tracking down who made which Japanese lenses is difficult, just imaging tracking down the origin of Chinese lenses.
I have just the the C/Dfor a 70s vintage zoom it is a good performer.
The wording of the Minolta claim makes it possible that they were stating there were (at the time) only two companies that
...and it was implied also that they were sold on the retail market under their own brand name
- made optical glass, AND
- made lenses from their optical glass,
The chart in post 13 makes it apparent that Tokina, Kiron, and Tamron make lenses. I happen to know that Hoya was started by two brothers as a manufacturer of optical glass in the city of Hoya; and they do make 'lenses' for vision purposes but I do know know of Hoya brand photographic lenses, yet they are a recognized name in photographic filters.
In comparison, Kino is the company who make photographic lenses sold under the Kiron brand name, and they also sourced some lenses to Vivitar, but they do not make optical glass.
And Tokina make photographic lenses sold under the Tokina name, but the do not make optical glass.
Although I have not seen any documents to confirm it, when Alpa stopped making cameras and sold naming rights to Chinion (or contacted with Chinion to put the Alpa name) for M42 and later K mount bodies, the first generation Chinon 50 1.9 maco used elements made by Kern. Not sure who made the glass, Kern or other glass maker.
- There are many more lens manufacturers (I mean real lens grinding operations, not rebadgers) than manufacturers of the raw optical glass, always have been.
- Contract work is extremely common in the optics business, not everything is designed or made in house.
In that case, does it meant Brand A and B 's lenses and actually from the same glass maker? If so, would the performance share some something similar in properties ?
I think all of Nikon's lens are still made in Japan.
Many lens designs are made by computing a design using glasses selected from these standard types, with shapes optimized by the designer and the optical design program with attention to image quality, ease of lens fabrication, and cost.
Hello Paul,
for meanwhile more than 20 years Nikon also runs a lens factory in China. I have several "Made in China" Nikkors.
Best regards,
Henning
Alpa started lower price bodies made by Chinon. Those you mentioned are Si2000 (m42) and si3000(K) . Google said Alpha was making 11 series at the same time but they are not intended for general customers.
Previously some lenses are made by angenieux. I wonder who provided the glass for them as well, maybe Scott?
In the modern world, Tamron makes lens for Pentax, Konica Minolta did not sell its lens plant, only the camera plant and patents to Sony and still makes lens for Sony as well as industrial lens. I think all of Nikon's lens are still made in Japan.
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