Leica lens on Panasonic subcompact - any good?

Many years ago we saw Nikon rebrand Nikkormat lenses as Nikkor. It
diluted some of the brand value of Nikon but in the end all was ok.

Now some Panasonic subcompact digital cameras have Leica lenses. (I've
only just noticed but maybe they have done it for a long time.)

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/l..._10/leica.html
http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/l..._10/index.html

I can't think Leitz would want to have its name on something which was
very average. Is this baby a Leica lens generally better than the
lenses on similar cameras?

"Sammy" wrote in message
...
Many years ago we saw Nikon rebrand Nikkormat lenses as
Nikkor.

Please provide EVIDENCE that Nikon ever "rebranded" Nikkormat lenses.
I think you are full of crap and fabricate as you write.



It
diluted some of the brand value of Nikon but in the end all was ok.

Now some Panasonic subcompact digital cameras have Leica lenses.
(I've
only just noticed but maybe they have done it for a long time.)

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/l..._10/leica.html
http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/l..._10/index.html

I can't think Leitz would want to have its name on something which
was
very average. Is this baby a Leica lens generally better than the
lenses on similar cameras?

"Sammy" wrote in message
...
Many years ago we saw Nikon rebrand Nikkormat lenses as Nikkor. It
diluted some of the brand value of Nikon but in the end all was ok.

Now some Panasonic subcompact digital cameras have Leica lenses. (I've
only just noticed but maybe they have done it for a long time.)

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/l..._10/leica.html
http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/l..._10/index.html

I can't think Leitz would want to have its name on something which was
very average. Is this baby a Leica lens generally better than the
lenses on similar cameras?


Leica sets the specifications that Panasonic must follow in order to claim
it is a Leica lens. However, Leica does not make the lens Panasonic does.
Having owned both a FZ20 and I still own an FZ30 the lenses are very
impressive. The same is true for the FZ50, however for it the higher
resolution, small sensor and totally crappy noise reduction makes that
camera total junk. However, the Leica lenses are fantastic.

=(8)

You are clueless. There are no "Nikkormat lenses" At the time the
Nikkormats were produced, Nikon marketed Nikkor lenses for them. The Series
E lenses marketed as "Nikon" weren't rebranded, and were made to sell with
the EM and FG series cameras. Don't spread misinformation. If you don't
know what you are talking about, STFU.

"Sammy" wrote in message
...
Many years ago we saw Nikon rebrand Nikkormat lenses as Nikkor. It
diluted some of the brand value of Nikon but in the end all was ok.

Now some Panasonic subcompact digital cameras have Leica lenses. (I've
only just noticed but maybe they have done it for a long time.)

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/l..._10/leica.html
http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/l..._10/index.html

I can't think Leitz would want to have its name on something which was
very average. Is this baby a Leica lens generally better than the
lenses on similar cameras?


You are clueless. There are no "Nikkormat lenses" At the time the
Nikkormats were produced, Nikon marketed Nikkor lenses for them. The Series
E lenses marketed as "Nikon" weren't rebranded, and were made to sell with
the EM and FG series cameras. Don't spread misinformation. If you don't
know what you are talking about, STFU.

Yoshi

An interesting note is that some of Leica compact cameras are almost
identical to Panasonic, because that is what they are, with some minor spec
changes for Leica. Is it not curious that Panasonic would allow it's
cameras to be sold with the Leica name on it? ;-)

It's an OEM partnership.

--
The smaller the fine print, the less you will like what it says.

Stan Beck From New Orleans to Brandon MS
To reply, remove 101 from address.
***

"if" wrote in message
...
"=\(8\)" wrote:

"Sammy" wrote in message
...

I can't think Leitz would want to have its name on something which
was very average. Is this baby a Leica lens generally better than
the lenses on similar cameras?

Leica sets the specifications that Panasonic must follow in order to
claim it is a Leica lens. However, Leica does not make the lens
Panasonic does.

According to the blurb on the box, "Leica DC lenses are manufactured
using measurement instruments and quality assurance systems that have
been certified by Leica Camera AG based on the company's quality
standards". I would have thought the lenses were also designed by Leica,
though it doesn't actually state this so I don't know for sure.

I've certainly no complaints about the lens quality, it's just a shame
they chose to team up with a second-tier sensor manufacturer.

On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:44:15 -0500, "Stan Beck"
wrote:

An interesting note is that some of Leica compact cameras are almost
identical to Panasonic, because that is what they are, with some minor spec
changes for Leica. Is it not curious that Panasonic would allow it's
cameras to be sold with the Leica name on it? ;-)

It's an OEM partnership.

Interesting. The sales person at the store was giving me the hard sell
by telling me that the Leica lense on the Panasonics is the best there
is because Leica make the best lenses. Now I can go back and tell her
she is FOS as the lense is not even manufactured by Leica.

"if" wrote in message
...
"=\(8\)" wrote:

"Sammy" wrote in message
...

I can't think Leitz would want to have its name on something which
was very average. Is this baby a Leica lens generally better than
the lenses on similar cameras?

Leica sets the specifications that Panasonic must follow in order to
claim it is a Leica lens. However, Leica does not make the lens
Panasonic does.

According to the blurb on the box, "Leica DC lenses are manufactured
using measurement instruments and quality assurance systems that have
been certified by Leica Camera AG based on the company's quality
standards". I would have thought the lenses were also designed by Leica,
though it doesn't actually state this so I don't know for sure.

I've certainly no complaints about the lens quality, it's just a shame
they chose to team up with a second-tier sensor manufacturer.


Panasonic has said that they build the lenses but have to mean Leica's
standards to use their name. Makes sense Leica wouldn't want their name
tarnished with crap lenses. They leave that to Kodak.

=(8)

"Stan Beck" wrote in message
. ..
An interesting note is that some of Leica compact cameras are almost
identical to Panasonic, because that is what they are, with some minor
spec changes for Leica. Is it not curious that Panasonic would allow it's
cameras to be sold with the Leica name on it? ;-)

It's an OEM partnership.

--
The smaller the fine print, the less you will like what it says.

Stan Beck From New Orleans to Brandon MS
To reply, remove 101 from address.
***

"if" wrote in message
...
"=\(8\)" wrote:

"Sammy" wrote in message
...

I can't think Leitz would want to have its name on something which
was very average. Is this baby a Leica lens generally better than
the lenses on similar cameras?

Leica sets the specifications that Panasonic must follow in order to
claim it is a Leica lens. However, Leica does not make the lens
Panasonic does.

According to the blurb on the box, "Leica DC lenses are manufactured
using measurement instruments and quality assurance systems that have
been certified by Leica Camera AG based on the company's quality
standards". I would have thought the lenses were also designed by Leica,
though it doesn't actually state this so I don't know for sure.

I've certainly no complaints about the lens quality, it's just a shame
they chose to team up with a second-tier sensor manufacturer.



Actually not it is not surprising that Panasonic would do that. Especially
if they want to use the Leica name which gives them a much more salable
camera. The Leica name carries a lot of weight in photography circles.

=(8)

"Garrot" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:44:15 -0500, "Stan Beck"
wrote:

An interesting note is that some of Leica compact cameras are almost
identical to Panasonic, because that is what they are, with some minor
spec
changes for Leica. Is it not curious that Panasonic would allow it's
cameras to be sold with the Leica name on it? ;-)

It's an OEM partnership.

Interesting. The sales person at the store was giving me the hard sell
by telling me that the Leica lense on the Panasonics is the best there
is because Leica make the best lenses. Now I can go back and tell her
she is FOS as the lense is not even manufactured by Leica.


Actually she isn't full of ****. The Leica lens are among the best made. The
fact that Leica doesn't actually assemble them for Panasonic has nothing to
do with it. The fact that in order for Panasonic to use the Leica name the
lenses have to made to exactly specifications laid out by Leica is what's
important. Besides if you think that Leica has people sitting around all day
assembling lenses by hand your the one full of ****. Like everything else
these days the lenses are made in some Asian or other 3rd world country, but
to Leica's specifications meeting Leica's standards.

=(8)

On 2007-06-12, =(8) wrote:

camera. The Leica name carries a lot of weight in photography circles.

How about the camera? Is it made of metal or is just another heap of
plastic that'll crack the first time it's dropped?

nb