Reading mode: Light Dark

Huh? 15-85 made in Taiwan?

Go to last post
TheTeh

TheTeh

Senior Member
Messages
2,296
Reaction score
1
Location
London, UK
I am surprised to find that my recently acquired copy of 15-85 was made in Taiwan whilst the kit lens 18-55 IS was made in Japan!!

I thought all Canon lenses are made in Japan?

--
Explore The Immortal Mind...
http://www.theteh.com/

 
Nope, Canon uses factories outside of Japan for various production runs. Beleive it or not, there are highly skilled workers in Taiwan, China and Malaysia, so it doesn't much matter where it is put together. Design is all done in Japan at Canon HQ, though.

FWIW, my kit lens is made in malaysia and it is a very sharp copy.
 
No. I remember (some of) the 50/1.8 was made in Taiwan. I'm a little surprised that the new lenses is made in Taiwan though. Labor cost there is not necessarily much lower than that in Japan.
 
I am not doubting the quality of my 15-85 as I am terribly happy with its sharpness! Just surprised to find out when I looked at the based of the lens and it was printed "Made in Taiwan" and then I checked out my 18-55 kit lens (bought in Malaysia btw) and the later lens was made in Japan!

Are you sure your kit lens was made in Malaysia? If so, there are multiple factories making the same lens?
tkbslc said:
Nope, Canon uses factories outside of Japan for various production runs. Beleive it or not, there are highly skilled workers in Taiwan, China and Malaysia, so it doesn't much matter where it is put together. Design is all done in Japan at Canon HQ, though.

FWIW, my kit lens is made in malaysia and it is a very sharp copy.
Click to expand...
--
Explore The Immortal Mind...
http://www.theteh.com/

 
tkbslc said:
Nope, Canon uses factories outside of Japan for various production runs. Beleive it or not, there are highly skilled workers in Taiwan, China and Malaysia, so it doesn't much matter where it is put together. Design is all done in Japan at Canon HQ, though.
Click to expand...
Companies want first world salaries when it comes to selling their products, but they want third world wages when it comes to producing them (will those workers ever be able to afford a Canon DSLR?)
--
Chris
-----
http://christopher363.redbubble.com
 
I think it's just the L lenses that are guaranteed to be made in Japan, the other lenses could be produced in any of their other factories.
--
-AL
 
Maybe they should set up a factory deep in the mountains of Irian Jaya and make their lenses there. They can always train the local people to do the job so long they comply with the companies rules and regulations. I am not sure they will be much cheaper though taking in consideration the location distance.

--
A good picture is worth one word - IMPACT.
 
Savings is made from lower labour cost, lower work standards, spotty regulations, etc. I am almost certain the salaries from a Japanese labour worker is far greater than the labour cost of China, Malaysia or any other poor country and their regulations and labour standards are not so friendly in comparison to a more affluent society . The PR reason for outsourcing is the supposed lower price for the consumer or, global competition and the reality, it just lines the pocket$ of Shareholders, Executives, Bean Counters and so on. This is the New Order!
--
Canon 7D / 40D
CANON
70-200/2.8 - 135/2.0 - 100/2.0 - 85/1.8
SIGMA
EX 50-500 - EX 120-300/2.8 - 18-200OS - EX 18-50/2.8 II - EX 50/1.4
TOKINA 12-24/4 - TAMRON 28-75/2.8
KENKO Pro300 2XTC - 1.4XTC
 
garmon said:
Savings is made from lower labour cost, lower work standards, spotty regulations, etc. I am almost certain the salaries from a Japanese labour worker is far greater than the labour cost of China, Malaysia or any other poor country and their regulations and labour standards are not so friendly in comparison to a more affluent society . The PR reason for outsourcing is the supposed lower price for the consumer or, global competition and the reality, it just lines the pocket$ of Shareholders, Executives, Bean Counters and so on. This is the New Order!
Click to expand...
Hardly new. It's been happening for a couple of centuries at least!
 
It's relatively new when you compare it from the original form of commerce, which was the barter system.
--
Canon 7D / 40D
CANON
70-200/2.8 - 135/2.0 - 100/2.0 - 85/1.8
SIGMA
EX 50-500 - EX 120-300/2.8 - 18-200OS - EX 18-50/2.8 II - EX 50/1.4
TOKINA 12-24/4 - TAMRON 28-75/2.8
KENKO Pro300 2XTC - 1.4XTC
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage_law
Avg mn earnings for TW NT$17,280 (523USD)
Avg Mn earning for JPN is ¥4,712 - ¥5465 (47-55USD/day or 940-1100USD mn)

Double the salary on Average. That's why when I was growing up everything was made in Taiwan. It would be nice if they cost of the lens reflected the location of the factory. It would be a nice gesture from Canon. Ha ha
--
Canon 7D / 40D
CANON
70-200/2.8 - 135/2.0 - 100/2.0 - 85/1.8
SIGMA
EX 50-500 - EX 120-300/2.8 - 18-200OS - EX 18-50/2.8 II - EX 50/1.4
TOKINA 12-24/4 - TAMRON 28-75/2.8
KENKO Pro300 2XTC - 1.4XTC
 
My employer hired engineers in Taiwan for a lot less than what we (USA) make. Some are very good, some are so-so.
garmon said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage_law
Avg mn earnings for TW NT$17,280 (523USD)
Avg Mn earning for JPN is ¥4,712 - ¥5465 (47-55USD/day or 940-1100USD mn)

Double the salary on Average. That's why when I was growing up everything was made in Taiwan. It would be nice if they cost of the lens reflected the location of the factory. It would be a nice gesture from Canon. Ha ha
--
Click to expand...
 
You're right but what I meant was there are other countries where wages are much lower. Those are the places I thought Canon would go to if labor cost saving was the goal. You will get your discount then.
garmon said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage_law
Avg mn earnings for TW NT$17,280 (523USD)
Avg Mn earning for JPN is ¥4,712 - ¥5465 (47-55USD/day or 940-1100USD mn)

Double the salary on Average. That's why when I was growing up everything was made in Taiwan. It would be nice if they cost of the lens reflected the location of the factory. It would be a nice gesture from Canon. Ha ha
--
Canon 7D / 40D
CANON
70-200/2.8 - 135/2.0 - 100/2.0 - 85/1.8
SIGMA
EX 50-500 - EX 120-300/2.8 - 18-200OS - EX 18-50/2.8 II - EX 50/1.4
TOKINA 12-24/4 - TAMRON 28-75/2.8
KENKO Pro300 2XTC - 1.4XTC
Click to expand...
 
One reason is US companies are getting so efficient and so competitive. Even a small difference in margin becomes very important. When Walmart starts to buy stuff from China other companies can only follow suit or die. U.S. consumers are responsible too. They have no right to complain when they see the jobs going away. I want to buy U.S made goods as much as I can but none of the companies that wanted to stay survived.
garmon said:
Savings is made from lower labour cost, lower work standards, spotty regulations, etc. I am almost certain the salaries from a Japanese labour worker is far greater than the labour cost of China, Malaysia or any other poor country and their regulations and labour standards are not so friendly in comparison to a more affluent society . The PR reason for outsourcing is the supposed lower price for the consumer or, global competition and the reality, it just lines the pocket$ of Shareholders, Executives, Bean Counters and so on. This is the New Order!
--
Canon 7D / 40D
CANON
70-200/2.8 - 135/2.0 - 100/2.0 - 85/1.8
SIGMA
EX 50-500 - EX 120-300/2.8 - 18-200OS - EX 18-50/2.8 II - EX 50/1.4
TOKINA 12-24/4 - TAMRON 28-75/2.8
KENKO Pro300 2XTC - 1.4XTC
Click to expand...
 
Mine was also made in Taiwan.
TheTeh said:
I am surprised to find that my recently acquired copy of 15-85 was made in Taiwan whilst the kit lens 18-55 IS was made in Japan!!

I thought all Canon lenses are made in Japan?

--
Explore The Immortal Mind...
http://www.theteh.com/

Click to expand...
--
kind regards
Dale
 
I was surprised when the rather pricey 18-200mm was made in Taiwan. The 15-85mm is even more expensive. I wonder what the production to sales markup is? Like inkjet printer to ink? I still don't understand how I can buy 2superzooms cameras, Panasonic made in Japan, for 1- 18-200 lens. Yes, the sensor is much smaller, but the lens design is very complex and the camera includes a whole lot more construction and components. Smaller lens creating lower prices seems to work for digicams but not for any interchangeable lens camera. Why should the 15-85mm cost 75% more than the very similar 28-135mm which must cover a larger, full frame? I am baffled, but we have no choice.

Greg
 
Just got my 15-85 today, was also very surprised to see that it was made in Taiwan, wish I would have read this post before I purchased it. I might not have bought it! Lets hope the quality is acceptable or I might hesitate to purchase another Canon product.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top