Leica's legendary lenses are famously made by hand, in Germany. Why not outsource the work to a factory in China or Taiwan? Training. Under the right management, Chinese factories can put great quality goods, but it would take years for Leica to train up a workforce as experienced as the one in Germany. Take a look:
The level of manual labor is astonishing, as is the attention to detail. Did you know that the edges of the lens elements were painted black, by hand? Or that the engraved markings on the lens barrel were also hand-filled with paint? Me either.
If nothing else, this is a fascinating look into what goes into making any lens, not just a Leica lens. One thing, though — I'm sure the white coats are mandatory, but what about the stern, steely-gray mustaches?
The Leica Manufacturing Process [Leica via Photography Bay]
source: Gadget Lab
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