Where are the cameras made?
Discussion
Hi,
I am narrowed my camera search down to three: Sony A6400; Fuji XT-30 II; Cannon EOS m6 II.
Due to lockdowns etc, I will most likely be buying online. It is very difficult to find where the items are manufactured. Are any of these cameras actually made in Japan or are they all sourced from China? Would this be the same for the lenses?
Thanks,
Ken
I am narrowed my camera search down to three: Sony A6400; Fuji XT-30 II; Cannon EOS m6 II.
Due to lockdowns etc, I will most likely be buying online. It is very difficult to find where the items are manufactured. Are any of these cameras actually made in Japan or are they all sourced from China? Would this be the same for the lenses?
Thanks,
Ken
Vipers said:
Does it matter ?
It does to some people, for various reasons. As an example, my Dad has started asking where things are made, and if it is China then he often won't buy it, and find something that is made elsewhere. Last examples were an electric toothbrush and a new oven. The original items he was going to buy were Chinese, but he found alternatives that were made in the EU.
My Dad is doing it for 'political reasons', but equally some people will be doing it as they feel that EU/Japan/UK etc are better at quality manufacturing.
The term 'made' is not exactly absolute. All of the brands you mention are owned by companies domiciled in Japan (mainly). But that does not necessarily mean that the cameras / lenses are assembled there. In fact, most likely that will be in Taiwan.... using components sourced and made in any number of countries including China, EU and even the UK.
The only non Far Eastern brands that I can think of that are made in the country in which the company is domiciled are Hasselblad (Sweden) and Leica (Germany). The price points of both will indicate why far eastern manufacture is more attractive.
As Vipers alludes to, it should have no bearing on your buying decision. I have a Nikon D850 which is made in Taiwan. It's superbly made in every single sense.
Unless....
As an example, my Dad has started asking where things are made, and if it is China then he often won't buy it, and find something that is made elsewhere. Last examples were an electric toothbrush and a new oven. The original items he was going to buy were Chinese, but he found alternatives that were made in the EU.
My Dad is doing it for 'political reasons', but equally some people will be doing it as they feel that EU/Japan/UK etc are better at quality manufacturing.On the political issue, I get this - but means nothing and does nothing. Pretty much everything electronic will have something in it that originates from China, alongside other components sourced from elsewhere.
And modern manufacturing techniques has long dispensed the notion of rubbish coming from the far east. In many cases it's better. My no 2 togger has twice attempted to use Hasselblad cameras. Whilst the quality of the images were superb, both units were ultimately returned due to their unreliability. He switched to Canon. Off the top of my head, the only branch of electronics I can think of where the UK is leaps and bounds ahead is in high-end HiFi and audio.
The only non Far Eastern brands that I can think of that are made in the country in which the company is domiciled are Hasselblad (Sweden) and Leica (Germany). The price points of both will indicate why far eastern manufacture is more attractive.
As Vipers alludes to, it should have no bearing on your buying decision. I have a Nikon D850 which is made in Taiwan. It's superbly made in every single sense.
Unless....
Lord Marylebone said:
Vipers said:
Does it matter ?
It does to some people, for various reasons. As an example, my Dad has started asking where things are made, and if it is China then he often won't buy it, and find something that is made elsewhere. Last examples were an electric toothbrush and a new oven. The original items he was going to buy were Chinese, but he found alternatives that were made in the EU.
My Dad is doing it for 'political reasons', but equally some people will be doing it as they feel that EU/Japan/UK etc are better at quality manufacturing.
And modern manufacturing techniques has long dispensed the notion of rubbish coming from the far east. In many cases it's better. My no 2 togger has twice attempted to use Hasselblad cameras. Whilst the quality of the images were superb, both units were ultimately returned due to their unreliability. He switched to Canon. Off the top of my head, the only branch of electronics I can think of where the UK is leaps and bounds ahead is in high-end HiFi and audio.
KGV said:
Due to lockdowns etc, I will most likely be buying online.
There's not been a lockdown for quite a while now. You can go to a camera shop. And if you do, you can look at the underside of the models you're interested in to see where they come from.Edited by StevieBee on Thursday 9th December 14:25
Sony A6400 made in Thailand according to https://www.sonyerumors.com/where-are-sony-cameras...
Fujni X-T30 II made in China according to https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_x...
Fujni X-T30 II made in China according to https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_x...
StevieBee said:
On the political issue, I get this - but means nothing and does nothing. Pretty much everything electronic will have something in it that originates from China, alongside other components sourced from elsewhere.
I totally agree that trying not to buy Chinese goods achieves nothing whichever way you look at it, but for some people it is a very minor protest that makes them feel like they are at least doing something.Personally I don't give a toss. I dislike most of the actions of the Chinese government, however my desire to own items like an iPhone easily overwhelms any vague political protests I have to offer
StevieBee said:
There's not been a lockdown for quite a while now. You can go to a camera shop. And if you do, you can look at the underside of the models you're interested in to see where they come from.
Indeed, and I can't see there being any further lockdowns on shopping, so may as well just visit a camera shop and have a look and feel in 'real life'.Thanks for all the responses. I live in Germany and they introduced additional shopping restrictions on Wednesday and some people feel that there will be additional measures taken in January. I am waiting until after Christmas to see if there are any camera sales offered, so I may not be able to visit the camera stores if additional measures are implemented.
Not to have too much thread drift, but (/thread drift on) when I buy items, I tend to check where they are assembled/made. Wherever I am living, I try to support the home team where possible. When I lived Canada, I sometimes bought items at Canadian Tire, and it became increasingly difficult to get stuff that was Made in Canada. I recently purchased a package of Bic pens here in Germany, and they were made in ......China. There must be minimal labour involved in the production of these pens and I was amazed that such an item could not be made in the EU. I have various 1:18 model cars and they are made in China. They are a quality product, and I am sure the amount of labour needed to assemble them must be huge. I can see why theses model are generally not made in the EU. Anyways /thread drift off
Ken
Not to have too much thread drift, but (/thread drift on) when I buy items, I tend to check where they are assembled/made. Wherever I am living, I try to support the home team where possible. When I lived Canada, I sometimes bought items at Canadian Tire, and it became increasingly difficult to get stuff that was Made in Canada. I recently purchased a package of Bic pens here in Germany, and they were made in ......China. There must be minimal labour involved in the production of these pens and I was amazed that such an item could not be made in the EU. I have various 1:18 model cars and they are made in China. They are a quality product, and I am sure the amount of labour needed to assemble them must be huge. I can see why theses model are generally not made in the EU. Anyways /thread drift off
Ken
Edited by KGV on Thursday 9th December 17:38
You know it makes sense.... https://leica-camera.com/en-int/photography/camera...
sgrimshaw said:
Sony A6400 made in Thailand according to https://www.sonyerumors.com/where-are-sony-cameras...
Fujni X-T30 II made in China according to https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_x...
Some info on Canon - I've just checked (physically looked at the underside of the body), and the following camera bodies were all made in Japan:Fujni X-T30 II made in China according to https://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_x...
Canon EOS-M (mark 1)
Canon 5D mark 1
Canon 5D mark 3
Canon EOS R5
ETA:
Lenses
EF 24-105mm f4L IS - Made in Japan
EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS - Made in Japan
EF 100mm f2.8L IS macro - Made in Japan
EF-M 18-55mm kit lens for EOS-M - Made in Taiwan
Edited by C n C on Tuesday 21st December 14:09
Once upon a time people had an issue with certain Nikon gear (some made in Japan, some made in a factory in Thailand) and would specifically avoid the Thai made gear. There was never any link to reliability or build quality being different between the factories, in fact I believe Nikon have closed their Japanese factories now.
All Sigma camera and lenses are made in Japan. I needed a repair to one of my Sigma lenses, guess where it went?! Yep, Japan. Most are serviced in the UK, but some need to go back to factory.
There was also, for a long time, resistance to plastics used to case lenses (and cameras), rather than metal. Some, I guess stuck in their ways, refused to believe plastic could ever be better. I do wonder what they must think of the planes they fly on these days.
All Sigma camera and lenses are made in Japan. I needed a repair to one of my Sigma lenses, guess where it went?! Yep, Japan. Most are serviced in the UK, but some need to go back to factory.
There was also, for a long time, resistance to plastics used to case lenses (and cameras), rather than metal. Some, I guess stuck in their ways, refused to believe plastic could ever be better. I do wonder what they must think of the planes they fly on these days.
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