dieseldan
Well-Known Member
Who makes so called premuim optics?
This post is in response to those who think that a Hungarian Schmidt and bender is not as good as a German one, or that a Zeiss conquest is mince because it is assembled in the USA to avoid import duties and allow for them to be sold in direct opposition to Redfield and Leupold.
Kamakura Koki Ltd. has factories in China, Malasia and Korea. It has a research and development lab in Japan and makes optic for the following manufacturers under licence.
Alpen
Brunton
Bushnell
Burris
Celestron
Kahles
Leupold
Minolta
Minox
Nikon
Pentax
Steiner
Swift
Bushnell and Simmons are now the same company (both made by Koki).
so now you know Minox and Steiner are as German as Leupold.
http://www.saitama-bsc.jp/english/saitama_excellent_companies/imgs/SBSC-E 36.pdf
So to conclude.....Swarovski make their own glass and optics
Schmidt & Bender manufacture in Germany (dont know where the lenses originate) as do Zeiss and Docter
Meopta are Czech and IOR Romanian.
This post is in response to those who think that a Hungarian Schmidt and bender is not as good as a German one, or that a Zeiss conquest is mince because it is assembled in the USA to avoid import duties and allow for them to be sold in direct opposition to Redfield and Leupold.
Kamakura Koki Ltd. has factories in China, Malasia and Korea. It has a research and development lab in Japan and makes optic for the following manufacturers under licence.
Alpen
Brunton
Bushnell
Burris
Celestron
Kahles
Leupold
Minolta
Minox
Nikon
Pentax
Steiner
Swift
Bushnell and Simmons are now the same company (both made by Koki).
so now you know Minox and Steiner are as German as Leupold.
http://www.saitama-bsc.jp/english/saitama_excellent_companies/imgs/SBSC-E 36.pdf
So to conclude.....Swarovski make their own glass and optics
Schmidt & Bender manufacture in Germany (dont know where the lenses originate) as do Zeiss and Docter
Meopta are Czech and IOR Romanian.