Summicron 35 f/2 7element Canadian vs. German?

[b.espahbod]

Is there a real difference between Summicron 35 f/2 7 element Canadian and German??

 

[aizan]

the engraving is different.

 

[Al Kaplan]

No more than the normal variation between any two examples of a lens. When Leitz Canada started up it was equipped with German equipment and to a large extent staffed with Germans from the Leitz factory in Wetzlar. During World War II the world's two premier optical companies, Leitz and Zeiss, both ended up "on the other side". After the war Zeiss ended up split in two as part of Germany ended up controlled by the Soviets, with Zeiss plants on both sides. Leitz, a much smaller company, ended up on "our side" of the line. Still, the U.S. and our allies had fought two major wars with the Germans about twenty years apart. We weren't exactly friendly with the Soviets so Zeiss Jena wasn't considered a reliable source of high grade optics. It was prudent to encourage a company such as Leitz to start manufacturing on this side of the Atlantic.

The present Canadian company specializes in optics far removed from M mount camera lenses. The Canadian company's name was changed to Elcan, an acronym for E. Leitz CANada, but it's now a seperate company. For a few decades they did make Leica lenses. To a collector though, a Wetzlar made black paint 35mm Summicron is worth a lot more money than any from Canada. A LOT more.

 

[kipkeston]

A seller once claimed there was an IQ difference to justify the premium. When I asked him to cite his reference he couldn't come up with anything. That said I've never seen any evidence for difference.

 

[fbf]

no difference whatsoever. The German version was the very last batch before the asph came out. It fetches more money than the canadian version. Most German versions I have had are either mint or literally new. I guess there is certain collectible value behind it.
If you need a user, go with the cheaper one. They simply perform the same way from what I can see.

 

[calexg]

Buy the Canadian version. Why? You'll probably get it for less, and they are exactly the same, optically speaking.