Where are DSLR's made today?

[DarkDTSHD]

Hello guys,

I read a review for the new Nikon D200 by Ken Rockwell (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d200.htm) and he mentions that his D200 was made in Thailand. Are all Nikons made in Thailand today? Or just the D200?

How about the Canon 20D or Canon DSLR's in general? How about Canon's P&S cameras like the G6 or the new S80? Are all the Japanese manufacturers having their cameras made abroad?

Thanks.

[timmciglobal]

My D50 was made in Thailand, my 18-200 VR was made in japan.


Tim

[Norm in Fujino]

My Olympus E-300 was assembled in China; all my Oly lenses were made in Japan; I believe that the kit lenses are made offshore, however. I also have one Sigma lens made in Japan. All the manufacturers are going offshore, in order to provide us consumers with the low prices we demand.

[cdifoto]

My 70-200mm f/2.8L, 24-70mm f/2.8L, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX and 2 XT bodies were made in Japan. The kit lens was made in Taiwan, and the battery grips were made in China.

I think with Canon, it's basically the stuff you pay a premium for (as opposed to a consumer *equivalent*) that is usually made in the manufacturer's home country, whilst not-so-critical accessories are made elsewhere. Generally speaking, of course.

[DarkDTSHD]

Thank for the replies thus far! :)

Seems so far that Nikon DSLR bodies are being made in Thailand these days (till I hear differently) and that Canon still manufacturers their DSLR bodies in Japan. Is this also the case with their P&S cameras like the G6, S2 IS and new S80?

Thanks again!

[jeisner]

Pentax lenses I think are made in Japan, but assembled in Vietnam, I think it relates to cheaper tarrifs (import duties)...

[erichlund]

My Olympus E-300 was assembled in China; all my Oly lenses were made in Japan; I believe that the kit lenses are made offshore, however. I also have one Sigma lens made in Japan. All the manufacturers are going offshore, in order to provide us consumers with the low prices we demand.
Isn't it interesting how we are now calling not made in Japan "offshore". I can remember when offshore meant not made in America.

[coldrain]

Not sure why it is interesting, but my Canon EOS 350D is made in Japan. Also the lenses are made in Japan.

[George Riehm]

Isn't it interesting how we are now calling not made in Japan "offshore". I can remember when offshore meant not made in America.

Eric, Norm lives in Japan (Fujino Township). So off-shore could be made in America.;)

[Rhys]

You never really know. These days the parts are made by whichever company can make them the cheapest and that could be any company anywhere in the world. Generally the Chinese are cheapest as their labour force costs nothing. They employ forced prison labour to make most of their products.

[George Riehm]

You never really know. These days the parts are made by whichever company can make them the cheapest and that could be any company anywhere in the world. Generally the Chinese are cheapest as their labour force costs nothing. They employ forced prison labour to make most of their products.

When was the last time you were in China? The cost of labor there is accelerating faster than you think, and there are even spot labor shortages in the faster growing industrial areas.

Prison labor may build the factorys, and infrastucture, but well trained, skilled labor works in the factorys (especially high-tech industries), and they live in the cities. Capitolism, and it's competitive nature, has changed a lot of things in China, not the least of which is meeting international quality standards.

Welcome to the 21st century.;)

[DarkDTSHD]

When was the last time you were in China? The cost of labor there is accelerating faster than you think, and there are even spot labor shortages in the faster growing industrial areas.

Prison labor may build the factorys, and infrastucture, but well trained, skilled labor works in the factorys (especially high-tech industries), and they live in the cities. Capitolism, and it's competitive nature, has changed a lot of things in China, not the least of which is meeting international quality standards.

Welcome to the 21st century.;)

Hello George,

I'm with you on that regarding China's new labour force. While "prison labour" will probably always exist in various parts of China there is also the highly skilled. Not to mention the very innovative...even even by world standards. China has come along very quickly since the days of olde.

Funny enough I was just watching a 2-part 4 hour special done by the CBC/New York Times. Called "China Rising". Only saw the 2 hour Part 1 last night (part 2...next Sunday). Many would be surprised at how very modern and wealthy China has become. I'm glad TV stations like the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Company) and the NY Times did this joint venture to enlighten the public. But I digress...

I just did some digging. Visited sites like www.dpreview.com and looked at the pictures in their camera reviews. I've found that most Nikon DSLR's are now made in Thailand (e.g. D50, D200, D2X...etc.) and that pretty much all Canon's are still made in Japan (from their Powershot cameras...S2 IS, S80...to their DSLRs...Rebel XT, 20D, 5D, 1Ds MarkII). Maybe thats partly why Canon cameras cost a little more than Nikons.

So, will knowing this influence my buying decision? Or that of others. Remains to be seen. I suppose subconsciously some of us might be bothered knowing our DSLR was made in Thailand and not Japan. As Thailand isn't exactly known yet for building items on par with the Japanese. Or any where close. Which isn't to say countries like Thailand and China aren't capable of producing decent quality products. Using high quality assurance practices.

To each his/her own. :)

[George Riehm]

Hello George,

I'm with you on that regarding China's new labour force. While "prison labour" will probably always exist in various parts of China there is also the highly skilled. Not to mention the very innovative...even even by world standards. China has come along very quickly since the days of olde.

Funny enough I was just watching a 2-part 4 hour special done by the CBC/New York Times. Called "China Rising". Only saw the 2 hour Part 1 last night (part 2...next Sunday). Many would be surprised at how very modern and wealthy China has become. I'm glad TV stations like the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Company) and the NY Times did this joint venture to enlighten the public. But I digress...

I just did some digging. Visited sites like www.dpreview.com and looked at the pictures in their camera reviews. I've found that most Nikon DSLR's are now made in Thailand (e.g. D50, D200, D2X...etc.) and that pretty much all Canon's are still made in Japan (from their Powershot cameras...S2 IS, S80...to their DSLRs...Rebel XT, 20D, 5D, 1Ds MarkII). Maybe thats partly why Canon cameras cost a little more than Nikons.

So, will knowing this influence my buying decision? Or that of others. Remains to be seen. I suppose subconsciously some of us might be bothered knowing our DSLR was made in Thailand and not Japan. As Thailand isn't exactly known yet for building items on par with the Japanese. Or any where close. Which isn't to say countries like Thailand and China aren't capable of producing decent quality products. Using high quality assurance practices.

To each his/her own. :)

Thailand has been a high tech manufacturing area for the past 10 years. I was really surprised during my first trip in 1995, to Chang Mai, when transferring a Kodak (APS) camera program to a large flex circuit manufacturing firm.

Nikon moved most of their digital camera manufacturing to their new high tech facility in Thailand a few years after that as well. It is owned and opperated by Nikon, and they have complete control over QC.

My current company also has a, fairly new, and very high tech assembly and test facility in the Bankok area, and a design center in India.

Just to keep this on topic here is a picture of Shanghai Li-Xin Shipyard Memorial Prominade, River View.

Not shown are the Starbucks and McDonalds off to the right, and the Paulaner Brauhaus in the park behind this area (in back of me as I shot this photo). Guess I should have a Shanghai spot in my smugmug gallery.

[ReF]

I just did some digging. Visited sites like www.dpreview.com and looked at the pictures in their camera reviews. I've found that most Nikon DSLR's are now made in Thailand (e.g. D50, D200, D2X...etc.) and that pretty much all Canon's are still made in Japan (from their Powershot cameras...S2 IS, S80...to their DSLRs...Rebel XT, 20D, 5D, 1Ds MarkII). Maybe thats partly why Canon cameras cost a little more than Nikons.

So, will knowing this influence my buying decision? Or that of others. Remains to be seen. I suppose subconsciously some of us might be bothered knowing our DSLR was made in Thailand and not Japan. As Thailand isn't exactly known yet for building items on par with the Japanese. Or any where close. Which isn't to say countries like Thailand and China aren't capable of producing decent quality products. Using high quality assurance practices.

To each his/her own. :)

i've not done any extensive research on this, but i believe that at least with the some of the fixed lens cameras, the first waves of shipments (how many, i don't know) are from Japan. when the camera has been out for a while the later shipments may be from china, taiwan, thailand, etc. for example the casio ex750 that my girlfriend and i bought is made in japan, while the the same camera that was purchased much later by someone i know was made in china. back when i purchased the a80 (it was nearing the end of it's production) i read online that i was made in japan, but the one i got was made in china; same story with a family member's minolta from a few year back. that's three examples of what i mentioned above that i experienced firsthand. maybe they do this to a point where the general population just assumes they will all be from japan, or to make sure they have tight quality control when the cameras are new and are building up in reputation.

currently, all the lenses in my signature are made in japan (even the sigma), including the flash and XT. the thing i found funny is that even the lens caps in the older canon lens, sigma lens, and L lenses are made in Japan (is there really a need?), while the lens cap for the non-L 50mm f1.4 is made in Taiwan. BTW the XT kit lens is made in taiwan, and the highly regarded tamron 28-75 f2.8 i had was made of both chinese and japanese parts, assembled in china.

[fizbin]

ALL my Canon stuff says made in Japan. All my Hoya filters say that as well.

[DarkDTSHD]

i've not done any extensive research on this, but i believe that at least with the some of the fixed lens cameras, the first waves of shipments (how many, i don't know) are from Japan. when the camera has been out for a while the later shipments may be from china, taiwan, thailand, etc. for example the casio ex750 that my girlfriend and i bought is made in japan, while the the same camera that was purchased much later by someone i know was made in china. back when i purchased the a80 (it was nearing the end of it's production) i read online that i was made in japan, but the one i got was made in china; same story with a family member's minolta from a few year back. that's three examples of what i mentioned above that i experienced firsthand. maybe they do this to a point where the general population just assumes they will all be from japan, or to make sure they have tight quality control when the cameras are new and are building up in reputation.

currently, all the lenses in my signature are made in japan (even the sigma), including the flash and XT. the thing i found funny is that even the lens caps in the older canon lens, sigma lens, and L lenses are made in Japan (is there really a need?), while the lens cap for the non-L 50mm f1.4 is made in Taiwan. BTW the XT kit lens is made in taiwan, and the highly regarded tamron 28-75 f2.8 i had was made of both chinese and japanese parts, assembled in china.

Hello ReF et all!

That's an interesting comment. I'm not doubting you in the least. Not that I've discovered this first hand.

All I can confirm is that all Canon digital cameras and lens are currently manufactured in Japan. Whether they will later be manufacturered elsewhere is any one's guess.

So, far Canon owners have also mentioned that their camera/lens are still made in Japan.

In the end, I suppose if this really bothers us, make sure to check before buying. Assuming you're buying the gear in-person and not online. I plan to buy from a shop.

Thanks for your postings guys! Time for me to bow out of this thread. :)

[DarkDTSHD]

i've not done any extensive research on this, but i believe that at least with the some of the fixed lens cameras, the first waves of shipments (how many, i don't know) are from Japan. when the camera has been out for a while the later shipments may be from china, taiwan, thailand, etc. for example the casio ex750 that my girlfriend and i bought is made in japan, while the the same camera that was purchased much later by someone i know was made in china. back when i purchased the a80 (it was nearing the end of it's production) i read online that i was made in japan, but the one i got was made in china; same story with a family member's minolta from a few year back. that's three examples of what i mentioned above that i experienced firsthand. maybe they do this to a point where the general population just assumes they will all be from japan, or to make sure they have tight quality control when the cameras are new and are building up in reputation.

currently, all the lenses in my signature are made in japan (even the sigma), including the flash and XT. the thing i found funny is that even the lens caps in the older canon lens, sigma lens, and L lenses are made in Japan (is there really a need?), while the lens cap for the non-L 50mm f1.4 is made in Taiwan. BTW the XT kit lens is made in taiwan, and the highly regarded tamron 28-75 f2.8 i had was made of both chinese and japanese parts, assembled in china.

Hello ReF et all!

That's an interesting comment. I would have thought companies would rather stick to one manufacturing plant/city for the entire run of the said models. Instead of deciding to go a cheaper route part way through. Or, to only have select models outsourced to Thailand or China.

So far, Canon owners have also mentioned that their camera/lens are still made in Japan.

In the end, I suppose if this really bothers us, make sure to check before buying. Assuming you're buying the gear in-person and not online. I plan to buy from a shop. I for one would prefer to buy a camera "made in Japan". To earch his/her own.

Thanks for your postings guys! Time for me to bow out of this thread. :)