Originally posted by BigMackCam I wonder if Tamron and Pentax are sharing some manufacturing facilities? That could make sound financial sense...
That is far more complex than you make it sound and there have been expensive failures when this is attempted. It is possible that Tamron has already contracted with the same facility in Vietnam as Ricoh uses, to build Tamron branded lenses, but it will be according to Tamron specifications and using Tamron sourced components. It is also possible that there is more than one facility in Vietnam that assembles lenses, once there is infrastructure in Vietnam to support one plant, it becomes much easier for other companies to set up their own plants.
From the LensTips article linked previously,
Quote: there are inscriptions: “DESIGNED IN JAPAN” and, in smaller case, “MADE IN VIETNAM”
The "Made in xxx" designation is determined by where the final assembly is done and is a legal requirement for exporting to most of the developed world. Tamron is copying Apple with its "Designed in California, Made in China" obfuscation. At least I have some confidence that Tamron is doing more design work for its lenses than just telling Foxconn to figure out for itself how to build what the artsy-fartsy types in Cupertino would like to see on the next iPhone.
If Ricoh wants to supply glass components (or more likely, have glass from the foundry Tamron uses shipped to Ricoh's coating facility before being shipped to Tamron's assembly plant) and have Tamron's 70-210 design tweaked to Ricoh's requirements, it will cost Ricoh more than it would to just get the brand and model name inscriptions changed. That's understandable to me and I have no issue with the quality of Tamron lenses, the sharpest lens I own is a Tamron. However, Ricoh Imaging will have problems selling modified Tamron lenses with Pentax branding for the same price as equivalent Nikon and Canon lenses. This lens will only be sold to existing Pentax users and for the last 30+ years, Pentax users have consistently shown that they will not buy products that don't have a brand discount
---------- Post added 01-21-20 at 10:59 AM ----------
Originally posted by Mistral75 There is no reason for the more expensive Tokina to include less special glass than its older brother, yet Tokina don't mention the high refraction and low dispersion glass four elements of the Villtrox lens are made of.
This is what happens when marketers try to massage what the engineers are telling them. When in doubt, assume the marketing department doesn't know refraction and dispersion from reflection and asperation.