Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

The major camera companies have models made in Japan, and China. Are the Japanese models superior to the chinese? Or, vice versa? Is Japan 'outsourcing' to China now?

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

And Thailand...

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Yep, but I haven't heard any complaints about any of these points of manufacture or assembly being a source of problems. :)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Much of the work is done using the same machines that they use in Japan. They set up the factory and specify how things are done. It's like BMW making cars in South Carolina.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

And often some or all of the parts are from a single source that are sent to another country for assembly. In the case of camera manufacturers this situation occurs due to cheaper labor rates in the other countries. Mainland Japan - Thailand is an example of this. The iPhone is manufacturered all over the globe but assembly occurs in China for the same reason.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

A manufacturer builds where it is cheapest to provide the lowest cost and most profit.

markomd Loc: Cary, North Carolina

I have not noticed any significant differences among Nikon Nikkor lenses manufactured in China vs Thailand vs Japan. Interesting, though, that on eBay, Japanese manufactured lenses seem to command a significant $$$ premium.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

I just hope it doesn't play on resale as new replaces old or outdated equipment.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

These big companies don't manufacture gear at anything below their top standards no where it's built. The factories have to mean the same high standards regardless of the countries they are in.

Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

I have noticed this too. Probably the main reason for asking the original question.

Me personally, if the prices were anywhere in the same ballpark, I would get the Made in Japan model. A new one, definitely the made in Japan version.

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

So long as the top notch quality is maintained it should not matter where the equipment is made.

My Nikon D200 is made in Thailand. I have no issues with the camera. I have a Fuji point and shoot made in China and it works just fine. Due to the fact a lot of manufacturing today has been automated the stereotyping of bad quality a lot of times no longer applies. :thumbup:

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Nikon make their Pro. level camera bodies and lenses in Japan, everything else in the other countries.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

Back in the 1950s "Made in Japan" was synonymous with junk because there were a lot of recovering industries that were concentrating on volume and had not gotten their quality control in hand. Today there is a lot of garbage coming from China for much the same reason, the sources are relatively anonymous.

But Nikon and other major brands cannot risk their reputation by applying different quality control standards in China or Thailand.

It's the brand name you should look at, not the country where it is made.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

US top line goods have no equal, nor any "Western" country for that matter (Rolls Royce, Boeing..etc , Japan is no exception-though not really the West LOL . They reserve the manufacture of their most prestigious units to Japan. I think there is worth in that.

The problem with China is that it is the "wild west"- no rules or non-corrupt oversight... left to themselves they'd send junk- or worse! Certain brands that retain manufacturing controls, are most likely fine.

Did you hear about the mysterious rash's people were getting? Had doctors baffled where people were getting these horrible rash's from. Finally someone discovered a link associated with furniture made in China, they were using a chemical to thwart mold in shipping. - the rash's were chemical burns! Usually the chemical is put in sachets- like desiccant is- they were spraying it on! They don't care.

(google: "Chemical in Furniture Linked to Skin Rashes" )

But the biggie is... I would never trust Chinese brand foods of any sort... leave them in the store!!! I've read all sorts of horror stories. They have no USDA, they exist where corruption is a normal part of doing business and they don't care. Chicken coops built above tilapia ponds- you feed the chickens and the chickens feed the fish. I could go on... forever.

Having a gadget fail is one thing, having a kidney fail is another.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

The VW Beetle is made in Mexico . . still typical VW quality. I don't think factory location is an issue.