I've often wondered about the move. Your speculation about pejorative
connotations changing with time seems a pretty good guess to me.
Chuck Norcutt
On 2/25/2011 4:44 PM, Moose wrote:
> On 2/25/2011 5:27 AM, John Hermanson wrote:
>> Right. "Made in Japan" uniqueness applies only to 50mm f1.8.
>
> It may be an indicator of a different version only on the 50/1.8.
>
> Perhaps, like the removal of "MC", it was a cosmetic change that happened to
> approximately coincide with a design
> change? I did have a "made in Japan" with serial number near the change in
> appearance that demonstrated sticky diaphragm
> syndrome like the "MC"s I've had, and another that didn't.
>
> Clearly, though, Oly made a similar cosmetic change on later production of at
> least the 35/2.
>
> On the 50/1.8 "LENS MADE IN JAPAN" on the rear mount moved to the front ring
> and became "made in Japan" and the serial
> number moved from front ring to rear mount.
>
> On this 35/2, "LENS MADE IN JAPAN" on the rear mount has also moved,
> partially, to the front ring and become "made in
> Japan". The serial number has stayed on the front ring and a simple "JAPAN"
> remains on the rear mount.
>
> I guess perhaps they moved made in Japan to the more visible front ring
> because the pejorative connotation of the
> immediate post war period had changed to a positive indication of quality.
> But on the smaller, 49 mm front ring, there
> wasn't room for everything, so the serial number moved.
>
> A. Speculative Moose
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