I made some enquiries to reviewers who were given the lens to test.
I asked them to check and read the label of where the lens was made.
Video link is deleted after a few days.
You can Google it using this title.
{ M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO lens review }
This is what I asked.
[ Good review. Can you do me a favour?
Since you have the lens with you. Check the engraving on the lens and let me know where it is made. As in "Made in XXXXXX". Thanks.
Is it made in Japan or China or Vietnam? I have checked various video reviews.
No reviewer dares to say. Why?
Have they been threatened by anyone to be silent on this detail? ]
The reviewer Mr. Rob Knight has kindly replied.
Quote
[
Rob Knight
48 minutes ago
The hood says Japan, and I don’t see another marking anywhere else ]
UnQuote
To which I commented while thanking him.
[
Thanks, Mr. Rob Knight. Only the lens hood says "Japan"? Nothing at all on the lens barrel or on the mount. Oh dear. This is what I feared. This the worst of all worlds. How can a USD$7,500 lens be made with the manufacturer NOT wanting to tell the buyer where it was made? There is something very wrong about this.]
So it looks like the website imagingresource.com was wrong to say it was built in Japan.
"Japan" on the hood is not the same as "Made in Japan on the lens barrel or mount.
It seems reviewers who have the physical lens in their possession are unable to find any marking denoting where the lens was made.
Strangely, none commented on this glaring missing detail, in their video reviews. This {be silent about it} is probably not a coincidence.
There is an outside chance that the reviewer may have missed spotting the "Made in XXXXX" engraving or printed label.
I have missed spotting some serial numbers on my equipment because they were hidden in unusual places; only to discover them later.
The reviewer has since further said that this was a Pre-Production Sample .
Suggesting that when they actually make the thing to sell, the [Made in XXXX] label may be present.
Most of the video reviews were uploaded on Youtube 1 or 2 days ago circa 19 Nov 2020.
Major shops in USA namely B&H and Adorama already advertised for pre-order sale.
Nevertheless, some die hard fans who can afford may still buy it.
Launch date is about 22 Jan 2021.
This lens is sold on order basis.