As Canadian research grows apace in government and private industry, as complex technology merges with rapidly-increasing manufacturing facilities to produce wide varieties of intricate equipment and products, a highly-skilled domestic source for special optical systems is of vital worth. In Canada, complex optical products, from the Leitz company's plant at Midland, Ontario, are exported to 80 countries around the world. With demands for fine lenses growing in the fields of commerce, industry and science, this vigorous factory has doubled in size several times over in the past dozen years to become one of North America's leading manufacturers of lenses and optical instruments. Among the lenses they have designed and developed in Canada are a world-famed, extremely-fast wide-angle lens and a high-speed, medium telephoto lens. Other special optical products include systems for microreproduction, infra-red, television, laser and data-processing equipment. Modern science combined with delicate artistry, fine senses of human creativity combined with extremes of engineering precision - these are the essentials in developing optical systems for today's sophisticated technology. For new Canadians who brought generations-old skills from Europe a decade ago, for many others who have joined them in their fascinating art, the Canadian production of precise lenses and optical equipment has become a rewarding science - for the nation's industrial progress, a vital and valuable tool.