I want a Zeiss Ikon.. Tell me why I shouldn't do it..

brian steinberger · Aug 26, 2012

SkipA said:
The VC Meter II (Voigtlander Cosina) is a small reflected light meter that sits in your cold or hot shoe. It's quite compact, and looks good on a Leica and many other cameras. I have one that I switch between my IIIc and my M3.

You have to push the button and turn the aperture dial until the center LED lights up, then transfer the settings to your camera lens and speed dial. So it's like using a separate hand-held meter, except that it perches handily on top of your camera.

Very cool! That's an idea.

kbrede · Aug 26, 2012

brian steinberger said:
Most Leica's don't have metering, and the one's that do don't offer an Aperture priority mode. That's my problem with them.

IIRC the M7 does have aperature priority.

I was in the same boat as you a few months ago, trying to choose a rangefinder. IIRC KEH was selling M7 bodies for about the same price as the Zeiss one lens and hood kit. I went with the brand new option with a three year warentee and larger viewfinder. I got the ZI 28mm kit and purchased the 50mm f2 later. I have no regrets.

summicron1 · Aug 26, 2012

35 will broaden your scope -- free you up to shoot more (waste more) and make you a faster shooter.

If nothing else, you can re-sell it for nearly what you paid for it in two years if you change your mind, so the whole experiment will only cost you a coupla hundred. If you have the money, go for it.

If you want a cheaper way to try out the concept, buy a Leica CL and a 40mm summicron lens to go with it -- whole thing will cost you $1,000 and you can get it all back if you change your mind.

mhanc · Aug 27, 2012

brian steinberger said:
...What situations would I prefer the 35mm RF? I can think of a few. Low light.

...and the images that are made with Zeiss/Leica glass are just special, they really are. They just have a soul to them, they speak to you. That is the main reason I want one. It would also help me to photograph people more, something I don't do very often.

Brian:

1. In addition to low light, whenever portability and ease of use is important. I find that the more portable and easy to use that a camera is the more it gets used. When there is something that I want to photograph then I use a larger format, however, for walking around or more "spontaneous" photography the RF is the only way to go... for me.

2. There is a very distinct difference between Zeiss ZM and Leica lens, even to my very amateur eye. If you look at the examples on the LFI Gallery here: analogue and here: digital (many posts are taken with Zeiss lenses) you can judge for yourself and see if the difference is important to you. I can also see a very distinct difference between the types Leica lens: Summicron vs Summilux, etc. (I much prefer the look of the Summicrons)

Finally, I am in the process of selling down my camera herd to just the two that get used 95% of the time (TLR and RF) and my experience is that Leica does maintain (or even increase in) value.

All in all the RF is a fun and easy to use format and really suited for people and family photography. Good luck!

whlogan · Aug 27, 2012

Get it !!!! Living but once is a bummer, I think and there are so many cameras to have and that one is truly superior, so, GET IT and soon !!! Shoot TRI X while you can get it and have some fun...
Logan

zsas · Aug 27, 2012

I hear that the viewfinder in that Ikon is like paradise to see through!!

DWThomas · Aug 27, 2012

I am reminded of that old proverb:

"He who dies with the most toys wins!"

Ken Nadvornick · Aug 27, 2012

I want a Zeiss Ikon.. Tell me why I shouldn't do it..

You're kidding, right?

There IS no reason not to do it.

Nobody ever found themselves lying on their deathbed with one of those little cartoon thought bubbles above their heads saying, "Damn I'm glad I didn't waste any of my money on that camera I really, really wanted. Now I can have a nicer headstone. Good on me. I'm ready to go now..."

Ken

ambaker · Aug 27, 2012

As I get up in years, I have taken the time to observe the lives of those around me. The biggest lesson I have learned is this...

Now pay close attention, because it is important...

If you do not do something stupid with your money, your heirs will!

brian steinberger · Aug 28, 2012

ambaker said:
As I get up in years, I have taken the time to observe the lives of those around me. The biggest lesson I have learned is this...

Now pay close attention, because it is important...

If you do not do something stupid with your money, your heirs will!

Haha!

brian steinberger · Aug 28, 2012

A new idea I came up with last night.. I have a Nikon F100 body. I've heard amazing things about the new Voigtlander 40/2 Ultron SL II. I'm wondering how this lens would compare to the Zeiss lenses. I've seen sharpness tests where it blows away Nikon's primes, including the 50/1.8. I know it's not a RF experience but I don't mind using the F100. It's a great camera. My only concern would be focusing in low light. RF are supreme for that. Manual focusing an SLR is a bit tricky in certain situations. Thoughts?

Richard S. (rich815) · Aug 28, 2012

"blow away" in the sharpness department for shooting Air Force test charts vs getting a lens that is plenty sharp enough but has the character you want can be very different. Personally I've not been very happy with most Voigtlander lenses and bought then sold a few. Sharp enough in each case, just nothing special in the character I was looking for. Totally subjective but just saying.

Diapositivo · Aug 28, 2012

If you only use Medium Format, I think 35mm will help you in having the camera with you in more circumstances, or in having with you a larger set of lenses with the same weight.

Small range-finders in particular, such as a Leica M but also a Minolta CLE, or a Contax G1/G2 as suggested, can enter within a small bag with an entire set of lenses, let's say 21, 28, 50, 90 or 24, 35, 90 for instance. The weight and volume is going to be very small.

I would personally prefer to buy two cheaper bodies (such as Leica CL, Minolta CLE, a second-hand Zeiss-Ikon etc.) instead of just one. That would drastically reduce the number of lens-changing operations (which are always a nuisance) or allow to go round with two different kinds of films.

The advantage of the small format is that it is small. The technical quality of the picture depends much more on the lens than on the camera. Expensive cameras are OK if you have "excess money" to spend in photography. Otherwise I would concentrate the expense on the lenses, going for less expensive but quality-wise perfectly functional alternatives.

Sirius Glass · Aug 28, 2012

If you do not do it this year, you will be a year older when you do!

Rob Skeoch · Aug 29, 2012

If you decide to go with the Zeiss Ikon kit, send me an email.
I'm a sponsor here at APUG and have a mailorder store called rangefinderstore.com

I have the Zeiss Ikon body in stock and most of the lenses.

I also use one myself along with a M6 and CL.

-Rob Skeoch

I want a Zeiss Ikon.. Tell me why I shouldn't do it..

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