Which body for Zeiss lenses

Troy Ammons · Jun 16, 2006

I am really leaning towards a Minolta CLE, but I could also use a
Leica CL, M6/7 (too much $ for me), Bessa R2A/3A, or the Ikon.

I plan on eventually buying the 90, 50, 35 and 25mm lenses.

TheFlyingCamera · Jun 16, 2006

the CL/CLE may have a hard time handling some of those lenses. Go with either the Bessa or the actual Ikon.

Roger Hicks · Jun 16, 2006

A lot depends on aperture. The longer RF base of the ZI will handle fast lenses better.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

Dave Wooten · Jun 16, 2006

are you wanting just rangefinder? the 50 mm planar is made for nikon and is f 1.4

Uncle Bill · Jun 16, 2006

I would try and swing for the Zeiss Ikon or the Bessa R2a/3a. The other option is a Leica M2 or M4-P. The Leica/Minolta CL is an interesting camera but you might have an easier time with the Leica M ,ZI and Voightlander.

Bill

HerrBremerhaven · Jun 16, 2006

A used M6 or M6TTL might cost you near what a new Zeiss Ikon will run. If you shop carefully you might find one in your price range. However, other than price, you would ideally need to handle the actual camera body. The rounded edges of a Leica M might fit your grip better, or you might find that a Zeiss Ikon is easier to use. An M4-2 or M4P are cheaper than an M6, though they have no built in light meter. Functioning is fairly close, and you should be able to find good clean used examples that work fine. Many choices.

Ciao!

Gordon

JosBurke · Jun 16, 2006

Zeiss Glass

I assume you have an affliction just as I do for Zeiss Glass--From my Hasselblads to my Linhof 75 mm Zeiss Biogon and my Linhof 250 mm Zeiss Sonnar--don't have a Planar yet---- I had an M3 and really like a Rangefinder but then I made the mistake of using a Mamiya 7II---out went the M3 from lack of use and my god those Mamiya lenses are sharp and that 6x7 neg just impresses me and it blows away my Hasselablad in terms of sharpness--really !! So for me the rangefinder is the Mamiya with Mamiya glass--I have my Hasselblad with Zeiss and my Linhof with the even more obscure Zeiss Glass but for a rangefinder again the Mamiya 7 II !

Troy Ammons · Jun 17, 2006

Yes, I had a M7 and may migrate back to one eventually. A super sharp camera for sure. Recently I ran into that bluefire 35mm film. Super super sharp and grain free. Its not copex or imagelink, as it seems to be something different. Also gigabit is just relabeled Copex. I shot a test roll of bluefire with a Contax YC 50mm lens and scanned it on my minolta 5400II and the scans had a 2 pixel soft edge or basically some of the sharpest photos I have ever scanned at 5400 dpi.

I have also drum scanned a Mamiya 7 E100G shot at 4000 dpi and it is sharp also, but not at this bluefire level.

I was pretty much blown away, and considering those were just test snapshots, I think the film could even carry more detail with a better lens system.

I just wish they made it in 120.

At any rate, I like small light rangefinders and with this 35mm film is close to medium format with something like acros.

Right now I am revamping my camera setup and trying to come up wiith a super sharp slr 6x8 MFcamera with movements, that does not weigh 10#. It will probably be a custom.

Also a zeiss RF, probably a M7 later, and a super light 8x10 feild camera. Super light and 8x10 do not go together but I am going to try and keep it under 5-6#. Not that it will really help a lot since the film holders are over 1# each.

JosBurke said:
I assume you have an affliction just as I do for Zeiss Glass--From my Hasselblads to my Linhof 75 mm Zeiss Biogon and my Linhof 250 mm Zeiss Sonnar--don't have a Planar yet---- I had an M3 and really like a Rangefinder but then I made the mistake of using a Mamiya 7II---out went the M3 from lack of use and my god those Mamiya lenses are sharp and that 6x7 neg just impresses me and it blows away my Hasselablad in terms of sharpness--really !! So for me the rangefinder is the Mamiya with Mamiya glass--I have my Hasselblad with Zeiss and my Linhof with the even more obscure Zeiss Glass but for a rangefinder again the Mamiya 7 II !

Tom Hoskinson · Jun 17, 2006

You said: "Right now I am revamping my camera setup and trying to come up wiith a super sharp slr 6x8 MFcamera with movements, that does not weigh 10#. It will probably be a custom."

My personal solution to this problem is a 2.25 x 3.25 Crown Graphic (with coupled rangefinder). I have several super sharp lenses for it which include a 150mm f9 Docter Optics Apo Germinar and a 110mm Schneider Super Symmar XL

Of course, both of these lenses also work well on my 8.9 lb Wehman 8x10 Field Camera (with 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 backs).

back alley · Jun 17, 2006

i have the 25/35/50 zm lenses and am very happy with them.
i was lucky enough to find a brand new 90/2.8 hexanon lens so i have my set for the zi camera.
the lenses fit but are large on my cl body.

i'd suggest getting the zi body for the zm lenses, they were made for each other

joe

Troy Ammons · Jun 17, 2006

Tom Hoskinson said:
My personal solution to this problem is a 2.25 x 3.25 Crown Graphic (with coupled rangefinder). I have several super sharp lenses for it which include a 150mm f9 Docter Optics Apo Germinar and a 110mm Schneider Super Symmar XL

Of course, both of these lenses also work well on my 8.9 lb Wehman 8x10 Field Camera (with 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 backs).

Had a couple and never really liked them for some reason although I love the 4x5 super graphic. Also I am after sharper lenses, basically in the digitar range.

I will probably end up modifying a RB/RZ67 to take digitar lenses.

Tom Hoskinson · Jun 17, 2006

I'm also a sharp lens freak - that's why I have the Docter Optics lenses, Schneider SSXls, etc. Film flatness is usually the limiting factor. BTW, I have a Pentacon 6TL with an optical glass platen (multicoated) installed at the film plane. with the Docter Optics lenses mounted on the belows the image sharpness is fantastic.

Troy Ammons · Jun 17, 2006

My original plan was to modify a RB or an RZ, vacuum back, digitar lens and modify the front standard for tilt and rise etc. I am after a slr tilt camera and am still considering a fuji GX680 although I am not big on the weight of that camera.

In the mean time I got sidetracked by the purchase of a mint rollei sl66 from adorama, but it was so poorly packed it was trashed when it got here.

Jammed, stripped focus gears and the frame is probably bent. A shame really I called and told them the person that packed it should be shot. i am returning it, unfortunately, because it really is like new.

Back to the drawing board.

ampguy · Jun 23, 2006

try them all out

note that the CLE has an addl frameline over the CL versions, but has a shorter baselength and lower magnification than the M's and Bessas. Also, if you plan on not using external viewfinders, you'll have to carefully choose a body with viewfinder to handle all those sizes at a magnification factor you can live with.

Also, take a look at the Hexar RF, but realize that support is much more limited than current production or even old M4's.

Troy Ammons said:
I am really leaning towards a Minolta CLE, but I could also use a
Leica CL, M6/7 (too much $ for me), Bessa R2A/3A, or the Ikon.

I plan on eventually buying the 90, 50, 35 and 25mm lenses.

Which body for Zeiss lenses

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