Zeiss Ikon Reviews?

naaldvoerder · Nov 14, 2005

Does anyone of you know of any hands-on experience with the new ZI rangefinder or has anyone red any reviews? Just curious ofcourse, not ratch enough to aspire to own it

Jaap Jan

Mongo · Nov 14, 2005

Since they only started shipping the cameras to their distributors a few weeks ago, I think it'll take a little longer for the reviews to start rolling in. I'd imagine you'll see the first in-depth reviews around the end of November...but expect a lot of bickering...anything in a Leica mount seems to bring out the warriors.

Be well.
Dave

Earl Dunbar · Nov 14, 2005

Check Rangefinder Forum:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13252
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13143

Preliminary, but something nonetheless.

Earl

Mark Layne · Nov 14, 2005

naaldvoerder said:
Does anyone of you know of any hands-on experience with the new ZI rangefinder or has anyone red any reviews? Just curious ofcourse, not ratch enough to aspire to own it

Jaap Jan

Join the Leica Historical Society of America. In their magazine folks are already using them
Mark

elekm · Nov 14, 2005

I've worked up a quick review of the camera. It's an ongoing thing, and I'm still working on the interface. Might change it to a more traditional layout.

http://elekm.net/zeiss_ikon

boc · Nov 15, 2005

I had the chance to play around with it a bit at PhotoPlus a few weeks ago. It's put together very well and feels solid in your hands. The lenses seem to be quite excellent as you'd expect and the mechanics of the whole system just felt extremely fluid and well designed. I've never shot a range finder before but I got excited about it just from playing and talking with the guy from Zeiss who's name escapes me at the moment. I won't be getting one anytime soon as it's a little too pricey for my budget even with a student discount. It's definitely a camera I'd love to run a few rolls through though if given the chance.

suzums · Nov 16, 2005

elekm said:
I've worked up a quick review of the camera. It's an ongoing thing, and I'm still working on the interface. Might change it to a more traditional layout.

http://elekm.net/zeiss_ikon

Thanks for linking! Definitely impressed just reading, looking forward to hearing more about it!

stark raving · Nov 17, 2005

elekm said:
I've worked up a quick review of the camera.http://elekm.net/zeiss_ikon

Mike,

Nice work, your usual thorough job.

I haven't really been paying attention to the new ZI, because a new 35mm RF & a set of lenses, even a Bessa, are just a financial fantasy for me. I added up what a new M7 and 21-28-35-50-90 lenses would cost.......man, that's lottery-winnings territory!

But your comparison chart got me thinking. That ZI sure stacks up favorably against the M7, at half the price. Sentimentally, I'd surely like to see the Leica company prevail and stay in business. But if I ever came into the $$$, I'd really have a hard justifying purchase of an M7 when the ZI is available. If I was the Leica guys, I'd really sit up and pay attention. Don't know how much of a market they've got left, but it seems like Zeiss is poised to take a bite out of it.

Jonathan

elekm · Nov 18, 2005

No doubt the Leica M series are fine cameras. The question will be whether users are willing to pay roughly double for a Leica. Some will, and some won't.

What might be the next interesting turn is how each of them approach a digital body. Carl Zeiss AG seems to be leaning toward full-frame, while Leica apparently is leaning toward a sensor crop. Both will be priced at a premium, but it remains to be seen how much of a price gap -- if any -- separates the two products.

Overall, I'm having a lot of fun with the Zeiss Ikon. It's really very nicely made. Like all cameras, there are things I like and things I'd change. After just one week, the pluses far outweigh the minuses.

By the way, how's that Rollei?

stark raving · Nov 18, 2005

Rolleiflex (OT)

elekm said:
By the way, how's that Rollei?

Mike, the Rollei rules for B&W! Haven't seen color results yet; I shot 1 1/2 rolls of Velvia at Ricketts Glen in October, then the fall colors went away and I haven't finished up the 2nd roll.

Jonathan

elekm · Nov 18, 2005

It seems like it was a quick year for fall foliage. Just a couple of weeks and it was gone.

david b · Nov 18, 2005

i have not seen one in person yet but I just got an email from Hasselblad saying they are now shipping.

Several things I like about it so far (without seeing it):
1. price
2. viewfinder reviews have been very favorable
3. 1/3 stop increments on lenses

I'll be in NY next week so much I'll stop to check it out.

Guillaume Zuili · Nov 19, 2005

I went to Cosina website. The Black body looks really great !

Earl Dunbar · Nov 20, 2005

elekm said:
It seems like it was a quick year for fall foliage. Just a couple of weeks and it was gone.

Mike:

This is OT, but I managed to catch a few good Fall colour images. It actually lasted longer here than I had thought it would. There are still a few trees with nice leaves hanging on, so they stand out from the rest which have dropped.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97373293@N00/

Earl

elekm · Nov 20, 2005

Earl -- wow, you're right. You really caught it at the right time. By the way, love the humor in setting the white balance with the Zorki.

celluloidpropaganda · Nov 25, 2005

The Zeiss 50ZM is certainly tempting for $600 (from CameraQuest), if I had that kind of money laying around. Half the cost of a new Summicron, equally as good... then the question becomes an issue of that full stop to a pre-ASPH Summilux or Nokton and the quality of those lenses...

Too confusing.

Zeiss Ikon Reviews?

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