PeterW
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Posts: 3,804
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Post by PeterW on May 20, 2006 12:05:52 GMT -5
Hi all,
So film isn't about to die ... at least Zeiss doesn't think it is. Not sure if it has been announced in the US, but in this weeks Amateur Photographer in the UK there is a piece that Zeiss has launched a new rangefinder 35mm camera with just the name Zeiss Ikon. And it takes ordinary film! It is very reminiscent of the Contax RF, and takes any Leica M4 fit lens
I gather that it was designed in Germany but is being built in Japan for Zeiss by ... guess who? ... yes, Cosina! The announcement said that Zeiss sent over quality control people to Japan and asked Cosina to tighten up its quality inspection!
Amateur Photographer tested what seems to be a pre-launch camera and was generally very much impressed. Except for one thing. Halfway through the test the camera jammed!! Zeiss immediately supplied a replacement camera, and that worked faultlessly.
I can imagine some red faces at Zeiss, and someone from Jena over in Japan saying to Cosina bosses: "NOW you know why we asked you to tighten up your quality control inspection"!!
I'm not sure when the camera is coming on the market, but the price, for the body only, will be GBP 580.
Peter
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Post by GeneW on May 20, 2006 12:12:52 GMT -5
Peter, it's a pretty exciting development. It's been available for awhile now and there are several photographers on rangefinderforum.com who own one. By all accounts, it's a very fine cam and Zeiss also introduced some killer lenses to go with it, which just happen to use Leica M mount!!
Gene
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Post by Randy on May 20, 2006 18:52:04 GMT -5
Cosina, camera makers of the gods!
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Post by vintageslrs on May 21, 2006 15:38:11 GMT -5
Yes, Cosina---Bravo!
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Post by backalley on Jul 7, 2006 9:01:51 GMT -5
i have that camera and 3 of the zm lenses too.
it's a great combination of old and new. i quite like it. and the lenses are very nice indeed, nicely finished and sharp.
joe
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Post by GeneW on Jul 7, 2006 16:24:57 GMT -5
Joe, I know you used a Bessa R for awhile and you own a Leica. How would you compare the ZI in use to these two cameras?
Gene
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Post by backalley on Jul 7, 2006 22:19:10 GMT -5
i liked the bessa r. it was small, solid and handled well. the cv lenses were excellent. it was new when i bought it and i liked the feel, smooth focus etc.
the m3 is from '55 and in remarkably good shape. i had some difficulty getting a matching leitz lens that worked properly or that i didn't kill. (long sad story) the camera feels wonderful in my hands and it's doubtful that i will ever sell it. i love the double stroke silky smooth advance and the slight sound of the shutter. it is noticeably the quietest camera i have ever had. it had been cla'd a couple of years ago, before i bought it. but the hassle of changing film keeps it in the slow sunday walkabout category of use. the same with the cl. anytime i have to remove and find a place to store a peice of the camera when changing films is just nuts. i'm sorry, it's the dumbest thing about the camera. and i can't work quickly if i need to. that being said, when i'm really old and can barely lift it, the m3 is likely to be the one i take for my slow moving walks.
and then the zi. it's really beautiful. in fact i struggle with the idea of getting another, in black.
it has a slight raspy sound when i advance the film that i wish it did not. and a similar sound when i rewind the film. i think all is well and it's smooth but i would prefer silence. the shutter makes a noise that is not loud but not as quiet as the m3. outside it is not noticeable at all. in a quiet theatre i would prefer the m3 but i find it too hard to change film in the dark with it, so the zi would be the choice. the zm lenses are pure magic. they are new, clearly, and feel like heaven. i had no qualms with the new cv lenses but side by side there is a very noticeable difference in feel. he old canon and leoca lenses that i have had can't be compared as they were old and well used. i haven't had a new leica lens in my hands in years.
i really like the zi and zm outfit and could be happy the rest of my life with just it. it's more modern and i like that.
the m3 is the most wonderful feeling camera my hands have ever held.
the zi is the most beautiful to look at.
they both work well but i would go with the zi if i had to choose only one.
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Post by GeneW on Jul 7, 2006 23:08:15 GMT -5
Joe, that's a great post! It gave me a solid feel for the differences. I love my Leicas and even my Zorkis, but bottom-loading or removing the back for loading is not the part of them I love. I can understand why you like the modernness of the ZI. When I owned one, I enjoyed being able to load my Bessa while I was walking.
Gene
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