1st impressions, factory case - how big?

[Daneinbalto]

Hi, I wanted to get into RFs based on childhood memories of a super nice camera - a Samoca LE-II which my mom bought new in the early 1960's. Unfortunately, I managed to break it. Since then I have shot SLRs (Olympus OM for film and Canon for digital). Reading Roger's and Frances's book got me even more stoked and now I sprang for a ZI (well as I went back to film I also bought an Olympus XA to always carry in my pocket and even a Stylus Epic non-Zoom just to see what it was like). Having exhausted my budget I couldn't afford to spend much on a lens for the ZI the first time around so I went for a Hexanon 50mm f/2 off evilbay.

I got my ZI a few days ago. Adjusting was more difficult than I thought it would be. I was surprised to find my left hand obstructing the VF when I hold the camera vertically, so I have to adjust my grip, or hold it "upside-down". This wasn't a problem on an the SLRs, of course, and I think less of a problem on a RF where the VF is above the lens, like the Samoca. I initially found it hard to see the shutter time display on the ZI and wondered if I should have gotten a used M7 instead. I can still return the ZI for another 2 weeks but I think I'll keep it - I'm getting used to it.

My question is this: I have looked at the original case, sold on B&H for $160. The lens part looks awfully big. What size lens is it designed to take? Is is supposed to also hold the original Ziess hood? Is that why it's so big? What other options do I have?

 

[Sam N]

Congrats on the camera. The meter readout would really be better as a digital readout on a black background (a la SLRs), but I haven't had many problems with it. The Bessas are much harder to read in bright sunlight.

For some reason, very few people seem to use the Zeiss brand case. I'm not sure how big the top is, but I find it easier to use a simple bag rather than a never-ready case. If I did have the case, I'd only use the bottom half.

 

[mirrored]

I bought ZI case with my camera. I couldn't resist very low price offered together with camera.

It is very nice piece of leather work and I like to use it. With ERC is so easy to throw the camera to wherever you like - it is in good safe. And its nose is big enough to take Biogon 35/2 with hood. That was important to me. It is not big, by the way. Or... it is unnecessary big, if you want use some pancake lens or ordinary sized without hood.

 

[jdvf]

The nose of the case is quite big. But you need that size for larger lenses like the Sonnar 50/1,5 (with hood) or the M-Hexanon 90/2,8

The only option I know is Luigi's full case. But it is much more expensive.

Greg

 

[mirrored]

Luigi nose is propably bigger than ZI.


Sonnar 50/1,5 is very near the same dimension as Biogon 35/2.

Zhou half case would be an alternative soon. (Mr Zhou told me when I asked.)

 

[Al Kaplan]

I'm not a case person. They slow you down when you want (need?) to change film and they make the camera bulkier. Factor in the $160? I 'd be thinking that I could buy 400 feet of Double-X Negative 5222 B&W film (equal to about seventy 36 exp. rolls), a couple dozen cassettes, and still have money left over for chemicals, perhaps even some paper too. Cameras are designed to be used, not protected.

 

[mirrored]

I'm not a case person. They slow you down when you want (need?) to change film and they make the camera bulkier. Factor in the $160?

Price is not much compared to ZI body price. And it's much less than Luigi case. BTW, price was important to my choice: 50€, which is about same than Zhou half case.

It really make film change slow and often happen that camera is naked after hurry situation. Taking it away doesn't take much time, but who would put it back too before shooting more.

Case have many influencies. Warm when cold weather. Less shutter work voice. Sometimes (individual) better hold.

I would like more weight to my ZI (and Bessa) and have planned some kind of lead weight to my case - as well as heavy weight side grip too, for using without case.

ERC is good protection. I don't see it opposite to using camera. More like an alternative to bigger camera case.