Anyone using the Zeiss Ikon SW?

[pizzahut88]

I have not heard even one person on this forum mention a word about having a SW.
Hence the reason for this post.
Is anyone using one at all?

I've not even seen it in stores.

 

[JohnM]

I have not used one, but I have seen a couple - they are in stock at B&H in Manhattan.

 

[Bill58]

I'd buy one if somebody else does first and gives a glowing report--just what I need for streetshooting. I expect it won't sell like gangbusters.

Bill

 

[sherm]

I'd buy one if somebody else does first and gives a glowing report--just what I need for streetshooting. I expect it won't sell like gangbusters.

Bill

You should contact Tom A. about this camera. He reviewed the camera in the latest LHSA Viewfinder and had many good things to say......

 

[Bill58]

Is that review available online? I haven't had much success in contacting Tom A. before. I expect he gets a lot of emails from "tirekickers" like me and just doesn't have the time to respond.

 

[Tom A]

Is that review available online? I haven't had much success in contacting Tom A. before. I expect he gets a lot of emails from "tirekickers" like me and just doesn't have the time to respond.

You just managed to contact me! Yes I do have the ZM and I like it. My primary lens on it is either a 12 or 15mm Utra Wide Heliar and also the 25/4 Snap-Shot Skopar. I dont think I could see myself using it as my main camera, but it comes along as the 2nd or 3rd body with a dedicated lens on it. In a couple of weeks we are off to japan for two weeks and the ZM will come along, most likely with the 12/5,6. Its meter is very good, as good as the M7 (it lacks the 32 second count down of the M7, the ZM only does 8 seconds). I also have used it with a 28f8 tessar from 1938. This lens is a Contax mount lens and with a Orion adapter copy it works very well. The Tessar has a chrome "body" and miniscule engravings and I cant see a damned thing in the sun. I just set it at f11 or 16 and hyperfocal and shoot away. Works like a charm!
The Bessa L is the cheap alternative and for about $100 you cant beat it, BUT it only takes screwmount lenses.
The ZM makes sense as a street shooting camera to. Again hyper focal and a medium wide lens (the 25/2,8 or the 28/2,8). It is quiet and looks a bit funny with the finder on top so people tend to ignore it.
I have had mine since last summer and probably shot an average of 10-12 rolls a month and it is still on the original batteries!
You have to watch for spot highlights that can fool the AE(just as with any AE camera). The AE lock looks like a selftimer lever, take a ground reading and push it and it will hold the reading for the shot.
It is not a cheap camera and i suspect not that easy to sell, but it makes complete sense to me . On the other hand the Leica Md/MDa was not that hot a seller (unless you used copy or microscopes).
I have to make an adjuster for the arm on my Visoflex III and then it is going to get a lot of work with that. No more higher math to figure out exposure compensation with extentions and all that.

 

[John Robertson]

I have to make an adjuster for the arm on my Visoflex III and then it is going to get a lot of work with that. No more higher math to figure out exposure compensation with extentions and all that.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Thats how I mainly use my Bessa T, great for close up work, especially with the cable release giving the soft mirror lift. I found the metering spot on as I'm sure the Zeiss will also be. I would have bought one had I not had the Bessa T.

John R

 

[Tom A]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Thats how I mainly use my Bessa T, great for close up work, especially with the cable release giving the soft mirror lift. I found the metering spot on as I'm sure the Zeiss will also be. I would have bought one had I not had the Bessa T.

John R

John. i have been using the Bessa T too on my Viso III and works well, but I love the SW's AE. On the T you have to match the dots, while on the SW you just release it and it takes care of the whole shebang! I also find that the T is a great 25/4 Snap-Shot camera. Very precise meter and if you tilt it or swing it, it doesn't change the exposure (which the SW does unless you use the lock).
The T has another advantage, the magnified rangefinder makes it very good with high speed lenses at f1/1,2 or 1,4 - even lenses like the 75/1,4 works well with it.
It has proven itself very reliable and I like it because it has an interesting # on it - 000 000 001! Of course the collectors of this kind of things are berating me for actually using it!
My next project is to make an adapter for my microscope so that i can use either the T or the SW with that. Currently it has a M42 tube on it, but I think I am going to turn it into a baynet mount instead. Microscope photography is a bit hit and miss exposure wise, so AE or the T's (or for that matter a L) helps. Dont know what I want to see in such detail, but that will work itself out in the end!

 

[John Robertson]

Thanks for the reply Tom, I can see the attraction of the SW's AE, it would make things even easier.
Also I find the huge foccusing screen of the Viso111 absolutely wonderful. At sometime a previous owner fitted a "Beattie" screen to my Viso, which gives a brilliant image.
The metering always amazes me, virtually 100% accurate, simple and easy to use, unlike the "flight deck" of my EOS digithing!! It now lies virtually redundant.
The micro-photography has given me ideas, I've looked out my Russian microscope, it came with a 39mm thread adaptor for the early Zenit cameras.
Try some fun with polarised light Tom, can be amazing through the microscope, even simple things like salt and sugar crystals can be amazing.
The one thing I do find the digital far superior for is Astro photography, using a program to "stack" images. Some people get near "Hubble" quality with that.
Best
John.