ALL ZI & ZI SW production stopped

Yeah, and they stopped production of the SW cameras around April of 2011. They can be had for cheap new these days, seems like many retailers are pricing the remaining SW's at retail price.
 
can you say F-A-C-E-T-I-O-U-S ??? 😉😉😉

CronoZero said:
You might want to cite sources for this...just because it's on a bunch of wishlists (mine for sure), doesn't mean it's going to happen. Zeiss reps have been denying development of a digital ZI for a year or more now.
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Nice design and best VF ever. Too bad they were not very robust though. MY RF would slip out of alignment every few months (vertical but still irritating).
Great design effort by the Zeiss/Cosina team overall. If indeed it is a goner I guess those on the market will become a bit cultish.
 
I lifted this directly from a guy's post on APUG, who is a Zeiss dealer:

"Dear Zeiss Photo Dealer,

Please note, a decision has been made to discontinue the Zeiss Ikon Camera. There is a limited amount of stock on hand, after which the product will no longer be available. We will continue to provide spare parts and service on the camera for the immediate future. This decision also effects the various spare parts for the camera body, such as the camera strap, side grip, camera case and the diopter lenses. These accessories are only available while supplies last.

This decision reflects the ongoing transformation from film to digital capture. While sales of the camera have remained steady over the last several years, it is no longer feasible to continue manufacturing the product.

Carl Zeiss remains committed to manufacturing the ZM lens series and as indicated at Photokina, we will develop at least one new high speed, prime lens during 2013. More information about this product will be announced in the coming year."

Jim B.
 
I've two.. so my question is how long will they be able to supply parts? After all, that is one aspect of the Leica production.. great long term parts and service support. I'm not so sure of the Zeiss policy.
 
I've handled one and the VF was indeed nice, but I never understood putting it on the market. It seemed to me that it was in-between the Bessas and Leicas quality-wise and maybe 10 years too late.

I wonder if they made any $$ out of it?

On the other hand, a digital one makes a lot of sense.
 
Mackinaw said:
I lifted this directly from a guy's post on APUG, who is a Zeiss dealer:

"Dear Zeiss Photo Dealer,

Please note, a decision has been made to discontinue the Zeiss Ikon Camera. There is a limited amount of stock on hand, after which the product will no longer be available. We will continue to provide spare parts and service on the camera for the immediate future. This decision also effects the various spare parts for the camera body, such as the camera strap, side grip, camera case and the diopter lenses. These accessories are only available while supplies last.

Jim B.
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I just ordered a diopter for my Zeiss 25mm finder, which takes the same eyepiece lenses as the camera.

BTW, they should have said "This decision AFFECTS ... " . I'm surprised that Zeiss used the wrong word.

Tom
 
Bill58 said:
I wonder if they made any $$ out of it?

On the other hand, a digital one makes a lot of sense.
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Good question with regard to the ZI $$, but I suspect not, the sale volumes were never significant.

Lens sales, on the other hand, is probably a growing (and attractive) revenue generator.

Zeiss is probably stating (indirectly) that it is simply not worth their while to produce film bodies, and instead, will focus on increasing lens production.

With regard to a digital ZI body, I doubt it. The upfront (and ongoing) investment required to produce and market a competitive body is enormous.

Likely, Zeiss is going to stick with their core competency and produce more lenses, for more body types, end-of-story.
 
Bill58 said:
I've handled one and the VF was indeed nice, but I never understood putting it on the market. It seemed to me that it was in-between the Bessas and Leicas quality-wise and maybe 10 years too late.

I wonder if they made any $$ out of it?

On the other hand, a digital one makes a lot of sense.
Click to expand...
Not to anyone I've ever spoken to at Zeiss or Cosina.

Cheers,

R.
 
I think he was joking about turning it into a film camera.

Anyhow: I suppose dealers will sell out their stock at good prices. I'm glad to have acquired one last week – the silver/chrome one that looks so retro. Popflash had it for about 1/2 price. It's one of those incorrectly called a 'demo,' when it really should be called 'refurbished.' (Leica does that, too.)

With 1938 Sonnar, mod by Brian Sweeney:

Kirk
 

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shame to see this happening.. it was nice to see Zeiss made (or branded) rangefinder camera made a comeback least for a while tough, after so many decades.
 
I have a Leica MP, a Leica M9P and a Zeiss Ikon. My heart belongs to the Ikon, clunky as it might be.
 
I do enjoy using my Zeiss Ikon. I shoot 4 rolls of film in it to every one I shoot in my M6. I am trying to figure out what makes it "clunky"?
 
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