Black Zeiss Ikons Later in 2005-2006

[SDK]

I got a message from Hasselblad today confirming plans to market a Black ZI body, but it looks like they won't come out until late this year or early next.

"Dear Mr. K,

The reply comes from Hasselblad, Sweden. We are, as you probably know, a long time partner with Zeiss and also the distributor of Zeiss Ikon outside Japan.

Nice to hear that you are satisfied with the ZM lenses. We plan to introduce a black ZI version after the silver Limited Edition is sold out. This could possibly be at the end of this year or early next year.

Best regards


VICTOR HASSELBLAD AB
Erland Pettersson
Product Manager Camera Systems"​

I have the 25mm, 28mm and 50mm ZM lenses and love them all, but especially like the 25mm and 50mm.

 

[vincentbenoit]

Thanks for the info. I take it as bad news... As much as I'm keen on the new Ikon, I really don't like silver cameras, and I was hoping a black version would be released sooner.

 

[Terence T]

I wonder how the first run of silver bodies can be called special editions. It's going to be 2500 of them made before they switch to the black bodies.

 

[sgy1962]

Does that infer that the silver version has not been sold out?

 

[bobofish]

On the other hand, if the silver bodies sell fast once they come out, maybe this is good news, because it might mean that they have a bunch of black bodies sitting in the wings.

And by the way, anything is a limited edition firstly if you want it to be, and secondly if you limit the production to a certain number. From what I understand, there are a couple things that come with the 'special edition" that won't come with the regular bodies.

 

[jano]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the all-black one scheduled for "regular" release?

 

[aizan]

yes. :angel:

 

[agoglanian]

yeah because pretty much i would offer one of my kidneys, or donate a lung to science to get my hands on a all black ZI.

whos with me to go overseas and hijack the warehouse, we all know they are already made.

come on guys! WHOS WITH ME?? lol

 

[Huck Finn]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the all-black one scheduled for "regular" release?

I prefer the chrome. Looks good with black or silver lenses. 😎

 

[gustav[] pEña]

I don't Like black cameras!

 

[aizan]

hehe, i like black cameras because they look good with chrome or black lenses. never liked black lenses on chrome rangefinders, though slrs are different.

 

[SDK]

Personally I think they should do a blue anodized Titanium edition. I took a jewelry making class at the Boston SMFA and found you can get a number of incredibly beautiful shades of blue with that metal. Much more subtle than anodized Aluminium. Some blues you can make are dark and unobtrusive, and would compliment the blue dot of the ZM lenses. 🙂

I think Contax even did an SLR (the S2 or S3 or something?) with a blue Ti skin. The hardest part would be forming the skin, but it should be doable, since the Hexar RF has Ti top bottom and back parts.

However, they'll probably never do it, so I would be happy with black. I don't like the way the ZI looks in silver finish, but to each his own. In time I imagine you will be able to buy either black paint or silver aluminium finish. 😛

 

[Mazurka]

Silver chrome finish wears better than black (paint or anodized) and don't look like the ubiquitous black plastic blobs they call cameras. 😛

Personally I think they should do a blue anodized Titanium edition. I took a jewelry making class at the Boston SMFA and found you can get a number of incredibly beautiful shades of blue with that metal. Much more subtle than anodized Aluminium. Some blues you can make are dark and unobtrusive, and would compliment the blue dot of the ZM lenses. 🙂

Great idea! But I expect Zeiss would only do that for special editions with inflated prices and very limited supply.

I think Contax even did an SLR (the S2 or S3 or something?) with a blue Ti skin. The hardest part would be forming the skin, but it should be doable, since the Hexar RF has Ti top bottom and back parts.

It was the year 2000 RX (the covers look like plastic to me) and TVS III.

 

[Will]

yeah because pretty much i would offer one of my kidneys, or donate a lung to science to get my hands on a all black ZI.

whos with me to go overseas and hijack the warehouse, we all know they are already made.

come on guys! WHOS WITH ME?? lol

OK, I will come on a truck... 😉