CLE vs IKON for 28mm

[jasonhupe]

Interested in getting a new body for use with a zeiss 28mm biogon.
Thinking about either a CLE or Ikon. The R4 is also an option.
Wondering if anyone with experience with both bodies can chime in.
I am an eyeglass wearer and the .72 M6 finder does not work for me.
Curious if anyone has direct experience with both viewfinders.

Thanks

 

[elmer3.5]

Hi, i´m not glass wearer, but i had cle and still own the
ZI, i think the Ikon is better, VF is larger and the 28 frames have more "space".
Also the camera itself has more options, like AE lock.
The Zi is a great performer and not much larger than the CLE.

Bye!

 

[sahe69]

I have a ZI and an R4M and for a 28 I like the R4M vf better.

For me the ZI's framelines are too close to the edges, even if I don't wear glasses. By this I don't mean there is not enough 'air' around the ZI's 28 framelines but that my eye has to look around the frame to see the whole composition rather than being able to see it all at once. An 0,85 'magnifier' might help but I never really thought about getting one since I have the R4M.

 

[mfogiel]

I've had the CLE, I still have the Ikon and the R4A and I wear glasses.
The best option is the R4A, as you get quite a nice eye relief around the single 28mm frame. The CLE 28mm frame is second best for eye relief, but I have had some problems with CLE's metering and focusing - also, the Biogon on the CLE ( and to an extent on the R4A) is somewhat big, so it blocks a bit the vision. On the ZI, the 28mm frame is the biggest, but there is hardly any eye relief if you wear glasses, on the other hand this is by far the best body of the three. If you think of a dedicated 28mm body, the R4A is the choice, for a more universal body the ZI wins easily.

 

[Carterofmars]

Never had a CLE, but the ZI is my choice. Viewfinder is amazing and the AE lock is great to have.

 

[Spyro]

Have ZI and CLE, generally prefer the CLE for size and shutter sound.
But the ZI is an overall better camera and the VF is to die for, havent done any scientific tests but it does feel brighter and bigger than any 35mm RF I've ever seen (which is many).
Not wearing glasses so my comment excludes eye relief & distance of framelines from edges.

 

[Keith]

I'd definitely go for the Bessa ... with the Ikon you'll pretty well be using the whole viewfinder but with the R4 you'll actually have space around the 28mm frame lines.

And they're a nice camera ... and lot cheaper than an Ikon! 🙂

 

[FrankS]

You may also want to consider the Hexar RF with its .62 mag finder. My Canon 28f3.5 practically lives on my H-RF.

 

[thegman]

I think if it's for 28mm or wider only, R4A would be my choice. I used an Ikon, and the 28mm lines are almost like using the whole finder, usable though.

 

[jsrockit]

Does the Ikon allow you to focus the 28mm biogon down to .5 meters?

 

[Archiver]

Does the Ikon allow you to focus the 28mm biogon down to .5 meters?

Yes, it does. That is what infuriated me at first with the Leica rangefinders. I had been shooting with an Ikon for ages, and was disappointed when I found out that my much-expected Leica didn't focus as close!

 

[Archlich]

Had both. VF alone CLE is better for 28mm, probably the best - I'm a glass wearer.

The ZI in overall is a better camera, no doubt. I use it for 35mm.

 

[Archiver]

Interesting to read this! Neither of my Zeiss Ikons focus down to 0.50m with RF coupling. The RF decouples around 0.65m. Is your Zeiss Ikon modified by any chance?

Strange! I will have to check this. I am sure that my Ikon focuses down to 50cm with all applicable lenses. I have a stock, unmodified Ikon.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Jason: I bought a CLE as a 2nd body to my ZI. I owned the CLE for about 18 mos. 28mm is my standard lens.

I don't remember any real difference in the CLE finder when shooting with a 28mm. But I do remember missing the ZI features of easy metering and 1/2000th shutter. I ended up buying a 2nd ZI body and eventually sold the CLE because I used it so infrequently.

FWIW, my ZI and ZM 28mm decouples the rangefinder around 63mm. The lens will focus down to 50mm but the rangefinder does not.

 

[raid]

The CLE will work well here.

I prefer the retro-look of a Standard Leica for my 28mm lens. I use an external VF, and the set looks awesome and functions really well. I set the lens on f11 and the distance to 1.5m, and then it is an "autofocus camera".