Delivery day of the ZI Body

[Lars Menzel]

Any News about the delivery day of the ZI Body?

I can't wait anymore.

Have bought the Zeiss Biogon 28 (a superb lens) and it is a little bit tricky to get the right picture with external viewfinder on my Rollei 35 RF.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Zeiss themselves are still uncertain about this (I contacted them a couple of days ago about getting one for a magazine road test) so don't hold your breath.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

 

[r-h]

Hi,
I got 2nd of June from my dealer - not shure on what they based it.
Regards
Robert

 

[Lars Menzel]

Hi,

good news! thanks Robert

Lars

 

[r-h]

Hi Lars,
if it arrives at that time - fine. If not - don't blame me.
Regards
Robert

 

[Huck Finn]

Lars, I'm using a CV 28/3.5 on my Rollei 35 RF without an axiliary finder & am having some success. But I too am looking forward to using a finder with built-in 28 mm frme lines.

Huck

 

[aoresteen]

I spoke with Hasselblad USA late last week. They don't know when they will get any ZI bodies. Demand seems to be very high so I'm sure when they do come in they will not last long.

 

[Huck Finn]

Any News about the delivery day of the ZI Body?

I can't wait anymore.

I e-mailed Hasselblad with this question. They replied that there will be no delivery in May & that more information will be posted on the website (www.zeissikon) within a week.

Huck

 

[Lars Menzel]

I e-mailed Hasselblad with this question. They replied that there will be no delivery in May & that more information will be posted on the website (www.zeissikon) within a week.

Huck

Thank's Huck

I have had a phone call with Hasselblad yesterday and they have
given me as starting point for delivery the middle of june for the ZI
body and the 2/85. But they have no information about the amount
of ZI's available for this time.

So, we have to wait.

Lars

 

[Huck Finn]

Thanks, Lars. Interesting that supply may be low. I doubt that they planned it this way, but when supply is lower than demand, prices stay high.

Huck

 

[Terence T]

Additional bit of news is that the first 1200 bodies will be made in chrome, after that there will be a production run on black bodies. Think that translates into 4 or 5 months from the time the ZI goes on sale.

 

[Doug]

And 1200 is the number they earlier mentioned as the special first edition they were taking reservations for. I'll bet they're all spoken for at this point, and might be available as a batch already made up when shipment begins. I put in my reservation very early, so it'll be interesting to see if I get an invitation to pick it up... don't know how that'll work.

 

[trimix]

some people here have some experience with the zeiss lenses - how do they compare to similar leica lenses ? and please i do not wish to start a religious war - just how do they compare please ?

 

[David Kieltyka]

I own the new Zeiss 50mm and have used the 35mm a bit. The Planar is as good a lens as any 50mm I've ever used. I don't own a current Leica Summicron--mine is a Dual Range from the late 1950s--but I'm familiar with the various versions. The Planar is at least the equal of any of 'em. Consistent performance across the frame at all apertures along with smooth out-of-focus rendering and typical Zeiss neutral color (to my eyes anyway) & snappy contrast are the lens' hallmarks.

The new Biogon has the same general character as the Planar. It's a sharper lens than my friend's 4th gen. Summicron, at least in the corners, from f/2–5.6. Can't say how it compares to the Leica 35mm ASPH 'Cron. Sean Reid's tests indicate the Biogon is sharper in the corners at wide apertures than the ASPH Summilux.

IMO these comments verge on being nit-picky. Any of the lenses I've mentioned will give you great results. I'd say skip the test charts and go for the lens that delivers the overall look you like best. For b&w I'll be sticking with my DR 'Cron and my Contax-mount Zeiss RF lenses. For color the Planar and 35mm Biogon rock, and I'm very interested in how the 21 & 28mm Biogons perform too.

-Dave-