Hey Keith!

[photogdave]

Simple question for you, mate:
Used Hexar RF or new Zeiss Ikon?
I'm going to sell my M6 and it's one or the other.
I didn't PM you because, of course, I want to hear everyone's opinions!

 

[infrequent]

totally biased opinion here but definitely the hexar. apologies to everyone but there really is no competition if you want an AE RF.

 

[photogdave]

totally biased opinion here but definitely the hexar. apologies to everyone but there really is no competition if you want an AE RF.

Yeah, I borrowed one to shoot a wedding recently and really liked the AE lock feature and auto frame advance. It just seemed a little loud and I know my M6 is quieter, but what about the Ikon?

 

[Ororaro]

I say M7! 😉

 

[FrankS]

I vote for the Hexar RF, but I wouldn't sell my M6, and I've never held an Zeiss Ikon.

 

[photogdave]

I say M7! 😉

My wallet replies:
No! 😱

 

[Keith]

Simple question for you, mate:
Used Hexar RF or new Zeiss Ikon?
I'm going to sell my M6 and it's one or the other.
I didn't PM you because, of course, I want to hear everyone's opinions!

What a dilemma ... my heart says Hexar but pure logic says Ikon! When the situation is dubious light wise the Ikon's viewfinder has no peer ... the Hexar isn't even close. I like the ergonomics of the Hexar better and I couldn't care less about the noise it makes ... that's someone else's problem! 😛

BUT ... if the Doctor had kept an Ikon in his pocket instead of that stupid sonic screwdriver the Daleks wouldn't have gained the stranglehold on the universe that they did! 😀

 

[infrequent]

The other reason a new Zeiss Ikon might be practical is of course warranty & support. But as a package: metering, AE controls, ergonomics, lenses, motorized, the hexar is hard to beat. for shutter sound, i would say its pretty quiet. of course its the motor that makes a sound. to me this is about the same as the ikon shutter + rewind crank. i really wish it had the same quiet mode as its sibling, hexar af though. i guess the viewfinder is not as bright as the M's and especially the ikon. yet it hasn't stopped me from shooting at poor / no light. if you can see the subject, you will be able to focus and take a shot.

 

[Papercut]

Just curious what the Hexar's AE feature is like?

I am a right-eye shooter and I can operate the Ikon's AE with my thumb, without ever taking the camera down from my eye. And it stays on even after winding to the next frame. Extremely well-placed for me (would be much less so, I imagine, for a left-eye shooter though).

Yeah, I borrowed one to shoot a wedding recently and really liked the AE lock feature and auto frame advance. It just seemed a little loud and I know my M6 is quieter, but what about the Ikon?

 

[Matthew Allen]

Just curious what the Hexar's AE feature is like?

It's very good. Pretty standard centre-weighted meter and an exposure compensation dial with 1/3 stops on top of the camera that you can operate with your thumb, without removing the camera from your eye if you don't want to. In AEL mode lightly pressing the shutter release holds the current exposure setting.

Matthew

 

[Krosya]

totally biased opinion here but definitely the hexar. apologies to everyone but there really is no competition if you want an AE RF.

Agreed! All the way!

 

[Papercut]

Sounds mostly like the Ikon. But am I right in understanding that on the Hexar you have to keep the shutter halfway depressed to hold the exposure values for lock?

Ikon is an on-off switch. You push it and let go (and can release the shutter too), and it holds the exposure until you hit the button again. Useful for taking several exposures (say a pano or any sequence of exposures with exposure lock on) all at one metered exposure setting, without resorting to full manual mode.

 

[EtoileFinder]

I sold my Hexar, and bought an zeiss ikon from popflash, and I definitely say for myself I prefer the Ikon. The AE lock and the viewfinder is great. I prefer mechanical than motorized winder. The shutter is a little tiny bit more noisy than a Leica. The only negatives things about the ikon is his weight, that's why sometimes I prefer the M7, the body paint seem easy to scratch and an half case from Luigi is very expensive. I have no regret to having replaced my Hexar for an Ikon.

 

[Papercut]

Like EtoileFinder I'm very happy with my Ikon -- thinking about getting a second body even. But, after only three and a half months (60+ rolls), I've already had to replace the body covering (griptac from cameraleather.com) -- it just wore down, was getting tacky and chipping already. That's been my only real complaint; but my camera goes everywhere (except bed and the shower) with me, so it sees a lot of handling.

 

[Keith]

Just curious what the Hexar's AE feature is like?

I am a right-eye shooter and I can operate the Ikon's AE with my thumb, without ever taking the camera down from my eye. And it stays on even after winding to the next frame. Extremely well-placed for me (would be much less so, I imagine, for a left-eye shooter though).

That's a big advantage being able to lock the AE ... I've fired off the odd unintentional frame with the Hexar trying to keep the AE locked. It's a very fine line between locked and shot! 😛

Incidentally I think the Hexars is AE is maginally better than the Ikon's! I quite often border on overexposure with the Zeiss.

 

[Keith]

I say M7! 😉

Did someone say something? 😛

 

[hiorgos]

Like EtoileFinder I'm very happy with my Ikon -- thinking about getting a second body even. But, after only three and a half months (60+ rolls), I've already had to replace the body covering (griptac from cameraleather.com) -- it just wore down, was getting tacky and chipping already. That's been my only real complaint; but my camera goes everywhere (except bed and the shower) with me, so it sees a lot of handling.

Interesting. When i had a nikon d80 my "corrosive" fingers were wearing off the grip side, where the fingers rest, after some months of use. Should I spect the same with the ikon? or the leicas?

 

[Papercut]

hiorgos,

I think it depends on one's body chemistry, amount of hand sweat, climate, number of hours held. I do know of one other person (I think on RFF, though I forget who it was) who had the same issue with his Ikon as I did, so if your hands are 'corrosive' you might too I suppose. At least replacing it is cheap and easy (if you avoid exotic leathers and such anyway).

 

[photogdave]

I couldn't care less about the noise it makes ... that's someone else's problem! 😛

I like that line of thinking!

BUT ... if the Doctor had kept an Ikon in his pocket instead of that stupid sonic screwdriver the Daleks wouldn't have gained the stranglehold on the universe that they did! 😀

That is a point I did not consider...

 

[Doug]

I have both cameras, and like both. I do prefer the HRF's easy film loading and motor advance/rewind and its 75mm framelines. I prefer the ZI viewfinder and AE lock. Both excellent choices...