How well does a ZI ZM hold its value?

[bennyng]

Let this be a lesson for all who read this thread or land here via google -- think hard about camera reliability before making decisions.

It just let me down at a critical juncture, and good friends never do that.

From the above, sounds like the love affair is over and a divorce is imminent.

So how much you going to sell that piece of junk when you return to Singapore? Can you still get it fixed under warranty?

Cheers,

 

[keepright]

Let this be a lesson for all who read this thread or land here via google -- think hard about camera reliability before making decisions.

That sucks, but it has nothing to do with the thread that you started, and one account (or even a singing and dancing web forum chorus) says nothing about the reliability of anything.

 

[anerjee]

From the above, sounds like the love affair is over and a divorce is imminent.

So how much you going to sell that piece of junk when you return to Singapore? Can you still get it fixed under warranty?

Cheers,

the love affair is not over, the honeymoon is. i will definitely not sell the camera, but get it repaired. it is under warranty.

As an engineer, I know how hard it is to prevent mechanical failures in every last equipment you sell. I guess my words were speaking more from my unhappiness more than anything else.

 

[NazgulKing]

the love affair is not over, the honeymoon is. i will definitely not sell the camera, but get it repaired. it is under warranty.

As an engineer, I know how hard it is to prevent mechanical failures in every last equipment you sell. I guess my words were speaking more from my unhappiness more than anything else.

Just go find Chiifei and have him take a look. He probably can help.

 

[Chinasaur]

There is something poetic about all this. In six weeks, from "will it hold it's value" and being told to not worry about that...

To, "It just let me down at a critical juncture..."... almost as if the God's preordained this dance...

And honestly...were you pounding tent stakes with the thing? Cause these things are built like tanks (and yes I own one)...certainly better than plastic Nikon DSLR's are...

So ... how DID you break it? Just so I don't go do the same thing.... For posterity's sake even... 🙂

Hope you don't miss too many shots by not having your Zeiss Ikon baby in functional condition...or that you can repair it soonest...

 

[grainhound]

My first ZI quickly developed sticky frame lines: I think it was the 35mm frame that wouldn't go away under certain circumstances (2½ years ago...I don't remember exactly). Returned to dealer, and as he predicted, Zeiss sent out a new one. A month or two later in Xi'an, China, I'm shooting some slide film, and the light meter goes weird on me. Fluctuating readings... what the?? I look at the shutter speed dial, try to move it, and find that it's now free wheeling; it just spins around apparently unattached to anything. I had brought my M4-2 along for b/w, but it then became my only camera. On my return to Toronto, I returned the ZI for a refund, as I'd lost confidence in it.

I treat my camera gear carefully; it stays in a bag until I want it, then it goes back in the bag. I don't shoot street, and I'm slow. I don't go on group shoots because I'd drive everyone crazy. My point here is that the camera failed on its own; there was no abuse.

Having said all this, I'd almost like to get another one as I really liked the camera. However, I'll stand pat with my meterless Leicas and throw spare loonies and twonies into an M9 jar. Some day maybe.

I was surprised that anerjee had the same loose shutter speed dial problem. Is that chronic? Zeiss?

The serial #s on my ZIs were 155921** and 155923**.

 

[Bob Michaels]

................................. I was surprised that anerjee had the same loose shutter speed dial problem. Is that chronic? Zeiss? .....................................

One of my ZI bodies had the same problem but I do not think it is chronic. I have had several similar parts and pieces come loose. It was like the screws just were not tightened enough. Or, they could have used some low strength Loctite. I must add that my primary body has had 3 1/2 years of much use.

I would give the Zeiss engineering and design an A. I would give the assembly a C+. I will live with that as I can get little assembly things fixed locally while I wait and usually at no or minimal cost. But the design is something that is permanent.

Similar thoughts about the ZM lenses. Great design, but......... Never had one wobble but one did need to have the helicoid regreased. Tech said it look like it was not properly lubed during assembly. And it had not seen much use.

FWIW, when I travel I always carry redundant items for everything. No lack of confidence in the ZI equipment, I do that with everything. There are just too many things that can happen when you are many days away.

 

[thegf]

am i the only one who is embarrassed to have read all the way to page 3...?

 

[j.scooter]

am i the only one who is embarrassed to have read all the way to page 3...?

Nope!!

I have read all 3 pages and pages 2 and 3 multiple times😀😀😀

I have wanted one for ages and recently found a used one for sale with a 1552 s/n.

Not sure what to do, so I'll probably go back and read page 2😛

 

[x-ray]

I would buy a m6 if resale value or build quality/robustness is an issue. If bought new and resold the ZI is a big time "loser", but not so much if bought used and then resold. I bought and returned a few ZIs because the RF mechanism was so fragile; they had RFs that went out of alignment during normal use shortly after arriving or were out of alignment upon arrival. Despite the ZI having a fantastic VF, the RF mechanism's fragility would be a reason to choose a m6.

I purchased one of the early ZM's and have never had an issue of any sort. I've also owned over a dozen M's over the past 43 years and had a few problems with RF alignment, shutters, timers, etc. even on new cameras. None are perfect. IMO the Zeiss is excellent and has the best RF I've ever used and a great meter and shutter too.

 

[kshapero]

I am seeing ZI's being sold used on eBay for $1400. I'd say that that is evidence that it hold's its price very well, especially when they came out they were $1200 new.