How's your ZI doing?

I've had mine for maybe a week and i love it!

I lost the rubber cap for the flash contact though.
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I bought mine in January and think that this could be the most enjoyable camera to use on the planet. I started with an M6 but it had a shutter timing fault and I didnt get along with it anyway. The dealer (the real camera company) was kind enough to allow me to swap it for a ZI instead of a free repair..
 
I understand that the ZI has been discontinued. What are folks' thoughts on the pros and cons of buying a used ZI versus a new Bessa R2A?
 
Bingley said:
I understand that the ZI has been discontinued. What are folks' thoughts on the pros and cons of buying a used ZI versus a new Bessa R2A?
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Go for it. The ZI is a much nicer camera IMO. And the Bessa R2/3/4A is also discontinued now, anyway.
 
jonmanjiro said:
Go for it. The ZI is a much nicer camera IMO. And the Bessa R2/3/4A is also discontinued now, anyway.
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You can still buy the Bessas new with warranty. Cameraquest still supports them.

I actually was surprised how nice my Bessa R3a is, especially because of the 1:1 finder. I 'wanted' to dislike it as a Leica user..
;)

I had won an auction for an Zeiss Ikon ZM, but it went dodgy and was cancelled. A shame as I'd have liked to see for myself how the ZI is.

What it comes down to is a really nice R3a/R2a can be had for about $315 if you are patient, while the same condition ZI would be at least $800. Apparently the guts are the same. (the rf is not).
 
Bingley said:
I understand that the ZI has been discontinued. What are folks' thoughts on the pros and cons of buying a used ZI versus a new Bessa R2A?
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I have owned three Bessas (with the different finders) and eventually upgraded to the ZI. In my view the ZI is greatly refined with a better viewfinder, rangefinder, rewind knob (far bigger), shutter speed dial (no silly lock) and improved shutter (I think). The one thing that lets the ZI down is the shutter speed readout, which is on the left hand side and not always easily visible and which is difficult to use in manual mode because it only reads in full stops. Having said that, I like the exposure lock on the back and exposure compensation via the shutter speed dial is a vast improvement over the Leica M7, which I have also owned. I'd go for the ZI if you can afford one.

Oh yes, almost forgot, the selection of framelines on the ZI is automatic, whereas on the Bessas you have to do this manually.
 
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I've got one of the limited edition ones (What makes it limited edition? The "Limited edition" engraving on top?), bought second hand in the UK a couple of years ago.

Works a charm, I've (I love Exif4Film) put 84 rolls of film through it, mostly Tri-X but also some Provia and one solitary roll of Portra 160, two rolls of Velvia 50 and the odd Delta 400 (Which, much to my surprise, has proven to be much more universally available than Tri-X wherever I've been going for work, bringing my camera(s).)

I've had no issues whatsoever with it - replaced the batteries a couple of times, had a scare when I thought I had cross-threaded the battery cover going back in - but luckily it turned out that I had wedged some paper from the battery blister pack between the body and cover when I put the batteries in; oh sweet relief!

That aside, it has just been quietly working - though arguably, mine has lead a very easy life compared to a few of the more heavily used specimens in this thread!
 
@jawarden - sorry to read about the loss of your Ikon. Uncommon faults are not good, and irreparable faults are worse.

I bought mine in early 2008, although I haven't used it very much in the last few years since buying the M9. Last year I started using it again because I wanted something lighter than the M7/M9 bodies but still able to shoot RF glass at full frame. It is still chugging along just fine, although the wind lever is showing some wear at the edges like in the photos others have posted.
 
Archiver said:
@jawarden - sorry to read about the loss of your Ikon. Uncommon faults are not good, and irreparable faults are worse.
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Hey thanks. These things happen. I replaced the Ikon with an M3 that I'm enjoying getting to know. I'm finding the M3 is both better and worse than the Ikon, but overall I like it very much. I really liked the Ikon when I had it.
 
jawarden said:
Hey thanks. These things happen. I replaced the Ikon with an M3 that I'm enjoying getting to know. I'm finding the M3 is both better and worse than the Ikon, but overall I like it very much. I really liked the Ikon when I had it.
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Congrats on the M3! It's regarded as one of the best M bodies, but aren't they all? I will trust that my Ikon continues to give good service over the coming years.
 
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