is that ikon tough as nails?

[Sparrow]

I have an F3 with a MD4 and a 105/f2.5, I suspect it would last longer in a tumble-drier than almost anything else ... of course I don't put it in a tumble-drier, get it wet or submit it to shocks 'cos I'm not stupid.

Cameras are precision instruments only a fool would brag about mistreating them.

the Ikon has a magnesium body, the stuff they use to make rallye car wheels, most of these old "tough" cameras people are so proud of are made off brass ... like carriage clocks

 

[Mephiloco]

I doubt you'd have a problem with the ZI in bad weather. People seem to think cameras are far more delicate than they actually are.

Hell, when I was still shooting with my XTi I used it in bad weather several times, to where almost the whole body and lens had water on it and kept shooting. When I got inside I wiped it down, took off the lens, removed memory card, battery etc and let them all dry. Not a single problem with the camera. I've put my t90 through far worse (the 35mm lens that stays on it no longer has filter threads from being knocked around so much), though the t90 is notorious for taking a beating.

Of all the cameras I have owned/used, the only one I've had to send in for repairs is my Leica, and trust me, it's the only camera I own that get babied.

I've even got an older olympus p&s I keep in my bag for when weather is really bad, since I don't care if it gets ruined, and it's held up pretty well. I got some lens problems for a while but it corrected itself.

Anyways, cameras for the most part have some pretty high tolerances, but are often babied too much, just like musical equipment.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

John, what you need is a Nikonos!
My guess, and that is all it is, is that the ZI does not like rough going.
I look forward to hearing about your experience with it in adverse conditions.

I was going to say exactly that 😀

I don't baby my leicas and other stuff, but if I need to be sure that a camera holds up against whatever conditions, it's the nikonos.

 

[jarski]

Anyways, cameras for the most part have some pretty high tolerances, but are often babied too much, just like musical equipment.

am not trying to turn OP's mind, as he needs RF for the trip, not SLR.

for the rest of these comments about abusing the camera rather than using it, go for it if pockets are deep enough. I too have used various cameras in various weathers, but only when I had to. there was no time to prepare, so just had to go with what was in hand. but now we were discussing equipment for a trip, in advance.
sealing is there for reason and it doesnt take more than one drop of water in wrong place (in modern electronic cameras). after that no worries about 'decisive moments', least for a while 🙂

 

[Bnack]

went hiking on the Appalachian trail for a week with it clipped to my pack and kept it in the pack if it was raining. Had no problems.

 

[Trius]

Stewart: John didn't brag about abusing his gear, just commented that's the way it seems to go. Also, he's not a delicate guy. 😉

 

[Sparrow]

Stewart: John didn't brag about abusing his gear, just commented that's the way it seems to go. Also, he's not a delicate guy. 😉

You have advantage of me; I don't know who John is. I was simply pointing out that if one drops, or otherwise abuses a "classic" camera it's buggered, and will cost more to repair than it cost new, Sorry 🙂

 

[rxmd]

I don't baby my leicas and other stuff, but if I need to be sure that a camera holds up against whatever conditions, it's the nikonos.

You do have to baby the Nikonos a little bit to get there, though, the seals need a little care to stay watertight.

 

[emraphoto]

Forgive me for giving the impression that I am A/ a "fool" an B/ a braggart as I assure you I am neither.

I am speaking of the currently in production zeiss ikon. I suppose by some standards it is a classic. For me it is a tool that helps me get the images I want. Nothing more nothing less.

I spend time photographing in very, very demanding conditions. That's what equates to "abuse" for me. When I say demanding I mean DEMANDING.

For all the brilliant contributions I thank you. I have been eyeing up nikonos camera as of late Frank. Last week I spent three days out in a gale with water up to my knees and believe me I had the nikonos on my mind.

For the curious I will update the ikon trials when I get it.

 

[Trius]

Stewart: John = emraphoto

No big deal, I was just picking a nit regarding what I saw (perhaps incorrectly) as your characterization of his statement as "bragging". If I misunderstood or offended in any way, I apologize.

Yes, I do have a bit of advantage in that I know John personally, and have had the good fortune to photograph with him, though not under his usual demanding conditions. Still, he smoked me. 😉

 

[silverbullet]

after two months my new M lost accuracy in the viewfinder. The good experience with my Bessa R4A I wanted to repeat with the Zeiss, but the misalignment at infinity after such a short time of gentle use irritates me.
Beside this for me the viewfinder is very helpfull as I'm wearing glasses.

Bernd

 

[Spyro]

Mine survived a couple of hours of shooting in the rain just fine. Gave me a good photo too

 

[rxmd]

For the curious I will update the ikon trials when I get it.

Thanks! That has the potential to be much more useful than all our semi-competent ramblings.

 

[BillBingham2]

emraphoto,

Take a look at either the Nikonos III. The only headache is that the 35 and 80 are the only two lenses that are made to use in and out of water. Both are great lenses but it would have. There is an old version of the 28, LW-28/2.8 that was not made for underwater at all but I'm not sure how hard those are to find.

Take a look here for a lot of GREAT information:

http://www.southern-nikonos.com/

Bob is to Nikonos what Sherry and Don (DAG) are to Leica Ms.

B2 (;->

 

[emraphoto]

brilliant bill! thanx so much.

 

[Vertigo2020]

I bought a used ZI recently. Rangefinder was slightly out of alignment. I decided to live with, then took it on a motorcycle ride. It got bounced around for a few hours and came back in perfect alignment. A few days later I bumped it into the car door getting in, (and I'm talking minor bump). Looked through the viewfinder and it was way out of alignment! The camera is in Germany being repaired now.

 

[emraphoto]

I bought a used ZI recently. Rangefinder was slightly out of alignment. I decided to live with, then took it on a motorcycle ride. It got bounced around for a few hours and came back in perfect alignment. A few days later I bumped it into the car door getting in, (and I'm talking minor bump). Looked through the viewfinder and it was way out of alignment! The camera is in Germany being repaired now.

that works out perfectly, i suppose i just need to make sure it's an even number of bumps. rangefinder out, in, out, in.

 

[BillBingham2]

Something like I used to tell my boys. "You've gone that direction about a billion times, now you better go the other way to unwind!" Never worked, they still had enough energy at the end to have me fall asleep reading to them......

B2 (;->

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

You do have to baby the Nikonos a little bit to get there, though, the seals need a little care to stay watertight.

they're freshly serviced =)