Is the Zeiss Ikon still coming?

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snaggs

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Any new gossip on the specs, build quality? Is it being held up by Zeiss wanting improved quality for something thats going the bare their name?

Daniel.
 
I was at Yodobashi Camera's Tokyo main store around mid July. The guy there said "August" for first availability - and nodded very reassuringly. They had the 25, the 35 and the 50 on the shelf - I took a few shots with the 35 on my Bessa R2A. The lens felt fantastic in my hands. If the camera is of an equal quality grade, then it's going to be a no-brainer for me: I will fork out the money and get the camera and the 35.

At Yodobashi's book shelf, I found a publication entirely dedicated to the Zeiss Ikon and the new lenses. Great lens comparisons with whole raft of peers. Nice pictures of the Zeiss Ikon, with comparisons of details with Leica, Hexar and Bessa. I didn't buy the mag for it was all in Katakana, but if anyone is interested: Here's the hyperlink

BTW, you may want to check out Cosina's web home, where there is sort of an animated pic series of the Zeiss Ikon, but that may have been there for a while already. Hyperlink.

So I guess the Zeiss Ikon is coming, and from all what I've seen so far, I believe it will be a significant upgrade to the Bessas. Proof of the pudding though ... will be the shooting, of course. Patience, grasshopper, patience !

Regards, Gerold
 
Gerold: Thanks for your input, and especially for the second link. I noted a small button on the back of the camera, below the hot shoe and just above the camera back. Do you or anyone know what that is?

Trius
 
yes, it's the AE lock. I'm just not sure how one is supposed to use it. With the nose perhaps ?
 
It is in the same place as the R2a and R3a. I found it to be relatively convenient to use with my thumb, though my nose would work too.
 
I took my M6 + lux back to the dealer today. The Leica wasnt "all that" and the meter was unreliable (my specific camera obviously had a fault), and the lens flared on occasion during the day. So Im wondering if I go back to Nikkor or have a go with Zeiss.

At least the lenses are affordable. A new ASPH 35mm summilux was going to cost me US$3650 here, plus anothrer US$3400 for a new MP to go with it.

I might still do this, but I've decided to cool off for a few months and think. That really is alot of money for a camera from a company whos bankrupt, with no idea whether

1) a digital solution will arrive.
2) it is feasible for it to be as high quality as other systems given the film plane/lens distance.

For the same money I could get a Zess Ikon, 35mm f/2, 15mm & 85mm lenses.

To be honest, the main difference I saw with having the Leica over my Nikons was the 35mm f/1.4 as opposed to a 50mm f/1.4. The success rate was actually a bit worse than my cheapo F65 nikon film camera, and the M6 is bigger too!

Daniel.
 
Well, now you know the truth about the difference in systems. If you have had better luck with your Nikons, why not use them and they are alot cheaper in the bargin. Right now Zeiss Ikon is vaporware so you may or may not see it but there is no harm in waiting to see as you still have your Nikons to use in the meantime.

Bob
 
snaggs said:
The Leica wasnt "all that" and the meter was unreliable (my specific camera obviously had a fault), and the lens flared on occasion during the day. So Im wondering if I go back to Nikkor or have a go with Zeiss.

Daniel.
Click to expand...

Although Zeiss has come in for some criticism for the price of their lens shades, I read a post the other day by someone who owns a couple of the new Zeiss lenses who stated that they just don't flare - even when he tried to get them to. This is certainly consistent with my experience with the Rollei/Zeiss 40 Sonnar. So I wonder if these shades are even necessary. Perhaps Zeiss priced them as they did because they see them as a specialty item, not needed for general photography. Their T* coatings certainly seem to be the best in the business.

Sorry to hear about your problems with the Leica, Daniel.

Huck
 
snaggs said:
Any new gossip on the specs, build quality? Is it being held up by Zeiss wanting improved quality for something thats going the bare their name?

Daniel.
Click to expand...

"Improved quality" is exactly what Zeiss seems to be indicating on their website. We'll see. Check the "News" section at www.zeissikon.com.

Huck
 
Gerold Marti said:
I At Yodobashi's book shelf, I found a publication entirely dedicated to the Zeiss Ikon and the new lenses. Great lens comparisons with whole raft of peers. Nice pictures of the Zeiss Ikon, with comparisons of details with Leica, Hexar and Bessa. I didn't buy the mag for it was all in Katakana, but if anyone is interested: Here's the hyperlink

Regards, Gerold
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links, Gerold.

If anyone is interested, you can get a translation of this page in Gerold's link by googling: asahi "zeiss ikon". Look down the list generated by this search fo the entry that says "open doors." Hit the "translate" button. Unfortunately, you only get access to the main page & not to the article itself. It would be nice to find out if there is some way to access the article because the lens comparisons seem to be extensive as Gerold says - including comparisons with Zeiss Contax G lenses as well as with Leica, CV, & others.

Huck
 
Hang tight on the Ikon. I have a feeling we will see something from Hasselblad soon. From what I have read, the optics are equal to the comparable Leica's.
 
Jorge Torralba said:
Hang tight on the Ikon. I have a feeling we will see something from Hasselblad soon. From what I have read, the optics are equal to the comparable Leica's.
Click to expand...

Arrrrrrrgh..
I don't need to lust after anything else!!

All this camera lust is taking away from my standard "Hello Lady!!!" lust :D

Cheers
Dave
 
Nikon Bob said:
Right now Zeiss Ikon is vaporware [...]
Click to expand...

The Zeiss Ikon is a real product that will be in the shops shortly. And an extremely good one, too. I was fortunate enough to lay eyes and hands on one last week and I would say it's second only to Leica if you're looking for a new film RF right now.
So far from vaporware.
 
iDude

Nice to hear that the bodies are finally going to materialize but until they actually do..... well you know they do not exist. Believe me I would love to see them appear on retail shelves.

Bob
 
Nikon Bob said:
iDude

Nice to hear that the bodies are finally going to materialize but until they actually do..... well you know they do not exist. Believe me I would love to see them appear on retail shelves.

Bob
Click to expand...

Same here...
I didn't even know it was in the works until I happened upon RFF.

I would love to take a gander at one in my hands but at the same time.. I don't want to have anyone "rush" to produce that camera only to have it end up being a white elephant.

I just remember how Contax rushed to produce their DSLR.. and that fell flat on its face :(

Dave
 
chuckle ... very odd indeed Mazurka! And not just Asahi Shimbun, there's presumably also a significant amount of Zeiss input going into glossy print like this, and probably also more of Zeiss' marketing input going into other channels... for nothing but ... vapour ware :rolleyes: Mhh??? The Zeiss Ikon will sell well, in solid form, not in vapour form, I'm pretty sure.
 
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