Ken Rockwell reviews the Zeiss Ikon

[kshapero]

check it out: www.kenrockwell.com

If it matters, it's actually pretty good.

 

[astroman]

He likes the Ikon
Perfers it over the Leica M7

 

[35mmdelux]

He likes the Ikon
Perfers it over the Leica M7

Wow, dem some pretty big words.

 

[astroman]

LOL
I know but
thats what Ken said.
Although I have too agree as
a Zeiss Ikon user

 

[naruto]

"Film loading is 3.7 times as fast as with the LEICA." - this is why I love reading his stuff. precise and accurate facts presented with no bias.
:angel:

 

[wlewisiii]

Time to pop some corn & kick back while the Ken bashing starts. 🙂

William

 

[bennyng]

I like this Zeiss Ikon, but I've not been excited by any of the Voigtländers I've used.....There is no joy in using the Voigtländers. The Voigtländers are practical, but not that much fun to use.

Hey! He even made references to the Voigtlanders too!

Cheers,

 

[maddoc]

He has makes some good points about the ZI but to be fair he should have mentioned that he has an old type M7 with mechanical DX reader and the M6TTL type VF. The new optical DX reader eliminates some problems with the M7 meter and the actual MP-type VF reduces flare more effectively.

 

[BillBingham2]

"Film loading is 3.7 times as fast as with the LEICA." - this is why I love reading his stuff. precise and accurate facts presented with no bias.
:angel:

Would love to see a UTube of him vs say Tom A loading an M2. My money is on Tom.

B2 (;->

 

[Pablito]

"Manual metering is slower and less precise than LEICA. Leica provides three > o < LEDs which lets you set perfect manual exposure instantly. The Zeiss Ikon merely blinks the speed LED it wants you to set, and the LED for the speed at which you are set stays solid. You have to chase the blinking LED, and the primitive Zeiss' LED system allows for errors of up to a half stop."

This is one reason I could never use this camera.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

"Film loading is 3.7 times as fast as with the LEICA." - this is why I love reading his stuff. precise and accurate facts presented with no bias.
:angel:

Never thought i'd be defending this guy, but i'm pretty sure he meant this ("3.7 times as fast") to be read with a laugh.

Having owned two M7s and now an Ikon, i agree with almost all of his assessments. Just about the only thing i preferred on the M7 was the half-press of the shutter release for AE lock. After almost two years, i still forget to use the Ikon's dedicated AE lock button, as it's the only camera i've ever used that works that way.

 

[TJV]

As an aside,
can someone point me in the direction of a pic showing a ZM beside an M7? What are the dimension differences? Just wondering about how far out a Zeiss VF would be compared to the Leica on the taller M7.

 

[mfogiel]

His essential point is the following:

"Here's 99% of my review: The Zeiss Ikon works and feels better than a Leica M7 for actual shooting, while the Leica M7 feels better for holding in your hand and showing around to your friends. They both do the same thing. "

Haha... there would be some minor points on which to elaboraqte, but essentialy he has nailed it pretty well.

 

[peripatetic]

Well - *pats self on back* - I predicted when Ken recently embarked upon his Rangefinder love affair that he'd eventually get round to testing and declaring the ZI superior. 🙂

I actually find KR pretty entertaining. A few genuine insights surrounded by hype and nonsense. But he makes that disclaimer himself. He does his very best to be provocative, and I don't think he can help himself, I'm sure he's the same in person.

Funny how he's much easier to take when he's singing the praises of stuff you like compared to when he's dissin' your sacred cows. 🙂

 

[sircarl]

Amen, peripatetic. As a ZI user I, of course, found his review astoundingly accurate. 🙂 But kidding aside, I think he covers all the bases well here (and in the adjoining comparative tables). I can't think of anywhere else, in fact, you could get all this data in one place. And unlike most people who sing the praises of one or the other, he has actually used both cameras. You may disagree with his conclusions, but at least this kind of review can help you make up your mind, if you're considering either an M7 or ZI.

 

[sepiareverb]

And he seems to like the CLE as well or better than the Ikon.

 

[Keith]

Wow ... he gives the camera a good wrap up but this statement isn't quite true ...

The meter pattern of the Zeiss Ikon is a perfect center-weighted pattern

It actually has a bias to the lower left of the frame!

I have to say I don't mind the guy though ... always entertaining and his enthusiasm is great!

 

[telenous]

"Film loading is 3.7 times as fast as with the LEICA." - this is why I love reading his stuff. precise and accurate facts presented with no bias.
:angel:

Some of the guys aboard RFf have written ZI reviews 2.7 times more edifying and 4.2 times less partisan.

.

 

[jaap]

I really don,t understand why so many people attach so mutch value to an opinion from just one person. I prefer to judge things by myself

 

[notturtle]

Thats interesting... are they all like that?

Wow ... he gives the camera a good wrap up but this statement isn't quite true ...



It actually has a bias to the lower left of the frame!

I have to say I don't mind the guy though ... always entertaining and his enthusiasm is great!