M5 for a ZI

[back alley]

joe -
speaking of quality feel...have you ever put a luigi leather case on the ZI?
Would the R2 luigi case fit on the ZI? I have one on the R2.
How much was the grip for the ZI and where did you get it?

thanks.

Jason

i have a luigi half case for the zi, i use it in winter for cold weather shooting. mostly to keep my hands off the metal.
can't say if the r2 case would fit. the zi case on my r4 fits but blocks much of the finder eye piece.
the grip i use is an mgrip that i modified (cut a hole to access the film rewind button), there is a zeiss grip that sells for 89 bucks at popflash. do a search as there was a good thread on it sometime ago. i like the mrip for it's size and angular shape as opposed to a rounded shape.
joe

 

[Charlie]

As wearer of glasses and someone who owns both a ZI and a m6, I can say that the ZI is usually the first camera I pick up when walking out the door. It doesn't feel cheap or lightweight and even if it did, that big, bright, beautiful viewfinder would still make it the first camera I pick up when walking out the door.

Regards,

Charlie

 

[Xmas]

Joe

You sure live dangerously saying bad things about a M5... I'd anticipate sympathetic magic at the least.
Though my Kievs are pretty heavy, I dont claim they are 'high quality'.
Hope you and K9 both ok...

Noel

 

[back alley]

noel, i didn't say anything bad about the m5...where do you see this?

joe

 

[Xmas]

Joe

I agree Joe. But the origional post says M5. It was the implication... Good thing it was not an M8? Feed the dog an extra biscuit.

Noel

 

[PlantedTao]

As wearer of glasses and someone who owns both a ZI and a m6, I can say that the ZI is usually the first camera I pick up when walking out the door. It doesn't feel cheap or lightweight and even if it did, that big, bright, beautiful viewfinder would still make it the first camera I pick up when walking out the door.

Regards,

Charlie

You may have just tip the scale towards the ZI... 😀
but I will make a trip by the camera store and get a good feel and looksee before making the decision.

Thanks everyone.

Jason

 

[Doug]

...I will make a trip by the camera store and get a good feel and looksee before making the decision.

That sounds the best move, Jason. There's the practical benefits of the Z-I, and then there's the Leica Experience, and it's a tough tradeoff. I've had an M2 for a long time (40yrs this year) but do prefer the Z-I for several operational reasons, including AE. Use the M2 occasionally; C-Sonnar-ZM on it now. But *having* the Leica takes the pressure off any further desire for another! Got that covered... "Been there, done that..." Good luck! 🙂

 

[x-ray]

Why not? Except it will feel cheaper than the M5.

Jason:

Hope you're doing well! Shout when you're back in Knoxville. Love to get together again.

Not cheaper but lighter in weight. I have 6 M's and one ZI with 2 of the M's .85 MP's and an old M3 with the .91. The others are traditional .72's. Man I love the ZI very much and can say the VF/RF will knock your socks off with or without glasses. The AE is first rate and dead on the money and I never take it off the AE mode. The VF / RF is the biggest, clearest and easiest to focus of any RF I've ever used. The camera is well built and lighter due to magnesium in the shell. The flash sync is 1/125 and the shutter is quiet ans smooth. I also love the traditional loading vs the awkward bottom loading of the M's. I have to say the M5 was never a favorite and the meter system is less reliable than the more modern cameras.

I don't think you'll regret the ZI after you use it.

Don

PS

The only real disadvantage of the ZI vs the MP's is the lack of 75mm frame. I use my 75 a great deal and mioss it in the ZI.

 

[PlantedTao]

Jason:

Hope you're doing well! Shout when you're back in Knoxville. Love to get together again.

Not cheaper but lighter in weight. I have 6 M's and one ZI with 2 of the M's .85 MP's and an old M3 with the .91. The others are traditional .72's. Man I love the ZI very much and can say the VF/RF will knock your socks off with or without glasses. The AE is first rate and dead on the money and I never take it off the AE mode. The VF / RF is the biggest, clearest and easiest to focus of any RF I've ever used. The camera is well built and lighter due to magnesium in the shell. The flash sync is 1/125 and the shutter is quiet ans smooth. I also love the traditional loading vs the awkward bottom loading of the M's. I have to say the M5 was never a favorite and the meter system is less reliable than the more modern cameras.

I don't think you'll regret the ZI after you use it.

Don

PS

The only real disadvantage of the ZI vs the MP's is the lack of 75mm frame. I use my 75 a great deal and mioss it in the ZI.

Hey Don, everything in Seattle is going good! Hope your project is going well and I have loved the results I have seen in your gallery.

Well, with the equipment you have and the work you do, this is a great endorsement for the ZI. I'm really glad I tried the M5 and think it should cure my "need" for Leica...

Oh yeah, my plans are still to get you a print! I havent forget😱
Jami (the girl that was with me on the trip) & I got engaged this summer...now we are looking for a house and then worry about marriage next year. So, my plans are to do some printing this winter...hopefully in my own darkroom 😀

Cheers.

Jason

 

[payasam]

Joe, becoming an architect was a thwarted ambition. I'd say that reinforced concrete makes more sense.

 

[jarski]

hmm.. based on these posts, looks like Leica has a weight problem in their hands..

who knows, maybe next M-body will be lighter, just to respond to trend set by ZI 🙂

 

[Trius]

I often buy audio gear by weight. 😀

 

[back alley]

doesn't the m8 have magnesium in the body for lighter weight?

trius, it's all about the magnets...😉

joe

 

[rxmd]

I will make millions selling counterweights that screw to camera bottoms.

 

[jarski]

You guys are missing the boat! I say pure lead, and it will absorb impact! 🙂

if only weight counts, why not uranium bottoms instead of lead ?

I bet that would sell like "hot cakes" 😛

 

[Doug]

if only weight counts, why not uranium bottoms instead of lead ?

I bet that would sell like "hot cakes" 😛

Then they'd have to apply this UN radiation warning logo to the front:

 

[Peter55]

Get the 1.25 magnifier as I did

Get the 1.25 magnifier as I did

I just got the m5 about 2 months ago, have been using it and really like it.
Sherry did a CLA on it and replaced some parts, it now operates to perfection. The m5 is a wonderful piece of machinery. It feels great in my hands, everything is where it should be and it is quiet...whisper quiet.

But...I dont like the viewfinder, the match needle is genius, yet the vf seems small because I use glasses. I couldnt imagine using the 35 on it, the 50 is perfect but that is just too limiting.

So, I'm thinking about the ZI...the best vf out there (for glasses users?) AND ae. I have a xpan with ae and it is just tits. I really think that simple invention would just make me feel more intune with the camera, I know it does on the xpan when doing street or quick candid photography (which is what I love).

I really love the m5, but the ZI calls to me...
so I could get the ZI (brand new, silver) for a $100 if I traded in the m5.

Should I???

thanks.
Jason

All you really need is the Leica 1.25 viewfinder magnifier for M cameras. It takes our M5 viewfinder from 0.68 magnification up to 0.85. I also got the Leica +.05 diopter for vision correction. Both brand new from B&H photo
The magnifer was $278 and the diopters are $88