M7 or a Zeiss Ikon ZM?

[anabasis]

To me it came down to the lenses. They have different frame lines and I had a 90mm Elmarit-M. I got the M7.

JCA

 

[Underaglassbell]

I had a problem with an M7 and had to return it. Make sure it has the optical DX coding, if you go for the M7.

Question. How do you know if it has DX Coding?
[ - I just purchased my first M7 ]

 

[mfogiel]

Put an iso 200 or 400 film inside and turn on the camera. If the dx coding works, you will see the blinking iso speed number in the vf at the beginning.

 

[jk251]

ZI has bright viewfinder and is the budget choice.

 

[Krosya]

I can load my M4-P in two seconds flat

Two seconds, huh? I'd pay to see that! 😉

 

[mark-b]

Zeiss Ikon. Faster film loading, brighter finder, costs less, and just as good-looking as the M7.

 

[Keith]

I've only used by new (to me) ZM for a couple of days, but I find it much slower to load compared with my Leica's. I can load my M4-P in two seconds flat, but with the ZM I'm fumbling trying to thread the film into the takeup spool. Is there a trick I'm missing or something?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU7WDRs9BCU

 

[Pickett Wilson]

When I got my first 35mm camera way back in the 1960's, the salesman showed me how to load it as in the video. It's fast and easy. I'm aways amazed at how many people drop the film cartridge into the rewind side first and fiddle putting the leader into the takeup spool.

 

[Steve Ash]

Take both in your hands and follow your heart.

Regards
Steve

PS: I love my M7!

 

[bwcolor]

Both cameras far exceed my abilities.

 

[arseniii]

For Toronto area residents interested in seeing a ZI before purchase, there are, in fact, at least two retailers: http://www.harrysproshop.com/ in Toronto, and www.bigcameraworkshops.com in Burlington. You can check their prices on the websites.

arseniii thought there were no local dealers, but since I bought mine from Rob, thought it was worth letting others in Toronto know that there are local options. In the end, I didn't keep the ZI, but replacing it with an M7 isn't even in my dreams. I've decided to continue using a hand held meter with older Ms, and since I shoot slowly anyway, have been happy with that. My experience with Zeiss customer service was excellent.

Yes it is true, Rob always has ZI in stock or at least he is very willing to demonstrate his own ones. On the other side his studio is located in Burlington suburbs and there is no way to get there from T.O. but 1hr driving. Harry's only takes orders and doesn't posses any stock of ZIs. My point was that if smth happens to the camera you will have to send it back to Asia to fix and wait for long long weeks before it arrives back. Leica on the other side has plenty of parts available in stock and can be fixed by local masters...

I was deciding between them for a long time and now I am a happy owner of MP, because of the size and the absence of AE mode. Which for me as long time M6 /M3 user is frustrating 🙂))

Would still love to play with ZI someday, if somebody with ZI up for a Coffee in T.O. or Hamilton PM me I will bring my MP up ;-)

 

[grainhound]

My first ZI developed sticky frame lines, but I took it back to Rob, not to Asia, and soon had a replacement. I don't mind the drive; it's about the same cost as shipping, but faster. Zeiss apparently replaces, rather than fixes the camera.

I'd probably like an MP very much, but as with an M7, it's not even in my dreams. My meterless Ms are all I need. I can tell you more about my experience with the ZI over beer at the next meeting, probably mid to late December.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

When I got my first 35mm camera way back in the 1960's, the salesman showed me how to load it as in the video. It's fast and easy. I'm aways amazed at how many people drop the film cartridge into the rewind side first and fiddle putting the leader into the takeup spool.

I can't believe I'm 39 years old and have been using film cameras for 23 years and never once thought to do it that way.

 

[Chris101]

I noticed in the video that the film is cut to a sharp angle for the leader rather than the curve that it comes with from the factory. Is that a Zeiss thing?

 

[Tim Gray]

------------------------------
"It's not really exposure lock but a shutter speed lock, which means you can either do exposure lock, or lock the shutter speed and change the aperture".

how does that work exactly? i have used it only for exposure lock. i've tried changing the aperature while holding down the lock. is there another way to do this?

That's what I mean. Once pushed down, you can change the aperture (and exposure) if you want while holding the shutter constant. It's not terribly useful, but there are times when it comes in handy. For example, you could meter on shadows, lock the shutter speed, and stop down two stops.

 

[Tom Diaz]

I assume price is being set aside, to some extent. I have owned a ZI and think it is fabulous, for the money. I use an M6TTL but have not used an M7. However, I think I can grok an M7 anyway. If you are looking for a justification to spend the considerable extra money on an M7, I'm not sure you're going to find it easily.

If you can afford an M7 I would buy it--you said "mint" but I would suggest "new." A Passport warranty is nice if you are buying one in the USA and, like me, you drop things sometimes. Also, I do believe an M7 will have higher resale value.

Pluses for the ZI: The ZI has a lovely viewfinder with not-so-visible shutter speeds on display over on the far edge. It also has a really excellent shutter/exposure comp dial on top.

I should mention that the Leica has a solid, precision-made heft, while the ZI is lighter--probably very robust, but lighter and less solid feeling. Not sure what that is worth to you, but it's a real difference.

Finally (this is kind of important to me), the ZI has frames for an 85 mm lens rather than a 75mm, 'cause Zeiss has an 85mm lens. I, however, have 75mm and 90mm lenses, not an 85. Check out features like that in making your decision.

Tom

 

[maggieo]

Will the Zeiss mount the 50/2 Summicron DR? If so, I'll take one.

 

[Photon42]

[...]

If you can afford an M7 I would buy it--you said "mint" but I would suggest "new." A Passport warranty is nice if you are buying one in the USA and, like me, you drop things sometimes. Also, I do believe an M7 will have higher resale value.

[...]

If the cost of an investment is to be compared, the resale value only counts indirectly. What counts are the difference of sale and resale price, depreciated over a given time span. You can easily lose the equivalent of a complete new ZI with an M7, when you list the M7 after a couple of years of even moderate usage. Not to mention the fact that the M7 ties up much more capital, which you could use to buy film.

But hey, who decides on blunt investment principles, when s/he posts in the Rangefinder Forum 🙄. The experience to photograph with a nice camera never depreciates 😀.

Cheers
Ivo

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

M7.
I can't use my elmarit 135 and 50DR on the ZI.

Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema

 

[jsrockit]

My heart says M7, my wallet says Zeiss... but my mind says both are so damn nice that you cannot go wrong.