M7 or a Zeiss Ikon ZM?

M7 or a Zeiss Ikon ZM?

  • ZM

    Votes: 459 45.5%

  • M7

    Votes: 550 54.5%
  • Total voters
    1,009
I'd say that the the only three things that the M7 has over the ZI is:
  1. Red Dot
  2. Quieter Shutter
  3. Build Quality / Heft

But then, what the ZI has over the M7 is:
  1. Affordable
  2. Brighter and more accurate rangefinder
  3. Lighter

I own a ZI limited edition and recently passed on an M7 in favour of an M6 classic. The M7 is great, and if you have money and desire get it. However you should feel perfectly comfortable with the ZI as it's a great performer, who some even say is better (from a useability perspective) than the M7.
 
Ive only handled an Ikon for a brief amount of time, so i cant speak to the things like meter, accuracies, and metering. But from what I can remember about the Ikon, I prefer the extra weight of an M7 and the framelines (I need my 90mm and 135mm frames)
 
Godfrey said:
Well, the ZI is discontinued, but there is still new stock at B&H and other dealers if you want one. Look at all the people on this forum who use long discontinued cameras quite happily.
Click to expand...

The Zeiss Ikon was the only camera I have used in the last 14 years that was still being manufactured. Now it has joined the others but still works as it did when being currently built.

The only camera I bought new in that time frame was a $27 Holga. Too many great deal on like new used equipment.
 
eto said:
my choice is ZI and I don't regret it! I don't understand the hysteria about Leica, besides it's lens that gives the picture and not the body
Click to expand...

Ah, but I think the leica's are about the viewfinder, especially M3 and M2.
And general ergonomics. Shutter button on the right, speed on top, diaphragm on the front of the lens, focus at the back. That is what consumer photography has been about for quite a while. And Leica made it so...
 
well... if you are going to go automation,
i would like to throw another suggestion,
the Hexar RF.

+ Auto Advance and Rewind
+ Lens compatibility, including more esoteric ones like
Goggled Summaron, Close-up with Snooky-M + Elmar 50/f2.8 collapsible.
+ Smaller than the average M
- Dials for AE Lock isn't stiff enough, imo, same goes for EV compensation.
- Early model had RF alignment issues which wasn't easy to fix

here's a pix with 35cron:

3.jpg


raytoei
 
I voted Zeiss, but I should have voted Leica. If no one wants the ZMs, there is a *small* chance the price *might* come down to a point where I can think about beginning to dream of saving for one #photographeronabudget
 
I have been waiting for prices to drop as well so I can consider buying a backup, but they are very "sticky" and have not dropped at all so far. It is certainly a terrific camera which is quite obvious by how well it has done against the M7 in this poll.
 
Pioneer said:
I have been waiting for prices to drop as well so I can consider buying a backup, but they are very "sticky" and have not dropped at all so far. It is certainly a terrific camera which is quite obvious by how well it has done against the M7 in this poll.
Click to expand...


No doubt the ZM is a fabulous camera (one I'm considering swapping for the Leica), however, I think the poll is probably good as an indication of ownership, more than anything else. These type of polls usually boil down to "I chose it, therefore it's the best".
 
I'm happy with my M7. It's growing on me with each roll.

Honestly, it's 100% desire to own Leica. Ever since beginning photography it is the crown jewels to me... and I have been patient and purchased smartly.

Just not interested in Voighlander, not Zeiss... Not unlike the collection of Michael Kors and Coach handbags my wife owns.



Minor annoyance is the DX and the ISO wheel. I have noticed occasional patch flare.

One day, I will probably sell the M7, add a few hundred to the pot, and buy a covey of mechanical bodies to marry each of my growing collection of glass.

Cannot comment on the ZI, but at the right price... why not.
 
For me the thing with RF cameras is (after the glass) is the quality of the finders. This is why I shoot with M3's, mostly. I own neither an M7 nor a ZI- but I'm in the market, and have looked through both; the ZI finder is miles better, hands down. The build of the M7 is probably better, but the flaring finder is unforgivable. Even without that issue, the ZI's finder is bigger and brighter; no contest. (Anyone want to trade me a good ZI for one of my M3's?)
 
I had an M7 and went back to the M6 because to me it's a very disappointing camera and a missed opportunity by Leica. I disliked the fact that in auto mode there is no easy way of dialing in exposure compensation as there is with Bessa (or, apparently, the ZI) so I ended up using it in manual mode most of the time. I also disliked the way that whenever you set the film speed off the rated ISO a little LED blinks in the v/f as if there's something wrong (on my copy the silly compensation dial at the back used to move a bit, so I got the blinking thing most of the time). I disliked the number of batteries it took. And finally, it didn't have the beautiful shutter sound of the other Ms, however I've never used a ZI and I'd very much like to.
 
Prices for M7s seem to be plummeting lately. I've seen several in the last few months for less than $2k, which seems like a steal. For just a little more than both an M6 and a ZI, you can get quite a nice camera. I'm thinking about picking one up, having owned a Bessa R3A, a ZI, and an M6, in that order. Of the three, I liked the M6 the most, but missed having AE. When I bought all those cameras, M7s were still in the $2500 range. Now, it seems like a no brainer if you can get a good copy, especially with the DX reader and MP finder upgrades.
 
I've two M3s and two ZIs and mostly use a modified M6TTL and for the life of me I'm not sure why. I shoot mostly with the Zeiss 35mm f/2.8c on the M6TTL, but I know that the Zi's viewfinder is better. I do love the M3 for fast 50s and 90mm. I shoot sports with an RTS III when I know that I get better shots and more in focus shots with my 1DMKIII. When others are relying on me it is the Canon. When I shoot for myself it is the Contax. Go figure..

When you have some passion for photography, both the equipment and the process, I'm not sure that logic has much to do with any of it. When you do it as a business, best use logic.

So many threads ask which piece of equipment is best, but how do you answer when it is all good?
 
bwcolor said:
When you have some passion for photography, both the equipment and the process, I'm not sure that logic has much to do with any of it. When you do it as a business, best use logic.

So many threads ask which piece of equipment is best, but how do you answer when it is all good?
Click to expand...

+1

A great statement. It is all good. Leica, Zeiss Ikon, Contax, Bessa, they all do a terrific job if the photographer can do his job. When it comes down to it the choice of your equipment will certainly be more related to your own personal likes and dislikes then anything else. And even sometimes things you did not even consider in the beginning.

I managed to burn some good sized holes in the shutter curtain of my M6 (my own fault) so I am now shooting exclusively with the ZI. Once the M6 gets back from Youxin I will probably continue to work with the ZI since it is easily as capable, and I am not as worried about the shutter curtains.
 
Last edited:
There is a LNIB ZI on GetDPI for $1100. Seems like a great deal to me. Although, I opted for a silver M7 with motor, magnifier and 24mm silver Elmarit. Should be here next week.

🙂 very excited to be back with a leica film camera.

Joel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

pseudobreccia
You just have to love the Zeiss Ikon ZM...
Replies
8
Views
1K
Retro-Grouch
Retro-Grouch
P
Leica m7 misaligned frame counter
Replies
5
Views
375
Richard G
Richard G
Shab
A 35mm lens for a Nikon FM3A
2 3
Replies
42
Views
3K
Dogman
Dogman
O
Zeiss Ikon service remains available.
Replies
11
Views
841
Freakscene
Freakscene
tortellini_man
first M mount film body
2 3
Replies
56
Views
4K
JohnGellings
J
Back
Top Bottom