Need help on the brink of a ZI lens purchase . . .

[CDL]

Thank-you ERV for the excellent sample. I am totally rersigned to getting the 28mm now. I know that the 25mm is the star but the cost, size and quality of the 28mm have swung me, not to mention being able to use the internal frame lines. Who knows, I may get the 25mm as well when funds permit. For now, I'm really excited about the 28mm.

Cheers
Chris

 

[x-ray]

Sounds like any of the ZM's are winners. Leica has some serious competition now. I think if I were starting my system over I would buy ZM lenses over Leitz. I would probably stay with M bodies but I haven't tried a ZI so it's hard to say.

I've been looking at either a Bassa R2a or a ZI for auto features. I have 5 M bodies but none with auto which I would like for some shooting. Two of my M's have some serious miles on them and have been retired and my M6 is shopwing it's age but I do use it from time to time. My 2 MP's are new and I just feel an auto body would complement them quite well. Any comments on the auto function of the ZI? How do you like your ZI and would you recommend it to a family member?

 

[mervynyan]

I am also considering a 28mm mainly because I don't want to use external finder, although I can see I would use a wider lens. I have MP, can a 28mm frameline be highly visible in viewfinder?

 

[back alley]

i would recommend the zi to anyone who had a need for a good, solid camera with a great meter.
i did not intend to use the ae as much as i do. in fact, i sometimes feel bad that i don't hand meter anymore.
i shoot only b&w film so i know that metering isn't as critical as colour transparencies. i usually just point and shoot afa metering is concerned. sometimes i use the same technique i did with a handheld, i aim the camera down and hit the ae lock button and then frame, focus and shoot.

as far as 'feel', my old canon p felt more solid than the zi, it was heavier and yes, it did feel like i could hammer nails with it. i would not attempt that with the zi, but then that's not what it was designed for.
the zi body is like the zm lenses, a bit lighter, smooth in use and just generally more refined in feel.
an the finder makes facusing much easier than the p or the m3 i had. and at 55 with bad eyes that is a huge benefit to me.

joe

 

[jano]

what joe said (except I'm 28 yet I have very poor eyesight). I'll add that my three dislikes:
1. rarely can I see the shutter speeds in the VF
2. the thingy on the eyepiece has unscrewed before
3. winding makes a ratchety sound

#1 I can live with, since I like to concentrate on taking the picture and not on stupid settings so I use AE 99% of the time and probably wouldn't pay attention, anyway. On rare occasions I like to double-check.

#2 I've learned to carry the camera in such a way that my fingers make sure the ring is tight

#3 big deal, see Joe's thread on quiet cameras 😛 Winding is not as smooth as a leica, but it does its job.

Despite those silly issues, I really enjoy the camera! 😀

 

[willie_901]

The auto function works very well on the ZI M. I like it.

The shutter knob has a very useful feature when set to "A". You can easily rotate the knob for + or - 2 stops (in 1/3 stop increments) of exposure compensation. This is very convenient for back-lit subjects.

Also there is a small exposure lock button on the back of the camera located close to where your (my, at least) thumb naturally rests. In "A" mode if you press this button, the exposure is locked for 20 seconds and the LED readout in the finder blinks until the locked setting is released. So you can point the lens on the back of your hand or on a dark area and then you have 20 s to compose and focus.

If you leave the lens cap on, the 1 s readout blinks in the finder. Likewise the 1/2000 s readout blinks if the maximum auto-shutter speed is too slow. The shutter speed is either continuous in "A" mode or it is automatically set in 1/3 stop increments. I can't remember.

I think the auto exposure mode works very well. I use it at least 80% of the time.

willie

 

[Nachkebia]

Been working two weeks non stop with ZI in india, in very hardcore conditions, I can asure you that ZI is not a very solid performer, battery drained 2 times! frame counter is miss aligned, black paint has gone from most used elements, even the material cover is off (will post pictures) so I don`t know I like as a camera alot, I love zeiss glass too, but I am thinking M7 is ultimate...

 

[Huck Finn]

Been working two weeks non stop with ZI in india, in very hardcore conditions, I can asure you that ZI is not a very solid performer, battery drained 2 times! frame counter is miss aligned, black paint has gone from most used elements, even the material cover is off (will post pictures) so I don`t know I like as a camera alot, I love zeiss glass too, but I am thinking M7 is ultimate...

It sounds as if your camera should be sent back for replacement under warranty. Zeiss has publicly stated that the batteries should be good for 10,000 firings before they need to be changed. Unless you've been shooting morre than 20 rolls of 36-print film per day, you shouldn't even have needed to change them once at this point. Even M7's have shown up with misalignedframe counters. (Check Leica's own forum.) Correcting such problems is what warrantees are for.

I've had my ZI for almost a year & have experienced none of the problems you've mentioned. I can assure you that it is a very solid performer when subjected to normal use. I can't say how it will hold up under extreme use & abuse. You may be right that an M7 is the better choice under such conditions. However, its paint will also come off & its leatherette will wear.

Best of luck with an exchange. 🙂

 

[Nachkebia]

Yes I have been shooting more then 20 rolls per day, and I don`t think that is too much...

 

[Avotius]

Been working two weeks non stop with ZI in india, in very hardcore conditions, I can asure you that ZI is not a very solid performer, battery drained 2 times! frame counter is miss aligned, black paint has gone from most used elements, even the material cover is off (will post pictures) so I don`t know I like as a camera alot, I love zeiss glass too, but I am thinking M7 is ultimate...

I got to say im not suprised that you have had problems, my experience with the ZI really soiled my thoughts to that camera, hope yours can be fixed and wont go too far astray while you are shooting in india.

ps. what is the color of the material under the black paint?

 

[Nachkebia]

Thanks Avotius, today was my last day on my trip, so far camera is shooting 🙂 color varies to tell you the truth, at some parts it is silverish and at some parts it is white, will post some pictures when I get back anyway 🙂

 

[Huck Finn]

Yes I have been shooting more then 20 rolls per day, and I don`t think that is too much...

Wow! Very impressive. 😎

 

[CJP6008]

M7 is good - viewfinder on ZI is better if you wear glasses. I can only just see the 35mm line s in the M7, can see the 28mm ones in the ZI. My ZI has survived a year of weddings, not without the odd scratch though. Not India I'll grant you!

This is no reason not to get an M7 but if shooting a lot in less than ideal situations, the somewhat idiosyncratic M7 film loading takes a bit of getting used to. I am sure there are reasons whay it is that way. I also know that busy photojournalists have grumbled about it for decades! "Can someone hold the bottom of my camera for a moment...?"

 

[Nachkebia]

Which part? the part that I shoot more then 20 rolls a day? part that you own ZI for one year and shoot only on weekends? or the part that I think shooting 20 rolls per day is not extraordinary? 🙄

Wow! Very impressive. 😎

 

[Nachkebia]

"Can someone hold the bottom of my camera for a moment...?"

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

 

[jano]

the part that I shoot more then 20 rolls a day? (snip) or the part that I think shooting 20 rolls per day is not extraordinary? 🙄

Those two, for me 😛 I've had mine almost a year, and my battery is still good. I've shot maybe 40-50 rolls, and even had ice on the bottom of my ZI (breath condensated and froze in the 15F/10C weather). For a casual shooter, I'm impressed with myself 😛 😀 🙄 😎 But you.. damn! I'm trying to determine now whether my meter is off, though, we'll see when I finish the next roll. With 20+ rolls per day (going off topic here), I'm guessing you've got someone doing the processing for you?

 

[Bromo33333]

Just took the plunge ... ZI body + 35/f2

Just took the plunge ... ZI body + 35/f2

Very excited - ordered from popflash this evening. Should have it this next week sometime. Super excited!:dance:

 

[Nachkebia]

jano : as you know quantity is not an main aim 🙂 and we will see how good pictures are once I develope them, just got my coolscann back from repair going to start scanning today, allready developed some slides I think I have couple of shots :angel: