New Zeiss Ikon Rangefinder

Reading the specs of the camera closely, my guess is that is shares the shutter, meter and exposure systems with the new Bessas. Obviously the top plate, rangefinder/viewfinder and body materials are different. I am very curious as to the price, but to be very honest, unless it was in the $700-$800 range like David is saying, there will be no temptation at all for me. And even at those prices, if I decide to get one of the new Bessas before then (R3a for me), I wouldn't even think of it. That being said, I did sign up, non-conditionally reserving my special edition Zeiss Ikon in the hopes of getting an invitation to a special introductory party where I can fondle the little beast along with a bunch of other folks who actually can afford her.:)
 
rover, how could you do that! :eek:

I was tempted... but right now, I want to flesh out my MF holdings (i.e., add more stuff! :) ).

Now, regarding this particular camera... let's hope these executives behind the project learned about the fate of the Rollei RF. Remember? A silver Bessa with a huge mark-up, with (IIRC) Zeiss glass. Does it ever show up on eBay? And the focal lengths they offered weren't really different from these.

I fear greed killed the Rollei RF star... :(
 
SolaresLarrave said:
rover, how could you do that! :eek:
Click to expand...

Note the non-conditional part.

I just want the fancy invitation and the opportunity to hob-nob with the smucky smucks. It will be fun.

I don't see anyway at all I will own this camera... unless I win the lottery and I build an old and new Contax collection (never say never).
 
Back to the Future Part II

Back to the Future Part II

Some "for whatever it's worth" Zeiss trivia:

New Zeiss Ikon RF Base: 75mm

Post War Contax IIa and IIIa RF Base: 75mm

Pre War Contax I, II, and III RF Base: 92mm

I wonder why they regressed from the 92mm base more than fifty years ago, and why 75mm is considered long now?

D2
 
While we still wait with bated breath for news on pricing, I've a slightly more optimistic thought about what it might be. The R3a has been announced at the same price as the outgoing R2. Now, with all the many improvements over the previous generation, don't you think that Mr. K, as generous as he is, would ask a bit more for it? UNLESS he really needed to keep pricing down so it would not be identical to the Zeiss Ikon. Because even though the ZI has much more value for the user, I doubt that the longer baseline or other differences cost that much more to produce. So here's hoping...
 
I am quite sceptical to this new Zeiss rangefinder, since the photos of it look like computer graphics instead of real cameras. And there are also some differences between the look we can see now and the one which the lady is holding ( the silver part under the viewfinder ).

I guess Zeiss is still making some fine adjustments of this new camera, that's why take so long to put them to the market.
 
Dingo said:
I am quite sceptical to this new Zeiss rangefinder, since the photos of it look like computer graphics instead of real cameras. And there are also some differences between the look we can see now and the one which the lady is holding ( the silver part under the viewfinder ).
Click to expand...
I suspect that what the lady is holding is very approximate, but the more recent bigger and higher res pix are nearer reality, if not actual photos, at least in part.
 
In that photo the ZI really does look large. I hope the photographer was a really short guy with tiny hands ...

Gene
 
I change the titles.

new members get a title of Rangefinder camera user wanabe

the it jumps to
just learned how to focus a rangefinder camera

and finally it jumps to
rangefindercamera pro

:)
 
With the actual camera body some 7 months away, still, there's a lot of opportunity for detail changes. I too put my name in for the specially marked one, but at the local dealer "showing" there's bound to be a mad scramble for the one or two of them available. Unless they're ranking responses on that web page in time sequence. We'll see, I guess! Not that I actually expect to get one...

On the Rollei 35RF, I see that B&H is now offering a body+40mm lens kit for $1200. Almost worth picking one up just for.... NO! I am NOT a collector... >:-/
 
Sorry to have been sceptical to this new camera.
From the photos seen the size of the body and the lenses are quite huge, CV stuff still have their advantages. And Zeiss places orders to Cosina to produce lenses ! This proves the quality of CV lenses has reached a very high standard.

BTW, it seems Cosina is now the real player of the battle of rangefinder cameras with Leica.
 
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