ARS said:
OK!
so,
1. Leica=experience=quality=history=reliability!!!
2. I expect ergonomic problems with ZI because it was mainly designed in JAPAN by COSINA. G2 was designed by Kyocera which is in Japan as well. These SECOND CLASS companies are not experienced enough to produce 1500USD cameras!!!
3.Really? Maybe they look different but mechanicaly they are 80% identical!
4.I'm quite satisfied with Ms shutter accuracy! All slides are well exposed.
5.one word ---->> ACCIDENT! I can throw my leica from 2 meters height and my film will be safe.
6.Yea BESSA-R is pretty quiet too. But when I use it people stare at me. I'm invisible with my LEICA M6
1. So what has Leica done with all of that experience & history? Basically they have been making the same camera since 1953 with a few tweaks. They tried to use their experience to improve the camera when they introduced the M5, but the public wasn't buying, so you're not buying a camera based on oodles of experience. You're buying the same basic design that they came up with over 50 years ago.
Oh, they did change a few things. They cheapened the rangefinder when they went from the M3 to the M2 & have been trying to figure out how to control flare with the newer RF design ever since. This has been a problem with the M6 in particular. Erwin Puts has pointed out that the ZI rangefinder is very similar to the superior design of that on the M3. Nor did their experience prevent them from producing an M7 with numerous complaints about poor seals around the eyepiece that resulted in dust in the viewfinder.
2. What you expect in terms or problems with ergonomics has nothing to do with reality. It has to do totally with what's in your mind. There are plenty of actual users of Zeiss Ikons on this forum & the reality is that they love its ergonomics. On what do you base your comment that the ZI "was mainly designed in Japan"?
3. What mechanics in the ZI & the R2A are "80% identical"? The rangefinders on the 2 cameras are different. The viewfinders are different. The shutters are electronic, not mechanical, and the electronic controls of the two shutters are different. Let's look at what makes a difference in taking pictures. The ZI is the only camera that can match a Leica M in immediacy of response. Shutter lag is 14 ms in manual & 20 ms in AE. By comparison the M6 is 12 ms & the M7 is 25 ms. A Bessa camera is about 100 ms. If you're interested in capturing the "decisive moment", this kind of performance will make a difference in the pictures you take. The ZI is a big upgrade over the R2A.
4. The fact that you are satisfied with your shutter accuracy doesn't change the fact that the battery issue is silly, nor does it change the fact that electronic shutters are more accurate.
5. The latch on the ZI is not flimsy. It is a proven design feature that has been around for 20 years on Rollei cameras such as the SL66, the 2000, & the 3003. Anyone's film will be safe in a ZI; it's quite sturdy. Regardless, please don't throw your Leica or any other camera from 2 meters height.
6. A Leica M is relatively quiet, but it certainly doesn't make you invisible. And unless you're a spy, what difference does it make? Rather than sneaking up on people, engage them a little & it won't even be an issue. At speeds below 1/30, the Leica actually becomes noisier than the ZI due to the excapement that controls the timing. There are cameras today that are virtually silent, but the M6 isn't one of them. This shutter noise thing is greatly overrated in my opinion.
The M6 is a great camera. Comparison with the ZI really comes down to whether someone wants a mechanical, all-manual camera or an electronic camera with AE. There is also the issue of whether one prefers to buy new or used. There are other differences between the two, but none of them will prevent a user from taking great pictures with either one. Or lousy ones depending on skill level.
