Product Brochures for the Ikon

[bobofish]

Don't know if this has already been brought up, but the Zeissikon site has some brochures for the Ikons. Unfortunately, no English yet.

Here's the link to the page: http://www.zeissikon.com/de/downloads.htm

If anybody's interested, I can spend some time later today translating to English. There's not anything particularly new there, but some interesting blurbs. The pictures are somewhat more interesting.

I did find this interesting however:
"Um das neue Zeiss Ikon System einem breiten
Kreis von Fotoenthusiasten zur Verfügung stellen
zu können, arbeiten wir mit Cosina zusammen,
einem japanischen Hersteller von angesehenen
Präzisionskameras und Objektiven. Die Qualitätsstandards
von Carl Zeiss Produkten sicherzustellen
ist eine Herausforderung. Cosina hat deshalb
seine Herstellprozesse optimiert, Carl Zeiss Meßgeräte
angeschafft sowie strenge Qualitätssicherungsmaßnahmen
eingeführt. Für Sie bieten
wir damit das Beste aus zwei Welten: Deutsche
Qualitätsstandards vereint mit japanischem Fertigungs-
Knowhow."

A quick English-ication would be: "in order to make the ZI available to a larger group of enthusiasts, we're working with Cosina, a maker of well-respected precision cameras and lenses. To maintain the quality of C.Z. products is paramount. Therefore, Cosina optimized their manufacturing processes, scored some C.Z. testing machines, and adopted strict quality assessment standards. We're thereby offering you the best of two worlds: German quality standards, unified with Japanese manufacturing know how. "

That last sentence struck my eye...it should add fuel to the fire of both sides of the argument on the new ZM and ZF lens lines.

 

[thmk]

Try this link: http://www.zeissikon.com/files/ZeissIkon_English.pdf

Cheers
Thomas-Michael

 

[bobofish]

Well there you go!

Aren't I the idiot? 😀

Thanks, Thomas.

 

[Huck Finn]

Hasselblad-USA mailed me a copy of the new brochure on request. Very nicely done.

Huck

 

[RJBender]

WHY FILM AND NOT DIGITAL?
Why introduce a film-based camera system when
mainstream photography is more digital than ever
before? The answer is simple: our passion for the
highest possible image quality. We know photography
inside and out – from lens design to camera
and sensor material performance. Simply put, a
camera system is only as strong as its weakest link.
Carl Zeiss is deeply involved in several digital
camera systems. After all, there’s no doubting
that photography will be both analogue and
digital – each offering its own benefits. Yet for
now, the new Zeiss Ikon system with its range-
finder design and wide-angle, top-notch lenses
is based on the optimal sensor material for discerning
35 mm rangefinder photographers: film.
When digital sensor technology takes another
leap or two, accepting the high incident angles of
a wide-angle M-mount lens to the corners of a
full format sensor, you can count on us to come
up with high performance digital systems that
will satisfy even the truly passionate. And your
Carl Zeiss T* ZM-mount lenses will be ready.

source: http://www.zeissikon.com/files/ZeissIkon_English.pdf

Bobofish,
It seems to me that they are saying that the ZM lenses will be ready for digital when the camera has a full frame sensor. What does the German brochure say about this?

R.J.

 

[bobofish]

It sure sounds like it on the German version. Honestly I don't think it's the best English translation around, but then we know about Zeiss' recent troubles with translations...

Basically, according to them, once sensor technology takes some further steps, specifically to allow for the oblique angles at the edges of the frame from their wide angles, they will come out with not just a high performance digital, but a "highest performance" digital; it's somewhat strong language for something that will in the end be a niche product.

They do specifically say that they command, or at least understand thoroughly, technology not just confined to lenses and camera production; they apparently have their mits deeply in the digital technology scene, and are ready to jump in when the water's the right temperature.

As for the actual sentence you're referring to, it's no more specific in the German. All that has been said so far about the ZM lenses, as far as I'm aware, is that they're "ready" for digital. Whether that means formulations that actually paint the sensor differently, or that they can simply be used with an as yet undeveloped sensor that doesn't get bothered by oblique rays...anybody's guess.

 

[Socke]

the "ready for digital" may just referr to coating, especialy on the rear element. Some older Canon EF lenses which are ok on film show flare and less contrast on a digital body due to the stronger reflections from the sensor. This was no problem with the less reflective film.

 

[waterlenz]

I cannot find the position of the exit pupil in the ZI lens spec sheets - I recall this parameter was given in the old ones for the hassy lenses. This is also imporatnt to be 'digital ready' IMHO.
Tom