Mazurka
Well-known
First, what the heck is CRF? Chronic renal failure? Constitutional Rights Foundation? Cloud Radiation Feedback? The way he uses it, sure ain't Contax Rangefinder. If he means "Compact Rangefinder", what would he call cameras like the Olympus RC and Petri 35?
The usual Putzisms from http://www.imx.nl/photosite/comments/c021.html :
"It shares with that classical design the problem that the rangefinder patch does disappear quickly when you do not position your eye squarely at the optical axis of the exit pupil. Here the new M7/MP finder has a distinctive advantage." Brightness, clarity, long eye-relief, absence of flare and larger eyepiece obviously aren't advantages -- or at least not distinctive enough.
"Results count and the ZI shutter unit is accurate and reliable, albeit not as durable as the Leica shutter." Exactly how long has the ZI been in production? Is his sample already failing?
"The ZI transport mechanism does not give you any feedback on its state of operation. After making a picture and operating the lever-wind, you have the impression that nothing has happened. The whole movement is a bit too light and the film rewind knob on the other hand is a bit too rough. Handling the camera from a tactile point of view gives an impression of lightness verging on the brink of cheapness."
And here comes the classic Putz punchline: "The CRF is famous for its propensity to synchronise the compositional state of the scene and the mental state of the photographer. The mechanical movements of the camera should not distract from this synchronisation. The 'emptiness' of the transport movement does interfere in the stream of consciousness approach of the CRF."
"The camera is not perfect in its present incarnation. The camera needs more substance and profile in order to become a viable contender in the present RF scene. If the ZI can evolve beyond being seen as an upgraded version of the Bessa and a cheaper cousin of the Leica M, than we have a interesting new player on the stage of the CRF theatre." The absence of the red dot obviously accounts for most of the imperfection and lack of substance.
"Even the most stubborn adherent of the belief that top-quality cameras and lenses can only originate from a certain Wetzlar manufacturer should by now accept the fact that engineering excellence and optical performance is not region dependent, but the result of manufacturing technology and quality control." True, but he doesn't seem to think the Zeiss Ikon possesses these qualities.
The usual Putzisms from http://www.imx.nl/photosite/comments/c021.html :
"It shares with that classical design the problem that the rangefinder patch does disappear quickly when you do not position your eye squarely at the optical axis of the exit pupil. Here the new M7/MP finder has a distinctive advantage." Brightness, clarity, long eye-relief, absence of flare and larger eyepiece obviously aren't advantages -- or at least not distinctive enough.
"Results count and the ZI shutter unit is accurate and reliable, albeit not as durable as the Leica shutter." Exactly how long has the ZI been in production? Is his sample already failing?
"The ZI transport mechanism does not give you any feedback on its state of operation. After making a picture and operating the lever-wind, you have the impression that nothing has happened. The whole movement is a bit too light and the film rewind knob on the other hand is a bit too rough. Handling the camera from a tactile point of view gives an impression of lightness verging on the brink of cheapness."
And here comes the classic Putz punchline: "The CRF is famous for its propensity to synchronise the compositional state of the scene and the mental state of the photographer. The mechanical movements of the camera should not distract from this synchronisation. The 'emptiness' of the transport movement does interfere in the stream of consciousness approach of the CRF."
"The camera is not perfect in its present incarnation. The camera needs more substance and profile in order to become a viable contender in the present RF scene. If the ZI can evolve beyond being seen as an upgraded version of the Bessa and a cheaper cousin of the Leica M, than we have a interesting new player on the stage of the CRF theatre." The absence of the red dot obviously accounts for most of the imperfection and lack of substance.
"Even the most stubborn adherent of the belief that top-quality cameras and lenses can only originate from a certain Wetzlar manufacturer should by now accept the fact that engineering excellence and optical performance is not region dependent, but the result of manufacturing technology and quality control." True, but he doesn't seem to think the Zeiss Ikon possesses these qualities.
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andrewch
Established
CRF=Classic RangeFinders?
Andrew
Andrew
sunsworth
Well-known
Seems reasonable to me. I'm assuming that the quote "The 'emptiness' of the transport movement does interfere in the stream of consciousness approach of the CRF" means that if you're not sure that the camera's wound on then you don't know if you can take a photograph.
I'm sure the Zeiss is a capable camera, but you get what you pay for.
Steve
I'm sure the Zeiss is a capable camera, but you get what you pay for.
Steve
Mazurka
Well-known
andrewch said:
Surely he doesn't consider the ZI to be classic.
"Costly Rangefinder" is more probable.
Honu-Hugger
Well-known
Putz has always been such a...oh, never mind .
.Mazurka
Well-known
sunsworth said:
I guess you really can't be sure of anything until you have the film processed - the shutter speed/exposure could be off, the composition not spot on, missed moment, subject/camera movement, unintended flare/ghosting, misfocus, operator error, lab error... Oddly enough, photogs seem to have overcome these uncertainties.
It's a good thing that you get your money's worth with the ZI. Can't say the same thing about my M6TTL.
James Burton
Shoot into the light
andrewch said:
Coupled Range Finder.
Thanks,
James
Little Prince
Well-known
'costly rangefiner' :angel:
that is cracking me up.
Maybe 'coupled rangefinder', as in being distinct from scale focus cameras and direct view cameras. Usually that's what CRF stands for, though I don't know if it fits here.
:angel: that is cracking me up.
Maybe 'coupled rangefinder', as in being distinct from scale focus cameras and direct view cameras. Usually that's what CRF stands for, though I don't know if it fits here.
bmattock
Veteran
CRF used in this context often means "Coupled Range Finder." As opposed to the uncoupled sort, in which one determines the range by way of a rangefinder instrument, either built into the camera, or more commonly, a clip-on accessory for a camera which is scale-focus only. Then one transfers the distance setting from the ranging device to the lens barrel, achieving focus. CRF is usually considered a much more natural way to use a rangefinder camera, and considerably faster.
And I believe the man's name is spelled "Puts." In the USA, there is a slang word which comes to us from Yiddish, putz, which means penis and is an insult and derogatory. I would presume that your mispelling is unintentional.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
And I believe the man's name is spelled "Puts." In the USA, there is a slang word which comes to us from Yiddish, putz, which means penis and is an insult and derogatory. I would presume that your mispelling is unintentional.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
Little Prince
Well-known
The fingers were fast, but the mind wanted to ramble.
James said it.
James said it.
Mazurka
Well-known
James Burton said:
"The screws [on the lens mount] of the ZI are the traditional ones and this is done intentionally to visually link to the legacy of the great CRF tradition."
I don't see such screws on Super Ikontas but they are ubiquitous on Japanese SLRs. Thankfully he didn't squeez in another couple of "traditions" for that paragraph.
ZeissFan
Veteran
So the film transport is actually too smooth. So if it's smoother than a Leica (which he infers), then it's not doing its job. But if it's rougher than a Leica then it's inadequate.
Unfortunately, this is typical Leica zealotry -- in which Zeiss can never win. Figures.
And that is an interesting conclusion regarding the durability of the shutter. How does he know that this shutter is any more or less durable than a cloth shutter.
Which will break first? Which will lose its rubber coating? Which will get a finger pushed through it? Which will have a hole burnt through it? Which will simply stop working because of other issues? That's a big leap of faith he makes without substantiating it with statistics.
Unfortunately, this is typical Leica zealotry -- in which Zeiss can never win. Figures.
And that is an interesting conclusion regarding the durability of the shutter. How does he know that this shutter is any more or less durable than a cloth shutter.
Which will break first? Which will lose its rubber coating? Which will get a finger pushed through it? Which will have a hole burnt through it? Which will simply stop working because of other issues? That's a big leap of faith he makes without substantiating it with statistics.
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Honu-Hugger
Well-known
I note that all of the spelling has been corrected .
.
back alley
IMAGES
just the title...
F
Frank Granovski
Guest
What do you expect for a Leica shill?
RJBender
RFF Sponsoring Member
"Some observers note that film may be dead by 2007!"
source: http://www.imx.nl/photosite/comments/c021.html
source: http://www.imx.nl/photosite/comments/c021.html
R.J.
bmattock
Veteran
Frank Granovski said:What do you expect for a Leica shill?
I really don't understand the intense dislike so many feel for this man. I don't own any Leica's - well, a Hektor 135mm LTM lens - and I don't follow his website or his writings, but I don't see what's so much to dislike. He has his opinions. Some I agree with, others not. But I don't feel the outrage and anger that his ever utterance seems to bring out in people. He's like Rush Limbaugh - it doesn't matter WHAT he says, there are a legion of Puts-haters waiting in the wings to be offended.
What up with that?
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
Honu-Hugger
Well-known
Like Rush he sets himself up for it by being so damned opinionated and self-righteous -- he's a big boy, he can take it .
.
back alley
IMAGES
Not Again!
F
Frank Granovski
Guest
Bill, I never said I didn't like the man but it's clear he's a Leica shill. So what? It doesn't matter anyway because Leica's been dying a slow death for quite some time. (Long live the Bessas and the Ikon!)