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.
Last edited:
