amateriat
We're all light!
So...I was mostly minding my beeswax today, assisting someone I know on a tech job at an office across the river (i.e. New Jersey). We were taking a break on account of a technical problem, and I was idly taking digital snaps of an interesting scene outside the boardroom window, when my tech partner casually reaches into his shoulder bag and lays this on me:
Now, I was totally unprepared for this. I know he's into photography, and we'd discussed RFs in the past (he's largely worked with Pentax SLRs), but he really dropped the funk bomb on me today with this.
The killer part is that (1) among the non-motorized M-camera options I've been musing over the last year-and-change, the ZI is the one camera I haven't handled up till now, and (2) save for my interest in Konica's 17-35 M-Hex "dualie", this is EXACTLY the ZI setup I'd want: black, with 35/2 Biogon.
After doing my best/worst Mel Blanc-in-character imitation ("Don't DO that!!!") I calmed down and played with the thing. I like the feel of the thing: perhaps a smidgeon shy of Leica-brick-scheisshaus in feel, but crazy-solid enough for me. Handling is wonderful. I can see that moving back and forth between my Hexars and this would be largely painless, as I had imagined beforehand. The VF is killer. And, that shutter...yeah, a bit louder than an M7, but far from being a deal-breaker; it's stealthy enough, and I'm pretty hard-nosed about this issue.
What? GAS? You talkin' to me?
So...yeah, I think this is Camera Number Three. I really think this is the Hexar RF's long, lost soul brother.
- Barrett
Now, I was totally unprepared for this. I know he's into photography, and we'd discussed RFs in the past (he's largely worked with Pentax SLRs), but he really dropped the funk bomb on me today with this.
The killer part is that (1) among the non-motorized M-camera options I've been musing over the last year-and-change, the ZI is the one camera I haven't handled up till now, and (2) save for my interest in Konica's 17-35 M-Hex "dualie", this is EXACTLY the ZI setup I'd want: black, with 35/2 Biogon.
After doing my best/worst Mel Blanc-in-character imitation ("Don't DO that!!!") I calmed down and played with the thing. I like the feel of the thing: perhaps a smidgeon shy of Leica-brick-scheisshaus in feel, but crazy-solid enough for me. Handling is wonderful. I can see that moving back and forth between my Hexars and this would be largely painless, as I had imagined beforehand. The VF is killer. And, that shutter...yeah, a bit louder than an M7, but far from being a deal-breaker; it's stealthy enough, and I'm pretty hard-nosed about this issue.
What? GAS? You talkin' to me?
So...yeah, I think this is Camera Number Three. I really think this is the Hexar RF's long, lost soul brother.
- Barrett
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back alley
IMAGES
an excellent choice, though i have come to prefer the silver version.
amateriat
We're all light!
Joe: the funny thing is, I don't get too excited about cameras anymore. Perhaps it's digital ennui or something. This was a big exception, and it had nothing to do with any particular feature (although there were numerous nice touches I latched onto quickly enough), just the gestalt of the thing, which is how I reacted to the Hexar RF when I first tried it. I ended up buying one of those, then another...
- Barrett
- Barrett
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back alley
IMAGES
understood.
i much prefer the feel of the zi to many other cameras. not just holding it but using it at well.
i much prefer the feel of the zi to many other cameras. not just holding it but using it at well.
back alley
IMAGES
did you notice the black zi in the classifieds here?
joe
joe
amateriat
We're all light!
Um, no...getting me into trouble already???back alley said:
(As he hastily clicks into RFf Classifieds...)
- Barrett
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back alley
IMAGES
i'll take the grip if you want to keep the cost down...
amateriat
We're all light!
The part that kills me is (all together now), I might have the cash for this some weeks down the line, but can't do it now. 'Twas ever thus: when I have the money, nothing's in sight. (This happened a month ago when I was looking for a Minolta CLE...in a way, that's worked itself out.) ;-) When I don't have it, the things proliferate like mushrooms after a thunderstorm. What I've wanted is a motor-less body that transitions better with my Hexars, and, now that I've tried it, I know the ZI is definitely it. And, mirable dictu, it's curretnly in production, meaning I'm supporting current film-camera production, one way or t'other.
- Barrett
- Barrett
MikeL
Go Fish
Hi Barrett,
It's nice to know when you find something you like. I picked up one a couple weeks ago. The only thing I could think of that was missing from being just right was higher finder magnification, but that's not too big a deal. Otherwise, what more could you want in a rangefinder?
It's nice to know when you find something you like. I picked up one a couple weeks ago. The only thing I could think of that was missing from being just right was higher finder magnification, but that's not too big a deal. Otherwise, what more could you want in a rangefinder?
cablesnarl
Member
Hey Barrett, sorry for the shock. I guess every other time I've shown you a camera it's been an SLR.
I feel a bit guilty that you got GAS as a result. Oh well.
( Oh, and apparently you need to get a digital with anti-shake, LOL. )
I feel a bit guilty that you got GAS as a result. Oh well.
( Oh, and apparently you need to get a digital with anti-shake, LOL. )
clarence
ダメ
I'm so glad all I want now is a Polaroid Spectra.
Sorry about the one that got away, Barrett. There will be another day.
As Falstaff might have said, the better part of gas is discretion.
Clarence
Sorry about the one that got away, Barrett. There will be another day.
As Falstaff might have said, the better part of gas is discretion.
Clarence
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
I don't know what it is about the ZI, but I prefer the black. Other M bodies ... can be either, though silver/chrome is what I normally prefer.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
I'd bet that the ZI would make a great partner with the Konica. A lot of the layout seems quite the same from pics I've seen- I've not handled either of these cameras. Last time I was at B&H there was no ZI to be fondled.
amateriat
We're all light!
sepiareverb said:
All I needed was a few minutes' handling to confirm this; for Hexar shooters in need of a non-motorized option, the ZI's a no-brainer. No more pondering for me!
- NArrett
amateriat
We're all light!
clarence said:
Clarence: You want a Spectra? Inquire within.
- Barrett
I agree...the ZI reminds me of my long gone Hexar RF in terms of handling...and the ZI VF is superb.
Film dino
David Chong
amateriat said:
Gestalt is good...
David
amateriat
We're all light!
So is Zen, though I might be pawing my way out on a limb here. But here goes: if, on one end of the spectrum, the Leica M is the classic low-slung saloon of 35mm RFs, and the CVs, on the other, are the elevated, thinking-person's rat-rod, then the ZI and Hexar RF take up that middle ground of a certain stripped-down elegance, strong backbone, and retaining of what I feel are essential elements (can I say "auto-frameline setting?"). Once in a while, I secretly wonder whether the Leica "pedigree" sometimes gets in the way of just getting out there and doing stuff with the thing. Think about it: when HCB started doing his thing with Leicas, the brand had something of a reputation, of course, but was hardly steeped in mythology and lore as it is now, just as a certain watch company*, which at the same time was struggling to get a foothold in the market, was decades away from becoming a crass status symbol of people who couldn't care less about horology. Henri, among others, simply chose what he felt was the best tool for the job, then got on with the job. The rest, for better or worse, is History.Film dino said:
To make the case for a modern 35mm RF (and, yes, here in late 2007, I believe a case can be made), I think a need to look forward as well as back is important. I really got that vibe in the Hexar, and I felt it just as loud and clear in the ZI. There is a decades-old term in the hi-fi world describing the ideal audio component: quite simply, a "straight wire with gain." The rangefinder comes closest, photographically speaking, to this ideal for me, and this chance encounter with a ZI simply reinforced this.
(Yep, I do go on, don't I?)
- Barrett
(* Don't tell me you can't guess tha brand)
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jan normandale
Film is the other way
and the answer is.. Timex ;Damateriat said:
MikeL
Go Fish
jan normandale said:
It's so obvious it's Casio. sheesh!