where a windfall should fall?

freeranger

freeranger

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I am not ashamed of the fact! I have recently been lusting after the zeiss ikon. I am a glasses wearer and have a modest collection of LTM lenses waiting to try out an adapter, so I believe we would be a good match.

I recently took a trip to Vienna to ogle the goods in Leicashop...even raised a smile from the owner when I lasciviously asked him if I could "have a feel" (of the camera..not him!) and it was a rather delicious experience:rolleyes:
"Yes! this would be the camera for me," I thought, "if I had any money" :(

Now, In no way do I have a history of being flighty...my dreams tend to be simple and steady - but when the fuji folder was revealed at cologne last month I decided to forget my 35mm dreams and develop a financial plan to come to fruition in the spring of 2009 and bag me that buxom and untried photographic beauty.

Then today disaster struck! I have just received a windfall that would allow me to acquire the original target of my affection before Christmas :eek:

What am I to do?
Defer gratification until I can try a hitherto unknown quantity of medium formatness?
Not look a gift horse in the gob and grab the Ikon while I can?
 
Earlier this year I found myself sitting down and looking through some of my photo books. After spending a few hours with Salgado and HCB I realised that I didn't really need medium format. If they could do what they did with a 35mm rangefinder, then I had plenty of room to grow as a photographer before my equipment became a limiting factor.

A couple of weeks later I had my ZI, and I love it.
 
peripatetic said:
Earlier this year I found myself sitting down and looking through some of my photo books. After spending a few hours with Salgado and HCB I realised that I didn't really need medium format. If they could do what they did with a 35mm rangefinder, then I had plenty of room to grow as a photographer before my equipment became a limiting factor.

A couple of weeks later I had my ZI, and I love it.
Click to expand...


This is a concise and beautiful argument.
I shall book my train ticket to Vienna and, if Herr Leicashop allows me back onto the premises, hand over my windfall this weekend.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen!
 
peripatetic said:
Earlier this year I found myself sitting down and looking through some of my photo books. After spending a few hours with Salgado and HCB I realised that I didn't really need medium format. If they could do what they did with a 35mm rangefinder, then I had plenty of room to grow as a photographer before my equipment became a limiting factor.
Click to expand...

Seconded (thirded?). And if resolution is your concern, it is only increasing for film available in 35mm format, remarkably. I, for one, am looking forward to Ektar 100 in my Zeiss Ikon. And yet I laugh for even thinking about it; are there not other more important limiting factors (I look derisively in my own direction).
 
Windfalls are great! I would get the ZI and some adapter rings for your lenses now and start piching pennies fro the Bessa III for early spring. You cant have too many cameras and -please- do not tell me you can!
 
I just sold my mamiya6 to grab the ZM. No regrets. In fact I'm very happy.

If mobility and weight are important to you, go for ZM.
 
Sam N said:
Remember to get an LTM->M adapter for each focal length you'll be using.
Click to expand...

Why is this? does each specific adapter automatically bring up the correct viewfinder lines?
If so can they be set manually or do you have to get a focal length dedicated adapter?
 
freeranger said:
Why is this? does each specific adapter automatically bring up the correct viewfinder lines?
If so can they be set manually or do you have to get a focal length dedicated adapter?
Click to expand...

It's not possible to set the frame lines manually on the ZI, so you'll need the correct adapters for each focal length.
 
Zeiss Ikon for sure!
Your only doubt should be if whatever new FF DRF similar to Ikon is released by Zeiss, Nikon or whatever else.. but otherwise I'd go for the Ikon immediately.
 
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In the end you want both ;)

Get the ZI now and start saving up for MF. The Fuji camera wont be here until late next year so you have plenty of time to save up for it.
 
Now all you have to decide is which lens? Or will you stick with those you have?

But the ZF's are so lovely, will it be the 35mm f2 or f2.8 ...... or 50mm Planar or Sonnar.

I went with the 50 Planar, but I fear it is only a matter of time until the f2 Biogon becomes too tempting. [But I'm also vaguely tempted by the Canon 5DMkII.] Time to start up my photography fund again. :)
 
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I am just SO GLAD that I went through this years ago and got it out of my system...LOL. Now about the only time I get another body or lens is when I find one in great shape at a give-away price, and I then might sell a beat-to-hell example that's seen 20 or 30 years of hard use after I bought it second hand. I no longer find myself lusting after the latest greatest sharpest contrastiest...

I have too many regrets that I sold one lens to buy another and then I end up missing the way the first one rendered the image. It's like selling old friends and it's chasing a will-o'-the-wisp anyway. You'll never catch it.

I'm selling a Voigtlander Cosina 15mm finder in great shape for $100 shipped in the U.S./Canada. I'd misplaced mine, bought another, and then found the first one. It's in pristine condition. If you need one this is your big chance!
 
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