Wow, I (finally!) did it...

[OddE]

...did what?

Got myself a Zeiss Ikon ZM, is what I did. 🙂

Much as I love my M4, its quirks does get to me every now and then, most notably the lack of a meter. (I have both the MR-4 and the Voigtländer VCII, but never really warmed to either of them)

I'm expecting to take delivery in a week or so, can't wait to run a few rolls of Tri-X through it. (Oh, and Provia! Now that I have a meter AND easy exposure compensation, shooting slides will be fun again!)

That's it, really; just keep walking, there's nothing to see here. I'm just quite pumped right now, after finally getting around to doing what I've been considering for at least a year - finding and ordering myself a nice ZM. 🙂

 

[KoNickon]

Show us some pictures you take with it when you get it! Your excitement is great to see.

 

[mfogiel]

When you shoot vertical, remember to hold the camera with your right hand up, this way the meter knows how to compensate for the sky.
Another good idea, is to get a Luigi half case with grip - it reduces the risk of knocking the rf out of alignment, and furter dampens the shutter sound.
Finally, the ideal lens for this camera, is the Nokton 35/1.2.

 

[lam]

Congrats on the purchase of the ZI 🙂 a fine camera in it's own right.

 

[Rodchenko]

Congratulations. I wish I had the resources to get one myself.

 

[ingsy]

When you shoot vertical, remember to hold the camera with your right hand up, this way the meter knows how to compensate for the sky.
Another good idea, is to get a Luigi half case with grip - it reduces the risk of knocking the rf out of alignment, and furter dampens the shutter sound.
Finally, the ideal lens for this camera, is the Nokton 35/1.2.

Thanks for the vertical tip - never knew that.

Why would you say the Nokton 35/1.2 is ideal?

 

[kxl]

When you shoot vertical, remember to hold the camera with your right hand up, this way the meter knows how to compensate for the sky.
Another good idea, is to get a Luigi half case with grip - it reduces the risk of knocking the rf out of alignment, and furter dampens the shutter sound.
Finally, the ideal lens for this camera, is the Nokton 35/1.2.

First of all, let me say that I love my CV 35/1.2 v1. It is one lens that I will probably never sell. However, when I had originally acquired it, I used it primarily on the R-D1s, and now primarily on the NEX6, or if shooting color film (rarely), then on the ZI. Its rendering is creamy (like buttah!), and I think for that reason, I don't like this lens as much when I shoot B&W film -- it's a personal preference.

Since I primarily shoot B&W film with my ZI, I would say that my ideal lens would be one of the following ZM's: 50/2 Planar, 35/2.0 and 25/2.8. Why? Because I already own them.

One other thing: just remember -- no battery, no use.
.

 

[OddE]

Hi,

Thank you, all of you - yup, I'll definitely get some scans done once I have developed the first few rolls.

Tempting as a 35/1.2 may be, my gear budget is exhausted (More like, blown out of the water) - and my 35mm needs are catered for by a Summicron; I am mostly able to get shots properly focused even wide open, but the shallower DoF of an f/1.2 lens has me somewhat scared. 🙂

I'll just need to find something interesting to shoot in Southampton - I'll be going there to host a course next week and pick up the ZM there, shoot a few rolls and return to my native Norway for a quick darkroom session!

 

[froyd]

The meter on the Ikon is nicely implemented in my view. If that's what you are after, you'll be pleased, no doubt, plus all the other niceties like 1/2000th and 1/125th sync.

However, for AE, I much prefer the "hold the shutter half pressed" implementation of the M7 to the "stretch your thumb half way down the camera's back" of the ZM. One of the reasons I never warmed up to the ZM' AE.

I was in your same boat 6 months ago, and it was a nice companion to the M4, but in the end we had to part ways.

 

[computer controlled]

The Ikon is a great looking camera. My friend has one, and then thought that the roller was marking his film. So he bought an M6 as he thought the Ikon was faulty. Turns out it wasn't the Ikon at all. I now have the M6 =o]

 

[Pioneer]

Congratulation on your new camera. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine. I am a gear-a-holic and I use several different cameras, but my Zeiss Ikon is my continual companion, always with a roll of Kodak TMX100 and a 50mm lens. Study your manual and learn to use the exposure meter. Once you do you will be amazed at what you can do.

But above all, no matter which camera you end up using most, enjoy yourself!

 

[markrich]

I am envious. It has been on my wish list for a while now.

 

[bojanfurst]

Congratulations. It's a great camera. I love mine. The RF patch will take a bit of getting used to because your eye has to be perfectly positioned, but after a couple of rolls that will become second nature. The viewfinder is amazing. I virtually always have it with me.

 

[magicianhisoka]

I am becoming increasingly bonded to mine too. No amount of taunting from my MP toting friends can budge me now!

 

[jmilkins]

the ZM finder is a pretty illuminating experience...😉

 

[thegman]

ZI is my all time favourite RF, except maybe a DS M3, but of course they are very different beasts.

 

[Landberg]

Nice! I think that is the best film rangefinder ever made! I'm thinking of selling my Leica M2 & M5 and buy an Ikon. Great camera!

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

i didn't know the m4 had quirks, but good for you!

 

[OddE]

I am envious. It has been on my wish list for a while now.

-I don't know whether it is any comfort, but the G2 (as listed in your signature) has been on my 'dying to try out'-list for quite a while, but I've never had the opportunity to try one out properly. 😉

I really like the idea of making a rangefinder unlike anything else out there - and then pairing it with some of the best glass there is.

 

[OddE]

i didn't know the m4 had quirks, but good for you!

-Maybe it hasn't got any, and it is just my limited command of English shining through (It is my third language) - don't get me wrong, the M4 is just about perfect for what it is and what I tend to use it for (B&W available light photography) - but there are a couple of features I have come to like in other camera bodies which the M4 is lacking.

Most notably a meter for whenever I don't trust my eye (That is, every time I shoot slides or when the light gets very tricky while shooting b+w), but I also look forward to not having to take my camera apart to load a new roll of film. (I don't think film loading will be any faster in the ZM than in the M4 - but not having to remove the base plate means I will not accidentally drop it. 🙂