Zeiss Ikon and lenses

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roscoetuff

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Curious about this camera. Started looking at old Leicas, but for just shooting I'm a Zeiss lens fan... and wondered over the Zeiss crowd. My everyday current digital is a Sony A7II with a slew of Zeiss primes. So the "family" option brings me here.

My question is whether the Zeiss Ikon ZM cameras can accept any ZM mount Zeiss, or even Leica or Voightlander lenses and work just fine, or are they somehow keyed to only the Zeiss ZM lenses specified on the Zeiss site? For example, there's a 85mm F4 spec'd, but Zeiss also makes a Zeiss ZM 85 F2 and given my current Zeiss 85mm is a Contax CY F1.4... I'm left wondering.

So I'm also wondering when did they stop manufacturing these cameras?

THanks!
 
Yes, the ZM can accept any M mount lenses. They cannot, however, accept earlier Contax mount rangefinder lenses (i.e., lenses for the Contax II/III, IIa/IIIa or Kiev rangefinders). They stopped making them a few years back. They have wonderful viewfinders with plenty of eye relief.
 
Thanks for the response. Do folks work with Leica 75's and 90's or other sources? Anyone ever do a 135mm on these? I'm curious. Looks like a shooter's camera without the hype, noise, and bother Leica generates... so less noise and fewer crazy collectors than Leica's. Leica's are great, but don't want to pay to compete against collectors... and there's a dealer I've had good experience with who has a Zeiss Ikon ZM...
 
Go for it!

The ZM has the best viewfinder of any modern M-mount camera.

Wish I could afford one... Well wish I was not so easily distracted by other things when I do have the cash.
 
I've used the 75mm Summicron and 90mm Tele-Elmarit with the Zeiss Ikon with no problems. I've learned to use the 50mm framelines with some minor cropping (where the corners disappear to form an 'inner rectangle') and use the 85mm framelines (with the width of the lines inward) to approximate the 90mm frame of view.
 
A very good camera. Takes some of the best layout of controls from the Contax G2 and puts it in a real RF. While I agree the VF is nice and bright, I've always had trouble seeing the meter readout info in daylight with the Ikon. I'd suggest having a peek through the VF in bright daylight before diving in. I've had two Ikons over the years, and I was bothered with this in both.
 
I really enjoyed my Zeiss Ikon M. I carried the camera daily. After 18 months I had to send it off to Zeiss USA to have the RF re-calibrated. I consider RF calibration a normal maintenance cost.

My only complaint was in very bright contre-jour scenes the finder often was hard to use. Otherwise the I found the finder a joy to use.

The body is aluminum. People who equate weight with build quality disapprove. In my view a light body is an advantage. But I didn't work in harsh conditions.
 
I used the ZI for a year, along with M6. I took it backpacking with me for 3 weeks in Patagonia. Even though it felt "unsubstantial" compared to hefty Leica, it was much easier to use. Metering etc. The only problem I had was a broken rangefinder window, which happened after my rerturn. Was pain in the neck to get it fixed. Sent the camera to Japan. When it came back it was CLA'd, as well. It looked brand new.
 
Rangefinder 35 said:
I used the ZI for a year, along with M6. I took it backpacking with me for 3 weeks in Patagonia. Even though it felt "unsubstantial" compared to hefty Leica, it was much easier to use. Metering etc. The only problem I had was a broken rangefinder window, which happened after my rerturn. Was pain in the neck to get it fixed. Sent the camera to Japan. When it came back it was CLA'd, as well. It looked brand new.
Click to expand...

Do you still have the camera... or did you trade it off or trade up?
 
It works well with a 135 lens and the old Leica external viewfinder. Those viewfinders are relatively inexpensive - $100 to $135 - and are almost always in Excellent + shape. The only Leica 135 that won't work is the Tele-Elmarit 2.8 and that's because the goggles on the lens don't line up with the ZI. As others have said, it has the best M camera viewfinder made. I don't use mine as often as I should because I don't like the exposure meter readout on the side. Would I buy another? Sure, if the price was right.
 
Richard G said:
And 135 is fine on rangefinders. Do I remember correctly that the RF base for the Zeiss Ikon is longer than the Leica M?
Click to expand...

The ZI viewfinder is 0.74x with a 75mm base length, an effective base length of 55.5mm slightly longer than the 49.86mm of the 0.72 standard Leica.

The M3 has a base length of 68.5mm, a 0.91x viewfinder 0.91 x 68.5mm = 62.33mm

Voigtlander R2a and R3a have a shorter base length of 37mm, finders are 0.68x and 1x : 0.68 x 37mm (R2A) = 25.16mm
1 x 37mm (R3A) = 37mm

Most Barnack Leicas have an rangefinder base length of 39mm but magnification is 1.5x : 1.5 x 39mm = 58.5mm

Confused yet?

Just for comparison" the Nikon S3 rangefinder has an effective base length of 60.5mm
 
mpaniagua said:
Just a think to keep in mind:

https://petapixel.com/2012/12/09/end-of-the-road-zeiss-ikon-rangefinders-to-be-shuttered/

Cosina is no longer making them so it may worth taking in on consideration.


Regards.

Marcelo
Click to expand...

Thanks, yes, I have an inquiry into Zeiss's tech crew on repair. A year ago Zeiss sent me a list of 3rd party service folks for lens repair... and that was a good list. Looking for the same here before a "next step". So spot on, there. Thanks!

Also, there's the comparison with Leica M6... but then that's a whole 'nuther confusion.
 
I came to the conclusion that the ZI is the best commercially available 'modern' film rangefinder with a fatal flaw. Leica's before the M7 are immensely repairable. There are multiple techs all over the world separate from Leica who will service my M4, and even make it basically a new camera. This will be available to me indefinitely. None of these people can even adjust the RF of the ZI. The RF WILL go out of alignment some time. I don't want to be without it for weeks for this minor issue. It would have been so easy to make this user adjustable, I can't understand why they chose to make it so hard. So, I went the complete opposite direction. The M4 is a no-bull RF that gets the job done, and has an inferior, but uncluttered view finder. I'm happy with my choice, but I do love seeing a ZI in the wild.
 
Lovely viewfinder.

But the rangefinder went out of alignment within first week.

Dumped it. Luck of the draw.
 
The ZI is a camera made basically with 1980's technology. During my stay in China I got to know a technician who could adjust the ZI's rangefinder. Not some rocket science, as now that me too can do it, and there's even a video on youtube teaching you how to do it.

I just don't get why people talk like it will fall apart the next moment and that's it. The camera is serviceable - Cosina is bound by law to continue supporting it for the next decade, after that, it will be as reliable as a Nikon F3. For now, the turnaround time and cost are very reasonable compared to, well, the go-to places we have for Leicas. Zeiss agents around globe send the cameras back to Nakano, Nagano - last time (it was 2011) it took my 100 euros or so for adjustment and a new bottom plate, and one month later it came back new. Imagine how much and how long it would take if you send your M to Wetzlar.
 
Archlich said:
The ZI is a camera made basically with 1980's technology. During my stay in China I got to know a technician who could adjust the ZI's rangefinder. Not some rocket science, as now that me too can do it, and there's even a video on youtube teaching you how to do it.

I just don't get why people talk like it will fall apart the next moment and that's it. The camera is serviceable - Cosina is bound by law to continue supporting it for the next decade, after that, it will be as reliable as a Nikon F3. For now, the turnaround time and cost are very reasonable compared to, well, the go-to places we have for Leicas. Zeiss agents around globe send the cameras back to Nakano, Nagano - last time (it was 2011) it took my 100 euros or so for adjustment and a new bottom plate, and one month later it came back new. Imagine how much and how long it would take if you send your M to Wetzlar.
Click to expand...


Is this the video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhhUMDM4wR0

Regards.

Marcelo
 
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