back alley
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When I see these kinds of threads I usually stay away...
you are a wiser man than i...
you are a wiser man than i...
nasmformyzombie said:I did not state the cameras are functionally equivalent in every way, I was merely pointing out how much they "compete" for the same $$$.
As for my motives, I'm trying to get a sense of where ZI owners are with their cameras. Period.
I think this unlimited repairability of mechanical Leicas is highly overrated. Even now Leica is prepared to cease repairs on some of their 1980s and early 1990s high-end cameras; the R6 has a mechanical shutter, but Leica themselves say that due to Seiko no longer manufacturing said shutter, they will keep stock of spare parts for maybe ten years, and then they won't repair it any more, in spite of the R6 being sort of a flagship model of its own.nasmformyzombie said:The Hexar RF, a few years out of production, is difficult to get repaired today. Yes, my M6 is 20 years old, but has a proven RF design. (I'm aware of the whiteout issue of the M6/early M7, but it's never been an issue for me). For an M6---out of production---there are spare parts and any number of repair options available.
nasmformyzombie said:I've read all the threads here on RFF on the Zeiss Ikon.
The M6 is built like a tank, but it's missing something that I like: automatic exposure. There are times for me that fiddling with shutter, aperture and focus is just too much.
I've got to believe most of you Ikon users have owned (or still own) an M camera. Tell me what you like about your Ikon, especially when compared to Leica. BTW, the M7 is out of the question for me, too expensive.
nasmformyzombie said:Good thing. If you bought a Hexar RF new in 2003, you would have a hard time getting it repaired today---less than four years later. Once out of production (2008? 2009? 2010?) could the ZI experience a similar fate? This would be a problem for me. Guys, I'm not a Leicanut! I owned Zeiss exclusively from 1978 through 2001, but the ZI does not give me the same confidence the Kyocera/Zeiss cameras did. That's what I'm struggling with. I want AE, I want to feel more confidence in the ZI. I cannot pay Leica M7 prices!
Quite frankly, Back Alley, for a seemingly die-hard Zeiss guy you are unconvincing. The grumpy man arguments just don't play that well. 😉
nasmformyzombie said:Good thing. If you bought a Hexar RF new in 2003, you would have a hard time getting it repaired today---less than four years later. Once out of production (2008? 2009? 2010?) could the ZI experience a similar fate? This would be a problem for me. Guys, I'm not a Leicanut! I owned Zeiss exclusively from 1978 through 2001, but the ZI does not give me the same confidence the Kyocera/Zeiss cameras did. That's what I'm struggling with. I want AE, I want to feel more confidence in the ZI. I cannot pay Leica M7 prices!
Quite frankly, Back Alley, for a seemingly die-hard Zeiss guy you are unconvincing. The grumpy man arguments just don't play that well. 😉
nasmformyzombie said:Good thing. If you bought a Hexar RF new in 2003, you would have a hard time getting it repaired today---less than four years later. Once out of production (2008? 2009? 2010?) could the ZI experience a similar fate?
This would be a problem for me. Guys, I'm not a Leicanut! I owned Zeiss exclusively from 1978 through 2001, but the ZI does not give me the same confidence the Kyocera/Zeiss cameras did. That's what I'm struggling with. I want AE, I want to feel more confidence in the ZI. I cannot pay Leica M7 prices!
And you can still buy two new Zeiss Ikons if your first one breaks after warranty and you still won't have spent substantially more than on one new M7... For $3500 vs. $1200 there had better be some difference! 😛Nachkebia said:if anyone thinks Leica and Zeiss ikon are in same league for resistance and longevity is pretty much dreaming
nasmformyzombie said:I've just seen too much bad press on how the ZI cameras have performed out of the box. I did not create this information. And these issues were not the case with Kyocera/Zeiss cameras!
Frankly, I haven't seen any "bad press" on how the ZI cameras have performed out of the box. The reviewers have loved it. What I have seen have been internet posts of misaligned rangefinders & a few other isolated problems. In 99% of the cases, the rangefinder adjustment was corrected to the buyer's satisfaction.
nasmformyzombie said:I've read all the threads here on RFF on the Zeiss Ikon. Some problems with rangefinder accuracy, one camera dropped that popped its top, one heavy rotation user that looks like it's been to hell and back. OK, so it's no Leica M. I have an M6 in near mint condition that I paid less than a new Ikon costs. The M6 is built like a tank, but it's missing something that I like: automatic exposure. There are times for me that fiddling with shutter, aperture and focus is just too much. I've got to believe most of you Ikon users have owned (or still own) an M camera. Tell me what you like about your Ikon, especially when compared to Leica. BTW, the M7 is out of the question for me, too expensive.