Zeiss Ikon in Australia?

[Timmy P]

I'm trying to find somewhere that sells the Ikon in Australia, but it's no where to be found! Well, at least not Mainline Photographic I bought my Bessa from, they don't seem to carry it anymore :-(

So, question is, anyone know where I could get one? I've ruled out ordering it from Zeiss, the price is on the insane side ($2k oz, and then GST on top of that is a big no thanks), so has anyone else from Australia ordered one from overseas? Will it get caught at customs and I'll have to pay GST? I'm freaking at they'll seize it and charge even more if I don't declare it before it comes in. Or is there a chance customs wont' check the price and it will get through gst free?

I've looked at Matsuiya Store on ebay in Japan , it definately seems like the got at around $1350 Oz or so. Anybody ordered from them before ?

Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated!

Catch ya,

-Tim

 

[gertf]

Hey Timmy,

I'm in Canberra and have ordered 4-5 lenses from Tony Rose at www.popflash.com before. He's always reliable and his stuff is really good. He's got some Zeiss Ikons for less than the one you found on evilbay, check out his website.

I've sent you a PM on the customs fees issue.

Gert

 

[Carzee]

CRKennedy are the Aussie distribs. They are the Pentax etc importers who have been around decades. Zeiss pulled the existing Aussie stock just after Christmas apparently. Kennedys are awaiting new stock at the new price - and the retailler network re-launch is due in August.
A little birdie told me.

 

[Timmy P]

You know the price at all mate? I don't want to wait till August, but if it's under or around $1350-1400 then I'll proably buy local. Or else I'll go for for the overseas bids I think.

Cheers for the help by the way Gertf, very informative.

Catch ya,

-Tim

 

[alan davus]

Tim, as you may already know you can import items into Oz up to the value of Aust.$1000 including shipping costs without incurring G.S.T.. So if you bring something in and the value is SHOWING less than a grand chances are you'll not get slugged anything by customs. And our customs guys are often that busy they're unable to check every item. Unfortunately they were too busy to check my new M6ttl that came in from Germany early this year and it was sent straight to the P.O. as was a new Hex 35 UC lens from Japan several weeks ago. Tony Rose at Popflash is excellent to deal with. Do'nt wait.

 

[Freakscene]

Camera Lane quoted me $AU1950 for a body and $AU1250 for the 35/2 Biogon when they had them in stock. Even with GST and shipping, this makes many of the web prices much cheaper.

Marty

 

[james brickwood]

Timmy. i've got a bessa r2m, and was looking at the Zeiss 35/2 Biogon to go with it [ i'm pretty sure they're compatable] the prices here in Australia i was quoted were around $1400aus..

Pop flash looks very interesting, they've got the 52/2 Biogon $697US. A lot cheaper. seems too good to be true? no?

 

[Murray Kelly]

James, are you sure the Biogon fits the Bessa-R2M?

The Jupiter-12 (strait copy of the Biogon) projects onto the curtain in my Bessa-r and is not able to screw right down without damage to either the lens or the shutter. It is not a retrofocus lens such as you get for the SLRs where the mirror has to be accounted for and it obstructs the light meter, too.
Fortunately I have a few FSU LTM bodies I can use it in but the Bessa-r was a failure, for me.
Hardly matters at the moment - it's away under waranty getting the meter turned on again. :-(

Just a thought for you, tho.
Murray Brisbane

 

[james brickwood]

Thanks murray, i'll definately look into this. I borrowed a mates leica 35mm f/2 and have now returned it. i love the lens, but cant afford it atm. i'm looking for a cheaper alternative [bessa's 35 f/1.7 only focus down to .9..]

cheers james.

 

[Tom A]

James, are you sure the Biogon fits the Bessa-R2M?


The 35f2 Biogon from Zeiss works fine on the Bessa R2 and the other Bessa's. Although the rear element does protrude a bit, it is not as bad as the Jupiters or for that matter the original biogons. With the R2 you have added benefit of having the lens hood block less of the finder window than on the R4. The Biogon 35 is a lens that rivals the Summicron 35 in image quality. It has less distortion and it also has a nicer "bokeh" than the Asph 35/2.
As where to get one, I would highly recommend Tony Rose at Popflash. Everyone I have talked to who has dealt with him was more than pleased.
Only caveat that I can see with the Biogon 35/2 is it's size. It is considerably larger than the Leica 35/2's and, at least for me, that took me some time to get used to. but then I have been using Summicron 35's since the late 50's and i think my hands have developed a "summicron" fit.
The alternative to the Biogon would be the Color Skopar 35/2,5 II. Extremely compact and very close in performance to either 35/2 Summicrons or the Biogon and about 50% of the price. Works very well on the ZM body too.

 

[sam_m]

don't want to thread hijacking, but I have a konica hexanon 2/35 that I'm not using much lately. let me know if you're interested, i'm local too 🙂

 

[james brickwood]

Thanks Tom, i think i'll save up some $$$ and check out popflash. I was looking at the skopar 35/2.5, but i shoot a lot in low light and prefer to go with the f2..

Sam, thanks but i thinks i'm going with zeiss or leica.