In regard to the question of ZI shutter noise, the website says the following: "The camera has a metal focal plane shutter specially designed for the Zeiss Ikon camera. Compared to cameras with similar shutters, the noise has been significantly reduced."
I recently e-mailed
www.zeissikon.com for elaboration. I received the following reply from Dr. Hubert Nasse of Carl Zeiss AG:
"In fact, the shutter of the Zeiss Ikon, which was developed by Cosina, is a mixture of both (unique and stock components). They buy the parts from Copal - like the blades, the linking levers, and the blade guiding structure. These parts are then combined with a Cosina-made electromagnetic control system. Thus, the Zeiss Ikon shares some parts with the Bessa shutters, namely the visible ones; some other parts are specially made for the Zeiss Ikon, namely those that are not externally visible, and they are more sophisticated than in the less expensive Bessa bodies.
"The timing control system of both shutters is different. this is also reflected by the fact that only the Zeiss Ikon shutter control allows a permanent exposure lock. You'll find another difference in the auxiliary shutter, i.e. the light integrity blades; this is the grey front surface which you see when you remove the lens. It has been modified to improve the metering sensitivity pattern.
"There are also additional measures for noise reduction. The Zeiss Ikon shutter is more quiet than a Bessa shutter. Of course, the low level of the Leica cloth shutters is not fully matched with the blade shutter. But to make such a similar cloth shutter in low production volumes at an affordable price is economically impossible and a risk in terms of reliability and lifetime. Thus we decided to use proven and reliable parts from Copal and tune them a little bit - the same basic concept that is very successfully used in some fine cars.
"We expect that series production of the Zeiss Ikon will start in October."
