Zeiss Ikon SW - Are they being stupid again?

[varjag]

Todays best DSLR's have a resolution that beats film.

They eventually will, but they don't have such a resolution at the moment.

 

[Nachkebia]

Yeah it is lovely looking charmie 🙂

 

[telenous]

I fully agree with those who say that this is an expensive camera for what it is. However rxmd is right in pointing the advantages of the ZI SW over Bessa L/T. And I can't help thinking that Zeiss shows great style by bringing in the market another film-based product, complementing (and supporting) the existing range, in what seems to me to be a political rather than financial move. If anything they put their money where their mouth is, by bringing this product out exactly when they say they believe that film still offers advantages over digital. Were I a ZI owner I 'd felt that the company did not just bring out the ZI to make a quick buck (or Euro) but rather that it stands by it.

I expect they already know that the sales will be pretty low (and who knows, perhaps it's what architectural offices around the world were looking for) but that didn't stop them from bringing out the ZS lenses for M42 screwmount either.

Zeiss' continuing support for film should be applauded rather denigrated.

 

[Socke]

And btw - guess who produces the SW... Cosina of course. The SW's inbuilt second accessory shoe is the only thing I miss on the Bessa L.price categories).

Didier

Try to mount a ZM lens on a Bessa L 😀

 

[Nachkebia]

telenous : yap, that what made me happy today 🙂 they are working and they beleave in it 🙂

 

[fitzihardwurshd]

IMO the only stupid thing in this context is the question in the title of this thread.
What shall this say ? That a ZI SW should have the same price as a Bessa L because it is the the same concept, or what ?
Of course it is overpriced compared to a Bessa L, in the same nuts way a M7 is overpriced compared to a R2a. So what ? Since when is the price important for those who need the "right" badge on the stuff ?

The Zeiss folks are not silly at all, first the realized the ingenious idea of an L type camera, everybody who ever used it with non coupld super wides will agree. And second they realized that this is a nice way to sell the fans a second body.

Now where is the stupidity here ?


fitzi

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

i think your math is off by $600 or so. 800 euro is not $1600. and it is most certainly not a rebadged bessa L! not that i'm gonna rush out and buy it, but i agree w/ the others it is a good product for them to offer.

While I admit I thought it was Sterling Pounds, it is 800 Euros; so my math was not off. My starting point was wrong.

Also, I didn't say that it was a rebadged Bessa L, I said it was a different version.

We should all learn (including myself) to read before putting more feetseses in our mouths.

People complain about Leica film body prices. At least Leica manufactures their own film cameras. But others? Ooooh, "it's special, you see?"

OK, how about this: not my cup of tea, not at the price of a glass of vintage Croix Marron cognac, no, not this tea.

Furthermore, since we're not reading, I'll repeat that I don't agree with how this thread was started; I agree with fitzi.

 

[hth]

Why does it have a frameline lever on the body?

Judging from the comments there seems to be no buyers here for this body.

I think it looks cool. If you are into scale focusing and wide angles, why pay for a distracting rangefinder? It is reasonable light, has AE and an extra shoe.

/Håkan

 

[rool]

It is very expensive, I won't buy it. My Bessa L works fine.
But if I had a lot of money, I would buy it, and I like the fact that Zeiss is developping that kind of product... film camera for zone-focussing... sweet!

 

[Finder]

Why? Do you still look into the viewfinder of the rangefinder? If not, zone focusing should be just the same.

I am assuming if you are going to use a rangefinder, you will use the rangefinder. Zone focusing saves a lot of time, so if you are going to have a dedicated supwewide body, why get one with a rangefinder?

I can anticipate the existence of such cameras. The Hassy SWC was one, the Bessa-L another. But Zeiss introducing a "professional dedicated film camera" right now? C'mon, why not spend more time and effort on bringing out better lenses for us? Or even the Digital ZI.

I did not realize ZI lenses were so bad. As far as a digital ZI, they probably don't have the millions required to make one, and after the dismal sales the Epson RD-1 got, they may feel it would be a bad investment. The new SW maybe a fairly inexpensive way to extend their line.

You have your point here, but I still don't see the justification for a 799 Euro light tight box, no matter how well it is made. There is very little delicate moving parts and no optical elements in this one, unlike the Ikon.

That is all a camera is - a light tight box. Everything else is secondary. You may find the new Zeiss has better shutters, tighter mechanical tolerances, and higher QC as well as being more reliable. That would be enough.

But for professional equipment, the price it not that outlandish. Personally, I think $23,000 for the Linholf aerial camera was a bit stiff and it is fixed focus.

 

[John Robertson]

I just wonder if it will suffer the same fate as the original fixed lens Hologon!!!
The reason for the frameline lever is probably because this is a prototype!!
You pays your money and you takes your choice!!

 

[ghost]

by my calculations, this is the boringest week ever.

the camera's pretty cool, though.

 

[NIKON KIU]

Maybe it is kind of step into a digital system? maybe they would need this setup for digital and they are getting ready for it? 😀 😀

Or may be Mr K. is a darn good marketer!
IMHO $500 would have been Ideal...$800 is wishfull thinking.
Since we are speculating, I bet within a year it could be bought for $500!
This is a Zeiss forum and I have a question. Do you think Zeiss is running their quality control over those millions of Digicams Sony is selling(with the Zeiss lens)?
Kiu

 

[Socke]

Kiu, yes and no.

Zeiss branded lenses are checked with Zeiss certified tools to Zeiss specifications and QC is audited bei Zeiss.

 

[Palaeoboy]

But the Bessa L being manual only needed a few LED's on the back so you could achieve correct exposure. How does this camera with AE give a readout of all the shutter speeds without a finder?

 

[hth]

The ZI SW has a "Combination of 3 LED indicates shutter speed setting situation". The only thing you really need to know with AE is whether you are at a too low speed for comfortable handhelding or at too high speed for the shutter.

As long as you are in "the comfort zone" with AE, why bother? The purpose of AE for me is to get aid in exposing correctly when the light is changing and instead concentrate on taking pictures. In situations when I bother about the shutter speed, I switch to manual.

/Håkan

But the Bessa L being manual only needed a few LED's on the back so you could achieve correct exposure. How does this camera with AE give a readout of all the shutter speeds without a finder?

 

[raid]

Just buy what you see as good for you.

 

[Diggin99]

I like it...

I like it...

I love my Bessa L and if, somewhere down the road, I wanded to try a camera that offered the M mount, a second shoe and AE I would buy it! Of course I don't have that kind of money at the moment, but still its nice to know the option is there...

Nancy P

 

[darkkavenger]

I like the concept.

 

[umana]

Hi to all.

I think that we must remember two facts:

1. There are probably still some collectors around that may be
interested to purchase all the ZM "family", that is evidently
growing, now. Next could be the DIGITAL.
2. The Leica road in either the thread mount and the M mount cameras
shows that there is a place, and a selling perspective, also for
some (many ?) "blind" cameras, made in a less costly way,
simply missing a viewfinder and a rangefinder. The risk for the
maker is low, and the growing family gives him/them a certain
"system" look, appreciated around...

My daughter Enotria just married yesterdy in London, and we LOVE
her husband Nick ! 🙂

Greetings, Luigi

PS: Just for precision: I do accept ANY valid payment way, and
certainly not only PayPal !