Zeiss Ikon viewfinder ticking problem

L

LightWave

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May 11, 2007
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I have recently noticed a problem with my ZI's viewfinder. When focusing from infinity back closer, the viewfinder will jitter/tick. I sent it back to Tony at Popflash to have it repaired. But, still no ETA on when it'd be back. I feel lonely without my ZI. :-(

Does anyone have a similar problem before? I was thinking of buying a second ZI body, but this is making me doubt of its reliability. Is this a common problem with rangefinder? Or is this just unique problem with Zeiss Ikon....?
 
I had an old fixed-lens RF that did the same thing. It sounds like a simple case of "stiction" in the mechanism that moves the framelines for parallax correction. While not exactly a simple matter, I can't imagine this being a major-league deal to have fixed.


- Barrett
 
I dont own the ZI ZM.. yet... but don't the framelines adjust for parralax compensation? Is the jittering something different from the parallax adjustment of the brightlines, etc?


Just wondering that way i could picture it better incase i ever see the problem when i get my ZM.
 
I bought my ZI from Tony Rose, too. I would trust him to take care of the infinity focus issue for you. BTw, Tony mentioned to me that Zeiss may be offering a VF 'fix' that all previously sold ZIs would be eligible for. That, and the fact that Tony will stand behind any ZI problems, helped me to take a chance on this beautiful camera body. He said most ZIs he has sold do not have VF infinity focus problems; he checks them prior to shipping them out. RFs going out of alignment has happened to me with my L bodies as well. Back in 1999, while heading from a wedding in Halifax, my M3 was sensitive to the bouncy 7 hr flight; I had to get it adjusted after that. But heavy use pros like xray have declared their ZIs to be quite hardy and rugged. I am sorry to hear of your situation, though; any idea whether a drop, etc may have caused it?
 
I didn't have the focus at infinity problem. Tony checked that for me before he shipped it out.

The problem I have is that the parallax correction of the frame-line jitters (or jumps) while adjusting focus. I recently bought the 50 Planar from Tony and notice that jitter. Then I check with my 35/2 ZM also and notice the same jitter, though less noticeable with the 35/2 ZM. So, I can't be sure whether I got the jitter since day 1 or just recently.

The ZI feels very rugged and well-built. I "baby" it quite a lot. I bang my Nikon SLR in god awful bumpy ride and more and still works like new. I don't remember subjecting my ZI to any bang or sudden vibration.

I'm sure Tony will get it fixed for me. Just feel bumped that I'm without my ZI to play with my newly acquired 50/2 Planar ZM. It's not the same carrying my Nikon FM3A anymore...
 
jbf said:
I dont own the ZI ZM.. yet... but don't the framelines adjust for parralax compensation? Is the jittering something different from the parallax adjustment of the brightlines, etc?


Just wondering that way i could picture it better incase i ever see the problem when i get my ZM.
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AFAIK, the adjustment is smooth. It doesn't jitter into new position. I've never heard this problem with ZI in this forum. Hopefully, it's only some weird unique case for my body. I want to buy a second silver body so that I can carry both color and B&W film. But, if this is a common problem... it'd be a deal breaker.
 
hmm, though different in a way your problem sounds like zeissfan's. read it here.

it seems to be uncommon from the reviews and reading i have done. but every camera line has its dogs.

if you think you have a dog ZI, i'd just ask tony for a replacement, particularly as you bought it recently...i assume.
 
LightWave said:
The problem I have is that the parallax correction of the frame-line jitters (or jumps) while adjusting focus. I recently bought the 50 Planar from Tony and notice that jitter. Then I check with my 35/2 ZM also and notice the same jitter, though less noticeable with the 35/2 ZM. So, I can't be sure whether I got the jitter since day 1 or just recently.
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I think a I might had the same problem - was discussed here in the forum as "framelines a-poppin'". The parallax correction of the framelines did not work, when the camera was not used some time. The framelines remained in their place when the lens was turned from infinity to the nearest distance. After some while the framelines jumped into their correct, i.e. parallax compensated place. In the beginning the problem occured not so often, but then it was more frequent. So I send the camera for repair to Zeiss.
 
My ZI has exactly the same problem! Brand new ZI, brand new 50 Planar... There was no Problem with the Bessa R3A. Argh!
 
I have the same problem. Also bought camera from Tony. But I'm so far away and so lazy and that's why decided not to send it back. It interferes only during very quick focusing. May be later I'll send it to directly to Zeiss to fix it.
 
I have seen this problem around before too, a friend of mine had a ZI but after its 4th breakdown he got rid of it. I think it was his second problem was with the frame lines seeming to move then jump kind of like pulling something with an elastic band, he sent it off and had it back in about a month if I remember right.
 
Do the clicking make unsharp pictures or disturb the exposure in any way? Or is the noice just irritating?

My ZI is off at infinity. But the pictures I take with it is among the sharpest I have. Explain to me; what's my problem?

My Leica Nochtilux backfocuses 10 cm at 2 meter distance. Even if I use it on my Leica MP or M8. That 'is' a problem.
 
I don't think I am asking too much if I want to have a working parallax compensation. It might not make my pictures better (since the framelines give only an estimate) but it bothered me, that the parallax compensation was sometimes working fine and sometimes only after quick focusing. For that I think the camera's price is simply too high. Nope - even if the price was lower it would have bothered me. I appreciate if things that I bought work as intended. Period.
 
I have to say I agree with views of Fanman. It should work as advertised, no question; or it goes back for a refund or exchange or toward a different product.
 
I received a replacement camera within a few days - kudos to Tony. I think cameras that are TOA (Ticking On Arrival ;-) ) will be replaced and not repaired.
 
R2-D2 said:
I received a replacement camera within a few days - kudos to Tony. I think cameras that are TOA (Ticking On Arrival ;-) ) will be replaced and not repaired.
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That's good news! I'm still waiting for my repair to come back. It's been a while. I definitely miss my ZI. The mirror slap from my Nikon FM3A is like thunder now. :eek:
 
LightWave said:
That's good news! I'm still waiting for my repair to come back. It's been a while. I definitely miss my ZI.
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I can understand that - I hope that you get your ZI back soon.

The mirror slap from my Nikon FM3A is like thunder now. :eek:
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So buying Zeiss ZF lenses won't help... ;-)
 
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