noimmunity
scratch my niche
I love using a 75. The ZI has a neat trick for the 75 framelines: the breaks on the 50 framelines form the dimensions that correspond to 75.
P.S. my Ikon drains batteries just like Nate's.
My favorite camera, hands down.
Zeiss Ikon vs Voigtlander R3A
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I love using a 75. The ZI has a neat trick for the 75 framelines: the breaks on the 50 framelines form the dimensions that correspond to 75.
P.S. my Ikon drains batteries just like Nate's.
My favorite camera, hands down.
Bob Michaels
nobody special
My ZI developed a battery drain after a few years. It was corrosion on the shutter contact switch caused by sweat wicking down the shutter button. The battery drain ceased after cleaning up the corrosion. Now batteries last 6-12 months again with never turning it off. Actually, the on/off switch has never worked. it is always on but does not drain the battery.
goo0h
Well-known
so far i haven't had any problems with battery drain. on/off switch works fine, and i generally have it off when not in use, then will leave it on during a day of shooting. i'm a sporadic shooter, and have tended to replace the batteries once a year, but try to keep an extra pair handy just in case.
jawarden
Well-known
Just to add one more data point, my Ikon also seems to go through batteries quickly. I've probably exposed a hundred rolls or so since new (purchased April, '10) and I'm on my third set of batteries. I also always leave my Ikon in the on position, and I do tend to meter a lot so perhaps that's part of it.
As for the shutter delay, there isn't one here.
As for the shutter noise, I have also found a Luiji half case dampens the sound, but they're a pain to use. If you have a small 35mm lens (like the ZMC Biogon) the case makes focusing more difficult because your fingers brush against the seam of the leather. No problems with a large 35 (ZM 2.0 Biogon).
For the OP, I think either camera would work well, but if you're planning on using a fast 50 I'd save for the Ikon for the better viewfinder and longer rangefinder base length.
kossi008
Photon Counter
One more thing about the effective base length. I think we need to keep this in perspective:
The ZI has 56 mm, the R3A/M has 37 mm.
It is one thing to do Puts-like comparisons to show how much EBL you need for focusing a certain lens in principle (or in practice, given indefinite time).
But I found that the ZI helps me for fast action too, because the same sloppiness in focusing will translate into less focus error. So it is not only an issue for long focal lengths shot wide open...
The ZI has 56 mm, the R3A/M has 37 mm.
It is one thing to do Puts-like comparisons to show how much EBL you need for focusing a certain lens in principle (or in practice, given indefinite time).
But I found that the ZI helps me for fast action too, because the same sloppiness in focusing will translate into less focus error. So it is not only an issue for long focal lengths shot wide open...
noimmunity
scratch my niche
Corrosion on the shutter contact, not the battery contact. That's a problem I wouldn't have thought of. How did you clean up the corrosion? DIY or service technician?
Bob Michaels
nobody special
Service tech. I am fortunate in having a very good local independent pro camera repairman who is also a friend so I do nothing myself. He just replaced the actual contact / switch with another one from a parts camera that one of his repair buddies had. So there was not even a charge.
Now I carry my ZI camera with a grip in my hand, sometimes for 8 hours. Bags and straps do not work well for me. And I live and photograph were we sweat a lot during the summer. So there is continuing potential for sweat running down my arm / hand onto the camera.
But all battery drains are caused by some weak short circuit and corrosion is the most likely culprit.
noimmunity
scratch my niche
Thanks for the tip, Bob. I'll look into it.
Needless to say, with the high temps and humidity we got here most of the year, it could be a problem!
Bruin
Noktonian
I know it's not for everyone, but a soft release could keep sweat from your finger from getting down there. Well, if you're REALLY sweaty maybe not 😉. Plus it keeps crud from accumulating in the cable release hole.
Zeiss should just gold-plate those contacts!
Zeiss should just gold-plate those contacts!
goo0h
Well-known
oh, hadn't thought about that potential benefit. I've had a soft release thing on mine since I first bought my ZI. (I believe I ordered both together from popflash.photo.) Being in North Texas, it can get pretty warm here in the Summers, and I do tend to sweat a lot. It was really sweaty down in Houston last Summer. Perhaps turned out to be a good thing that I have that soft release!
noimmunity
scratch my niche
FWIW, I use one of those...
Mister E
Well-known
Well, I'd be pretty frustrated if a bit of sweat buggered both of my Ikons, and 3 of my friends Ikons as well. I religiously use softies. I've been too busy with work lately to do anything with my cameras. I still have a roll of Velvia in my first Ikon left over from Cambodia.
Mister E
Well-known
So you guys were right, there's no detectable lag in the Ikon. What sounds like lag is actually the first curtain closing. Its release is silent and you hear a detectable click when that curtain ends its travel.
