There are reports in this forum of people getting their Zeiss Ikon serviced both at Zeiss in Germany and at Cosina in Japan. I've sent Zeiss gear to Cosina for servicing multiple times (one ZI for rangefinder adjustment and several lenses for optimization to f/1.5 and some other stuff I cannot recall right now) and they've always been fast and reasonably priced.
Japanese companies are required by law to supply parts and servicing for eight years after a product is discontinued, so I don't think there's anything to worry about anytime soon.
I bought my black ZI new in early 2009 and despite having lugged it all around the world and having shot hundreds of rolls of film with it, its worked flawlessly the whole time. It now sports a Griptac covering and is better than ever IMO.
joeswe
Well-known
To update this thread, it seems that Zeiss mothership is still servicing the ZM cameras in Oberkochen, Germany. I got this info from a different camera forum where a guy had the shutter malfunction on his ZM (four weeks past the extended warranty period ...) and sent it to Oberkochen. Unfortunately the repair would have required a replacement of the whole shutter unit which was not economically worthwile, so the camera will be a paper weight now.
SaveKodak
Well-known
I really wanted to love the ZI, as I think it's the best AE RF design out there from a user perspective. However they are too difficult to repair, and the factory adjustment requirement for the RF is a deal breaker. RFs go out sometimes, it just happens. They should ALWAYS be user adjustable. This is what drove me to get an M4. It's like my Subaru. If I'm good to it, it'll be good to me.
Rangefinder 35
Well-known
This is a tread I wrote some time ago, when I had the Viewfinder window cracked in my ZI, and nobody wanted to fix it:
I finally got the ZI back from japancamerahunter. It's gorgeous. I may fall in love with ZI again. They replaced cracked VF window, adjusted infinity focus, and I think they thoroughly cleaned it, it looks so virgin. Total cost to me, including shipping: about $235. Thanks jonmanjiro for pointing me towards japancamerahunter.
kiss-o-matic
Well-known
My 2 yen on the subject:
Had an Ikon ZM that I bought and used in Japan for years. Came back to America, and the crank/shutter was busted. Not sure why. Sent it to Zeiss US, which sent it to Germany. After many, many weeks, a $750 estimate was returned... basically the cost of it used. I told them thanks but no thanks, and they returned it. (Note that fixing the finder and other issues I don't think required for it to minimally work were included).
On my next trip to Japan, because why not, I had Cosina have a gander. They said it was fine, although maybe it could use one new part but they didn't think it was required. I also needed new batteries. I had them change the part. Total cost: 6000 yen.
In the meantime I bought a used one in pretty great condition (better than my old one, for sure) for a fair price so have been using that, and will take care of it. However, the old one indeed works. I've gone through a few rolls of film -- many of them in just a cuople of minutes to stress test it -- and on that test it works. Before, it would definitely never get through a roll without jamming.
Take that as you will. But note that even though I was out of Japan eventually, the correspondence started there, was done in Japanese, and they had a domestic address to send it to when repairs were complete. It could be worthwhile for a Japanese poster to act as a middle man for a small fee.
Had an Ikon ZM that I bought and used in Japan for years. Came back to America, and the crank/shutter was busted. Not sure why. Sent it to Zeiss US, which sent it to Germany. After many, many weeks, a $750 estimate was returned... basically the cost of it used. I told them thanks but no thanks, and they returned it. (Note that fixing the finder and other issues I don't think required for it to minimally work were included).
On my next trip to Japan, because why not, I had Cosina have a gander. They said it was fine, although maybe it could use one new part but they didn't think it was required. I also needed new batteries. I had them change the part. Total cost: 6000 yen.
In the meantime I bought a used one in pretty great condition (better than my old one, for sure) for a fair price so have been using that, and will take care of it. However, the old one indeed works. I've gone through a few rolls of film -- many of them in just a cuople of minutes to stress test it -- and on that test it works. Before, it would definitely never get through a roll without jamming.
Take that as you will. But note that even though I was out of Japan eventually, the correspondence started there, was done in Japanese, and they had a domestic address to send it to when repairs were complete. It could be worthwhile for a Japanese poster to act as a middle man for a small fee.
MCTuomey
Veteran
JCH - a big +1 here
Located a specific version M6ttl for me on short notice, completely objective condition assessment, great communication, well worth every penny.
Located a specific version M6ttl for me on short notice, completely objective condition assessment, great communication, well worth every penny.