ZI bundles discontinued / price increase?

[andyr]

B&H have marked all the ZI/lens bundles as "discontinued" and increased the price of the ZI RF body only to $ 1,618, a $200 increase. Adorama also shows the ZI body at $ 1,618.

 

[Keith]

Wow ... that sort of puts it up there with a user M7!

Still a better camera IMO though! 😀

 

[thomasw_]

yea, same as popflash, too. makes me very glad I bought a ZI prior to the increase.

 

[andyr]

Makes me sorry I didn't 🙂

 

[thomasw_]

Andy,

There's a deal on a ZI here if you are serious.

 

[andyr]

@thomasw - thanks but I don't have the money at the moment. Was hoping to get one later this year. Andrew

 

[croweater]

ZM Lens prices went proportionally up as well.

I'm glad I got my bundle when I did. I had planned to buy a 50mm Planar soon, looks like I'm now better off buying it locally (Australia) because the price here hasn't yet changed. My poor suffering bank balance...

 

[Keith]

I was just checking ... I paid $1198.00 for mine from Matsuiya a couple of years ago.

$400.00 increase in a couple of years seems OK I guess ... at the time I bought mine Matsuiya was way cheaper than Popflash and the camera was close to two grand here in OZ.

 

[Fenwick]

Give me a Leica M any time
Much better build and for the same or less money
than a Zeiss

 

[Keith]

Give me a Leica M any time
Much better build and for the same or less money
then a Zeiss

Which M are you comparing here though ... not an early unmetered one surely because that's like comparing apples to oranges?

 

[Fenwick]

Which M are you comparing here though ... not an early unmetered one surely because that's like comparing apples to oranges?

Sorry I need to clarify
M6 doesnt have the AE but still better in my opinion for less money
M7 has AE and better build and about the same price +a few hundred dollars
Ive owned the Zeiss great camera but build is just not their and I thought the finder was over rated as far as not being able to read the meter in any bright light.

And the the spelling error has been corrected

 

[scottwallick]

M7 has AE and better build and about the same price +a few hundred dollars

Please tell me where I can buy a new M7 for a couple hundred dollars more than a new Ikon.

 

[Fenwick]

Please tell me where I can buy a new M7 for a couple hundred dollars more than a new Ikon.

Ok Ok
Used
Gee do i have to clarify everthing🙂
You can buy a used M7 for what about $1800-$1900

 

[scottwallick]

Gee do i have to clarify everthing🙂
You can buy a used M7 for what about $1800-$1900

Yes, you do!

Kidding, of course! 😉

 

[Keith]

But that is where this theory falls down a little because although you personally had a not so good experience with Zeiss others have been very happy and in a direct comparison between used and new the new will often be the logical choice for someone entering the RF market.

I had an M7 and found it to be a good camera with a couple of really annoying issues ... the placement of the exposure compensation dial is crazy and mine was an early version with a viewfinder that flared easily.

That said the Ikon's viewfinder/rangefinder is very eye position sensitive and it doesn't have the brick like feel of the Leica! One ridiculous crtiticism of the M7 that has always made me laugh was the complaint that it was a few milimeters taller than a normal M body because of the extra electronics and it felt totally different! 😛

 

[jonmanjiro]

That said the Ikon's viewfinder/rangefinder is very eye position sensitive

That's because the ZI eyepiece is sooo large, you can move your eye off centre. If you move your eye off centre with the M7, you'll find yourself looking at the eyepiece rim 🙄
(photo found in this thread at flickr)

 

[Keith]

That's because the ZI eyepiece is sooo large, you can move your eye off centre. If you move your eye off centre with the M7, you'll find yourself looking at the eyepiece rim 🙄
(photo found in this thread at flickr)

I think this is one area where people don't give the Ikon a fair chance ... if you use the camera regularly it's no problem as your eye position becomes instinctive. It took me quite a few rolls before this became apparent!

[edit] ...I meant to add ... those pics of the two viewfinders are a real eye opener! :angel:

 

[Leica All Day]

I have never had a ZI and I have no experience using one, though I would love to try one if possible, they seem like excellent cameras....

but, I remember seeing photos somewhere here about the strap lugs being made of brass and a couple of you guys posted photos with considerable wear on them.... can somebody clarify this....I might be mistaken here....

cheers, michael

 

[Keith]

I must admit when I first opened the package from Matsuiya a couple of years ago the viewfinder caused a bit of a double take! 😱

I hadn't quite expected it to be as large as it was ... it surprises me that no one else (well, Cosina and Leica) has upped the ante in this area since the release of the Ikon!

 

[Papercut]

I don't have any photos of my ZI's lugs and I cannot say what material they are made of, but mine wore down crazy fast. After just 500 or so rolls, the front edges of the lugs wore down to the point that they are now a sharp edge. So, now I use it without any strap at all: metal rings will wear it further and the threads of Gordy's straps will cut themselves on it in no time. This is one area where I was extremely disappointed with my ZI.

I have never had a ZI and I have no experience using one, though I would love to try one if possible, they seem like excellent cameras....

but, I remember seeing photos somewhere here about the strap lugs being made of brass and a couple of you guys posted photos with considerable wear on them.... can somebody clarify this....I might be mistaken here....

cheers, michael