ZI limited edition

[iandg]

I soon will be joining the ZI club but there is something not right as i browse for my best deal i have read that 1.200 limited edition cameras were made in 2004 well if that is the case how on earth are they still bieng sold three years on buy retailers.Nearly every retailer i browesed had them including one on the bay all new.Very strange.

 

[tsai_tao]

I got my own ZI just last month on a trip to Japan. But when I was shopping around (in Taiwan) in the weeks prior to my purchase, the one local store with ZIs in stock also had an unusually high number of limited editions; I believe it was like 3 limited editions versus 1 regular.

My immediate assumptions were:

1. local ZI demand is relatively low, and/or
2. once the regular ZIs came out, few people wanted to pay the higher price for the limited edition

Of course, these two assumptions are ... well, assumptions -- based on nothing whatsoever. But it definitely seems like the limited editions weren't limited enough. 😛

 

[pfoto]

Personally I would stay clear of the first batch of anything, whether it be cameras or cars. Give the manufacturer a year (or two) to iron the bugs out then buy.

 

[kshapero]

Personally I would stay clear of the first batch of anything, whether it be cameras or cars. Give the manufacturer a year (or two) to iron the bugs out then buy.

A ZI Limited or not is a great camera.

 

[lshofstra]

I'm with pfoto. Don't know if it will make a difference in the end, but I felt safer buying a non-limited version....

 

[BNF]

While I was looking (online) at prices for the Ikon last week, the 2 big NYC retailers had zero price difference between the limited silver and black - still the case right now too.

 

[pfoto]

A ZI Limited or not is a great camera.

Akiva I am not suggesting otherwise. My concern would be is it a reliable camera? I try to avoid buying anything in the first year of manufacture...

 

[jbf]

Eh Im not worried about it. I have a limited zi.


If anything... I would imagine the production tolerances for a "limited edition run" of the camera would be much stricter rather than a full production run.


That's how I see it. I mean think about it... the only made 1300 or however many camears because they didnt even know if they would sell at all.

Im sure they would be much more worried about them malfunctioning in their first limited run than in a full production run.

 

[Quercus]

I have been using a limited since Dec 2004 and about 400 roles through it is still in perfect condition --- I wasnt bothered that it was a LI or not but I was bothered that it felt right and it just does ... I have had it serviced once ... well actually just a very good inside clean and alignment check ... and guy who did it reckons best built "new" camera he has worked on since the days of AE-1, ME supers and F3's - the guy is an ex - hassy and then bronica tech (as in company employee) so I guess he at least understands what build means

The word new is important here leicas are not new the tooling is still the same. So there build is 20 - 30 years old

 

[cmogi10]

Does the limited edition look any different? I've never heard of this before...

 

[kuzano]

Too much concern for little reason....

Too much concern for little reason....

1) The fact that you can still buy new Limited Editions does not imply a failing of the camera.
2) The ZI is not a well known camera (sorry rangefinder guys) which could easily explain why 1200 Limiteds could last this long.
3) There must be dealers who bought the Limited Edition cameras and shelved them for a rise in market price... It didn't occur so they are coming out now. This is a common dealer practice on limited items. Dealers horde them for future rises in price.

Unless I knew for a fact that there have problems (and how could you not with the internet) then seeing new Limited Edition ZI's would not deter me in any way, IF I wanted one and IF I was willing to pay the price.

Everybody makes big deals out of what one person pays for one camera, when the price seems high. Well, in the real world, market value is the price determined by what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller. Trying to understand why one particular transaction went higher than "perceived market value", is a total waste of time.

 

[BNF]

Does the limited edition look any different? I've never heard of this before...

From the prospect:

To mark the return of Zeiss
Ikon the first 1200 camera
bodies made will be avail-
able as a unique Limited
Edition. Each camera will
feature an individualized
insignia engraved in the
top cover.

It's nice to think that there is more to the limited edition than a stamped number on top, but in this case, I don't think there is more to it. It's a marketing move - and 1200 is still a middle range limited run.

I doubt many established dealers would "horde" an unproven camera.... or even a proven one for future resale. It's about minimizing inventory and getting rid of products quickly.

I was strongly considering an Ikon, but have decided to get one later this year as a 2nd RF. (Instead re-purchased an M6ttl that I stupidly sold.) I just could not get comfortable buying a camera that I 1)couldn't hold before buying or 2) would probably loose a significant amount if I wanted to flip it.

 

[jjovin]

I just could not get comfortable buying a camera that I 1)couldn't hold before buying or 2) would probably loose a significant amount if I wanted to flip it.

Look on ebay. Occasionally one comes up for around $900.
That way you can hold one and resell it for similar price in case you change your mind.
When I bought my limited edition, I had an M6ttl and decided
that the Ikon is a much better photographic tool.
Good luck,
Zoran