ZI reliability ?

[JohnL]

I am considering getting a ZI body but I have heard a few rumbles about reliability of this camera, and would like to hear your experience ...

 

[back alley]

what would you like to know john?

 

[JohnL]

Basically, I'm just trying to form an idea of whether the chatter I had heard was indicative of any serious reliability issues or just noise from a few dissatisfied owners. So far the poll is batting 100% in favour ... but there have only been 4 responses so far !!

 

[back alley]

there are 47 owners on the forum, (iirc) from the who owns a zi thread.

i have 2, one was perfect out of the box and one had the off at infinity focus problem. the 'off' camera was immediately exchanged for another - also perfect out of the box.
i use zi lenses and a hexanon lens on the cameras and there have been no problems.
i carry one zi with me daily, currently using a domke 802 satchel with an insert for a camera, along with all my ddaily needs stuff. it gets tossed into the car and over my shouder, so far no problems.
i am not a heavy user, not tons of film a week but i shoot all year round and around here that means in the snow and in temps as low as -30c. i refuse to go out at temps colder than that😉
so far, the batteries have held up (silver oxide) and the cameras have worked well.
i like the cameras, the feel, the weight etc.
being made in japan is not a bad thing to me, being made by cosina is not a bad thing to me.
the lenses are great, sharp, smooth and no concerns so far.

i recommend the gear whloeheartly, especially at the price and especially for a non pro.

joe

 

[x-ray]

Superb in every way. I actually like many things about it over my Leica M's. Knowing what I know today and if the ZI was available 39 years ago when I bought my first M kit I would most likely have gotten into Zeiss over Leica.

 

[jano]

Mine's been through a lot (not as bad as a couple other members, but I slid down Diamond Head in HI last year with the camera trailing behind me, and also went into severe cold where my breath condensed into ice all over the base), still taking excellent photos. Biggest problem is that I've been too busy to take pictures for the last couple months, and I just bought me a new toy.. 😉

Oh, well.

 

[back alley]

and I just bought me a new toy..

??????????

 

[Joerg]

Hi,

everything is working fine.
i once dropped it on concrete and the RF got out of alignment. ;-(
Nevertheless the camera worked flawless with scale focusing....;-)

Very happy with it.
It is not built like a Leica.... It is actually built with modern material....;-) so it does not need to weigh a ton.


Ciao

Joerg

 

[triplefinger]

mine's rock solid after almost 2 years and good use.

 

[pizzahut88]

Going good

Going good

Nothing wrong with mine so far.

 

[jano]

and I just bought me a new toy..

??????????

😉 Pictures in a couple weeks, when I'm done with it 😉 😉

 

[back alley]

i'll be waiting!!

 

[Avotius]

Im probably the only black mark here, had three bad ones in a row, didnt bother with a fourth. All of them were bad out of the box, jammed shutter, wildly out rangefinder, broken veiwfinder LED's. That said I am sure it could be a fine camera. Have fun when you get yours.

 

[Bill58]

I'd luv to have one IF somebody gave one to me, but can't justify the huge cost since my Model Ps and a Gossen Luna-Pro do me just fine. Am I just an old foggie or am I missing something?

Bill

 

[jsuominen]

Im probably the only black mark here, had three bad ones in a row, didnt bother with a fourth. All of them were bad out of the box, jammed shutter, wildly out rangefinder, broken veiwfinder LED's. That said I am sure it could be a fine camera. Have fun when you get yours.

Jeff had also some problems with ZI shutter according to his post at page http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=522209&postcount=156 . I don't have a ZI, but the price is quite tempting. It's at the same level as a lightly used M6 body...

 

[back alley]

I'd luv to have one IF somebody gave one to me, but can't justify the huge cost since my Model Ps and a Gossen Luna-Pro do me just fine. Am I just an old foggie or am I missing something?

Bill

maybe both😉

there is something to be said for shooting an unmetered camera and using a heldheld or no meter, and a canon p is especially nice.
it makes me feel like i'm an actual part of the process.
but that's for days that i want that feeling.
i also enjoy using a new camera with a built in meter and even ae. it's another kind of very enjoyable experience.

 

[Berliner]

Just sold one. It was a great camera, not a glitch out of the box. Highly reccommended. Although, ultimately I sold it to finance another Leica...

 

[traveller]

I had to send mine to Zeiss today because the shutter jammed :bang:

But: The ZI is my second camera with a jammed shutter, my first one was a Nikon F100 and I don't think anybody would call that one a piece of junk. As with my ZI the shutter jammed after ~40-50 rolls. After the repair the F100 works like a charm and I rate the F100 as reliable. I think it will be the same with the ZI and there are only 2 things that annoy me. That my favourite camera is not in my bag and that I can't afford to buy a second body on the spot.

 

[JohnL]

there are 47 owners on the forum, (iirc) from the who owns a zi thread.
(big snip)
i recommend the gear whloeheartly, especially at the price and especially for a non pro.
joe

Joe,
Many thanks. I also have nothing against Japanese kit, or CV manufacture. In fact all my LTM/M lenses are CV and I'm very satisfied with them! I'm just thinking of getting another M body, and the ZI would be one of the possibilities.

 

[JohnL]

Jeff had also some problems with ZI shutter according to his post at page http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=522209&postcount=156 . I don't have a ZI, but the price is quite tempting. It's at the same level as a lightly used M6 body...

Thanks for input. A "lightly used M6" is probably the main alternative in my eyes.