ZI reliability ?

[JohnL]

Thanks also to x-ray, jano, Joerg, triplefinger, pizzahut-88, avotius*, bill58, Berliner and traveller*. (* = sorry to hear about your problems).
I guess I'm swinging towards a used M6 - or am I? There's always something about a new camera. Difficult choice.

 

[Huck Finn]

The only serious reliability issue with the ZI has been rangefinder misalignment. This can & does happen with any rangefinder including Leica, requiring an occasional inexpensive adjustment or a do-it-yourself. If the misalignment is slight, it is a non-issue & will not have a noticeable effect on your pictures.

 

[traveller]

Thanks also to x-ray, jano, Joerg, triplefinger, pizzahut-88, avotius*, bill58, Berliner and traveller*. (* = sorry to hear about your problems).
I guess I'm swinging towards a used M6 - or am I? There's always something about a new camera. Difficult choice.

I hope it will be a minor defect, at least I could see no missing or bent parts and the repair center Oberkochen is not so far away.

I had to make the same decision and I always thought it would be the M6 for me. That changed the moment I had a ZI in my hands. The VF is great, even with glasses I'm (barely) able to use the 28 mm framelines, focusing is just great and the meter is precise. Because it is build in a more modern style the ZI is lightweight compared to the M6 and maybe it will not last 40-50 years. So what, I don't think I will live that long and if I do who knows if I will be able to get film then.

Maybe you are able to hold both cameras in your hands, if yes wait with your decision until then. Anyway, make the decision that is the best for you and have fun with the camera of your choice.

 

[back alley]

there's a used black zi in the classifieds right now.

 

[FanMan]

yesterday I received a call from the Zeiss repair center in Oberkochen that they have received my ZI. They will now check the framelines' parallax compensation. Hopefully I can chose very soon the poll option "one minor issue, easily fixed".

 

[jakieff]

jammed shutter( after only 5 rolls of film ) , mine is still not back from repair
Jacques

 

[jjovin]

Well, my Ikon only had a misaligned range finder and I sent it in for a repair.
Cosina has been taking its time with it. I contacted Richard Schleuning (the Zeiss representative in the US) about the delay and he sent me a brand new one to use until mine comes back. He said they are about a month to 45 days from establishing a service center in NJ. They are serious about the customer support and reliability of the camera. Having used the camera for I while I believe it is a superior photographic tool to Leica. How long it will last is a question that no one can answer today. I believe that there are thousands of owners of the camera around the world and I only heard a few complaints about its reliability. Having a service center in NJ should make it very easy and fast to repair one if anything goes wrong with it. I believe that Zeiss is committed to having a strong customer support I recommend the camera without any hesitation.
Zoran

 

[Huck Finn]

Well, my Ikon only had a misaligned range finder and I sent it in for a repair.
Cosina has been taking its time with it. I contacted Richard Schleuning (the Zeiss representative in the US) about the delay and he sent me a brand new one to use until mine comes back. He said they are about a month to 45 days from establishing a service center in NJ. They are serious about the customer support and reliability of the camera. Having used the camera for I while I believe it is a superior photographic tool to Leica. How long it will last is a question that no one can answer today. I believe that there are thousands of owners of the camera around the world and I only heard a few complaints about its reliability. Having a service center in NJ should make it very easy and fast to repair one if anything goes wrong with it. I believe that Zeiss is committed to having a strong customer support I recommend the camera without any hesitation.
Zoran

Nice job by Zeiss & Rich Schleuning. He sent me a ZM 50/1.5 Sonnar to test for a few weeks when I expressed an interest in one but with some uncertainty about its performance characteristics (i.e. after discussions here). And at no cost to me! He's a heckuva guy.

If Rich Schleuning is any indication, Zeiss is very serious about providing excellent customer support. 😎

 

[Way]

Well, my Ikon only had a misaligned range finder and I sent it in for a repair.
Cosina has been taking its time with it. I contacted Richard Schleuning (the Zeiss representative in the US) about the delay and he sent me a brand new one to use until mine comes back...
Zoran

My M8 has been in Solms for about six weeks for a focus calibration. I would like a loaner from Leica, too! Anyway, at least I get to use my ZI more (though three of my lenses are also in Germany!)

 

[Avotius]

I think that zeiss is making a genuine effort to make sure people are happy with this camera system and the fact that they are building a state side service facility gives me hope that they will further work on this system in the future. I am hoping for some more lenses from them...maybe a tessar? 🙂

That said I wouldn't buy one of the zi bodies but have been very seriously considering the lenses. I too have some CV things, the 35mm pII I have is a nice lens, not the most durable lens I have ever used (the tab has paint coming off after less then 20 rolls of film, maybe half of which were shot with that lens) but for the price what can you say?

 

[traveller]

I think that zeiss is making a genuine effort to make sure people are happy with this camera system

I sent my ZI to Zeiss/Oberkochen last Tuesday. Today I asked them how many weeks will pass until I have the ZI back.
He was very sorrow because of Easter (we don't work at Friday and Monday then) I will have to wait until next week 😱 .

Sure, I am not happy about the jammed shutter but it helps a lot to have a good customer service.

 

[FanMan]

my experience with their customer service is very good so far. On my emails I received an answer within 1 or 2 days - or they called me back on my cell phone. When I sent them my ZI to fix the sticky parallax compensation they called me back to tell me that they have received the camera and will now take care of it.

 

[john_s]

The only serious reliability issue with the ZI has been rangefinder misalignment. This can & does happen with any rangefinder including Leica, requiring an occasional inexpensive adjustment or a do-it-yourself. If the misalignment is slight, it is a non-issue & will not have a noticeable effect on your pictures.

I usually buy mail order from the USA (I'm in Australia), but I wouldn't buy a body that I couldn't exchange easily. (Mailing a faulty camera overseas is laborious here because it would attract import tax on its return, unless you do some paperwork and appear in person at the Customs)

The only ZM I have handled in a store here in Melbourne had an obvious rangefinder problem. But then, my M6TTL had one too (bought new).

How hard is it to adjust the Ikon ZM's rangefinder? And is it just a matter of getting the coincident image right at infinity or is there another adjustment for nearer dsitances?

 

[willie_901]

After 53 weeks, no problems (knock on wood)!

willie

 

[traveller]

I sent my ZI to Zeiss/Oberkochen last Tuesday. Today I asked them how many weeks will pass until I have the ZI back.
He was very sorrow because of Easter (we don't work at Friday and Monday then) I will have to wait until next week 😱 .

Sure, I am not happy about the jammed shutter but it helps a lot to have a good customer service.

Update:

Got mine back yesterday and shot my first roll. Everything is looking fine, the camera and VF got cleaned (there was a speck of dust in it). So the problem is fixed.

 

[jakieff]

mine is back and everything works fine actually
Jacques

 

[Olsen]

I have had my black Zeiss Ikon for a year now. It has worked flawlessly through 40 - 50 rolls of Portra 160 VC and produced some stunning pictures thru a 25 mm 2,8 Biogon and a 50 mm 2,0 Planar - despite that it is off at infinity.

- I have looked thru tons of scanned (Nikon 8000 ED) negatives until my eyes get all wet and sore to try to find any negative effect of this, but can't fine one. On the contrary; the pictures I have taken with my Zeiss Ikon is about the sharpest I have taken. Ever. So I am in doubt about returning it to the factory to have it fixed with all the hassle having to go through customs and all that to prevent to be charged sales tax all over again.

I am suprised that some here have problems with the shutter. Obviously the Zeiss Ikon shutter is far better than the old fashioned spring operated, oil lubricated cloth shutter in my Leica MP. The modern magnet operated and cilicon lubricated shutter of the Zeiss Ikon (and Leica M8) is good for twice as many exposures. Some 200.000 at least.

Could these jamed shutters be flat batteries...?

Some earlier reports pointed to bad body finnish. Mine look immaculate and (almost) like new after these 12 - 13 months. Being used in Malaysia's heat and Norway's cold. The examples of bad body finish I have seen here must be generated by etching chemicals or very high temperatures. Wat else could make rubber 'cook'?

Then add that the viewfinder of the Zeiss Ikon is brighter than it's Leica counterpart and the black laquer is just as good. Also exposure control seems a bit more reliable and 'spot on' on my Zeiss Ikon compared to my Leica MP, but the exposure figures are harder to read in bright light on the Zeiss Ikon.

Through it's much lighter weight the Zeiss Ikon presents itself also somewhat more flimsical and not that heavy quality 'feel' of the Leica. - No wonder that this question about 'quality' comes up all the time. This lack of weight has fine little to do with 'real' quality as such. A Leica is far from a really reliable camera. Like a Canon A1 or a Nikon F2. The Zeiss Ikon is built of more advanced materials and has a housing of more modern design. That's why it is lighter. There is a good reason to expect longer life and higher reliability of a Zeiss Ikon than a Leica.

 

[Olsen]

I have had my black Zeiss Ikon for a year now. It has worked flawlessly through 40 - 50 rolls of Portra 160 VC and produced some stunning pictures throu a 25 mm 2,8 Biogon and a 50 mm 2,0 Planar - despite that it is off at infinity.

- I have looked throu tons of scanned (Nikon 8000 ED) negatives until my eyes get all wet and sore to try to find any negative effect of this, but can't fine one. On the contrary; the pictures I have taken with my Zeiss Ikon is about the sharpest I have taken. Ever. So I am in doubt about returning it to the factory to have it fixed with all the hassle having to go through customs and all that to prevent to be charged sales tax all over again.

I am suprised that some here have problems with the shutter. Obviously the Zeiss Ikon shutter is far better than the old fashioned spring operated, oil lubricated cloth shutter in my Leica MP. The modern magnet operated and cilicon lubricated shutter of the Zeiss Ikon (and Leica M8) is good for twice as many exposures. Some 200.000 at least.

Could these jamed shutters be flat batteries...?

Some ealier reports pointed to bad body finnish. Mine look immaculate and (almost) like new after these 12 - 13 months. Being used in Malaysia's heat and Norway's cold. The examples of bad body finish I have seen here must be generated by etching chemicals or very high temperatures. How else can make rubber 'cook'?

Then add that the viewfinder of the Zeiss Ikon is brighter than it's Leica counterpart and the black laquer is just as good. Also exposure control seems a bit more reliable and 'spot on' on my Zeiss Ikon compared to my Leica MP, but the exposure figures are harder to read in bright light on the Zeiss Ikon.

Through it's much lighter weight the Zeiss Ikon presents itself also somewhat more flimsical and not that heavy quality 'feel' of the Leica. - No wonder about this question about 'quality' comes up all the time. This lack of weight has fine little to do with 'real' quality as such. A Leica is far from a really reliable camera. Like a Canon A1 or a Nikon F2. The Zeiss Ikon is built of more advanced materials and has a housing of more modern design. That's why it is lighter. There is a good reason to expect longer life and higher reliability of a Zeiss Ikon than a Leica.

 

[bananasplit]

ZI is a joke for me, unless its badluck!

I have a black one, sure color doesn't matter, I lost a screw from the body and the shutter jammed several times.

So imagine, in the middle of the Sahara trying to fix the shutter...

Now I am thinking of selling it. I bought it because I was curious.

I have always used Leica M bodies, I really think there is a difference.
Now I agree Leica are expensives. I would consider a second hand M to replace the unlucky ZI. I cannot trust it anymore.

 

[traveller]

Could these jamed shutters be flat batteries...?

No, it was definitely a jammed shutter. But last week I nearly got a heartstroke when the ZI didn't fire 😱 . Good that I carry spare batteries with me.....