Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/12/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]ok, i think i can count with one hand people who have this camera on the lug and cv list. two people!! there must be something going on with the production of this camera?? On 12/19/05, TTAbrahams@aol.com <TTAbrahams@aol.com> wrote: > > It is true that the Zeiss Ikon is similar to the M7, but I think it is > closer to the now defunct Hexar RF. I have been using a black ZI for a > while and I > like a lot of the features on the camera. It has what most likely is the > best finder ever on a rangefinder camera. The eye-relief is nothing short > of > sensational, even with glasses I can easily see the 28 frame and in a > pinch, you > can use the 25mm lens and use the outside frame lines of the 28 as a > guide. > The camera is very smooth with a film advance that is soft, so soft that > it > took me a couple of rolls to realize that the film actually was moving > through > the camera! The AE-lock will hold the reading for 20 seconds or until you > press the button again. Exposure system seems right on the button (based > on > approx. 15 rolls so far). It is a lighter camera than the M's but it is > not a > flimsy camera, it feels solid and comfortable. I have run a variety of > lenses > through the camera, both Zeiss Ikon lenses and Leica/Voigtlander lenses. > There > have not been any instances of problems with back-focus, even with 90 > Apo-AA > wide open and close focus. The frame-lines key in properly with Leica > lenses > and there is a nice legend for each frame set-up that tells you what it > is. > The negative aspects are generally small things; the bottom rewind is not > something that I like, did not like it on the M5 and I still don't like it > on > the ZI. The lock for the back is a bit flimsy in my opinion. I haven't > opened > it by mistake yet, but it could happen. The shutter speed indicator is > situated on the left hand side of the finder and can be difficult to see, > particularly in bright light. The M7 has a better long exposure system, > that 32 second > count down is a thing of beauty whilst the ZI runs out of steam at 1 > second. > One major flaw is that it lacks a 75 mm frame, the 85 frame can be used > in a > pinch, but the problem is that the Leica 75's have their frames engaged > together with the 50 frame, so on the ZI you are stuck with the 50 frame > and no > manual switch to get the proper frame (like the R2A/R3A). Of course, you > can > tape the preview lever to the 28/85 position but that looks a bit tacky! > It is a viable alternative to a M7 at about 1/2 the cost and the finder > does > make it a very attractive proposition. Of course, you can buy several > R2A/R3A's for that kind of money and if you are an occasional AE user, > that's the > way I would go, particularly if you are a fan of the 75/1,4 or 75/2 (which > admittedly I am). > Season's Bests to everybody > Tom A > ---------- > Tom Abrahamsson > Vancouver, BC > Canada > _www.rapidwinder.com_ (http://www.rapidwinder.com) > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- ------------------------------------- regards, mehrdad