Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/12/19

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Subject: [Leica] Zeiss Ikon's homage to the Leica M7
From: msadat at gmail.com (mehrdad)
Date: Mon Dec 19 19:38:44 2005
References: <e1.22368a96.30d8b430@aol.com>

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


In reply to: Message from TTAbrahams at aol.com (TTAbrahams@aol.com) ([Leica] Zeiss Ikon's homage to the Leica M7)