Was RE: [Leica] DSLR choice - now Zeiss-Ikon

[dcm at pobox.com (David C. Mason)]

At one point there was a small video on the web of some guys who
decided to ignite an old Next computer as it was in a magnesium
casing. The video was funny because they didn't know how to ignite it
or even if it was 100% magnesium or something else. They did
eventually burn it but it took some industrial help.

I made a brief search but can't seem to find this video out on the web
anymore - pehaps someone wants to recreate it with a camera?


Dave

On 1/20/06, Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com> wrote:
> It is still marketing b*llocks.
> Magnesium is not a good material for this purpose.
> Aluminium, brass, stainless steel, even zinc and polycarbonate are OK
> - magnesium will corrode. Even unplated aluminium cameras such as
> FOCAs don't look too good nowadays compared to their painted brass or
> chrome plated aluminium contemporaries. If anybody has a magnesium
> camera and chips the paint off it in the way that is commonly seen as
> "cool" on brass shelled Leicas it will be a mess of white powder and
> blisters in no time.
> Magnesium is of course much used in aerospace and motor sport but
> ONLY where its weight is a benefit. It is NOT used because it is
> strong - IT IS WEAK, it is not used for its resilience IT IS BRITTLE,
> it is not used where corrosion could happen unless a robust coating
> has been applied.
> Magnesium is weak, brittle and prone to corrosion. Its only benefit
> in cameras is a few grams weight saving and its cheapness to cast. It
> has replaced titanium as the latest buzz word camera body material.
> It is in no way as good as titanium for this purpose but many times
> cheaper to manufacture for such an application.
> Magnesium has been almost entirely replaced by composites in high
> tech engineering nowadays.
> If you must fall for the magnesium fashion take great care not to
> scratch the paint down to the metal!
> BTW it seems that the Zeiss Ikon camera is actually the latest in the
> line of Cosina collaborations, after Voigtlander. Cosina changed
> their plastic shelled "Voigtlanders" for metal shells which I am sure
> feel heavier. In functionality there will be no gain even if they
> feel a bit nicer.
> Your quoting from the manufacturers propaganda - they would say that
> wouldn't they?
> Frank
>
> On 20 Jan, 2006, at 22:45, Bill Marshall wrote:
>
> > This issue of magnesium alloy as the material of choice for the
> > outer cladding of the Zeiss Ikon has been treated as if it's some
> > kind of a scam by Zeiss & Cosina to substitute a cheap, corosive
> > material for the real thing or as if it's some kind of fashion
> > statement to sell cameras with a new glitzy "look" aimed at high
> > consumer appeal.
> >
> > The fact is that the top-of-the-line professional film SLRs made by
> > Leica, Nikon, & Canon all use magnesium alloys in their body
> > cladding - companies that pride themselves on the build quality of
> > their cameras & with reputations based on past results in doing so.
> > These are not disposable cameras, or digital wonders designed to be
> > replaced in 18 months, or point & shoots made to look sleek in
> > someone's purse. These are professional cameras for rugged use in
> > any environment. So at the very least, it can be fairly said that
> > the Zeiss Ikon is adhering to the highest level of state of the art
> > in its choice of materals.
> >
> > Any search of the internet for applications of magnesium alloys is
> > replete with the wide range of its applications & with technical
> > reports of how corrosion issues have been solved. Its uses range
> > form aeronautics to aerospace to missile technology to automotive
> > applications as well as cameras, computers, watches, & appliances -
> > in other words, in the most harsh & demanding environments as well
> > as in applications very similar to the uses for a camera. The
> > engineers in all of these arenas must know a thing or two.
> >
> > Zeiss Ikon reports on its website the envrionmental testing it did
> > to subject the camera to extremes of humidity, temperature, shock,
> > & vibration. But don't believe them. Here is what Nikon says about
> > the F6:
> >
> > "As you'd expect, the F6 satisfies the uncompromising standards of
> > reliability that professionals command. An aluminum-alloy die-cast
> > chasis, magnesium-alloy front body and covers (top, bottom)
> > . . ." (This is identical to the construction of the body of the
> > Zeiss Ikon.)
> >
> > "Harsh environmental testing: To ensure the camera could withstand
> > the most severe conditions and environments, the F6 has been
> > subjected to rigorous testing. The F6's . . . reliability is a
> > function of . . (the) right materials for the right place . . . Our
> > engineers considered countless situations for camera use, then
> > submitted the F6 to real life testing to virtually guarantee
> > exceptional dependability wherever and whenever photographers shoot."
> >
> > Bill
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
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>
>
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