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Review Summary
2011-03-06T19:00:00
This is my first film camera ever, as well as the first rangefinder camera I ever used. I bought it as a lightweight companion for my Nikon D90, and it actually replaced my D90 for 95% of the time. Combined with the Zeiss 50mm f/2.0 Planar, this makes a unique super high quality, super compact, carry anywhere setup. Focusing with the rangefiner is an absolute joy, though it takes some getting used to. The major advantage of the rangefinder is the ability to focus accurately in *ANY* light in which you can see. Shooting with the Zeiss Ikon in pubs at night, almost all of my pictures are in good focus (I use the Voigtlander 35mm nokton f/1.4 for these situations). The simple manual controls are amazing to use. I suddenly felt like *I* am the one making the picture and not my camera's inner brain. Using such manual controls will make you much more aware of shutter speeds and aperture values, which in turn will help you visualize your photos better. That being said, the shutter speed LEDs in the viewfinder are very hard to invisible to see in bright sun. I find myself often covering the finder with my hand in order to see the LEDs. The built in meter is a primitive center weighted meter, which can easily be fooled. If you're used to matrix metering then you'll be surprised by how often the meter is fooled (plus with film, you can't know it in field). That being said, if you know how to work with a center weighted meter, this will be perfect for you.
Ofri
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Compact rangefinder system camera with focal plane shutter and TTL light metering system
24x36 mm on 35 mm film
Carl Zeiss T* ZM-mount lenses with focal length 15 to 85 mm. Can also use all other lens types with M bayonet
0.74X magnification. Bright range- and viewfinder with bright line frames activated by used lens type. Displayed frames 28/85 mm. 35 mm, 50 mm. Separate frame selector lever for manual frame selection independent of mounted lens. Automatic parallax compensation. Diopter correction lenses -4 to +2 diopters. Standard setting at -1 diopter
Coincident-image rangefinder in the center of the viewfinder image. Measurement base 75 mm (effective 55.9 mm)
TTL center-weighted metering at working aperture. Metering range (at ISO100 and f/2) EV 0 to EV 19 (f/2 4s, f/16 1/2000 s)
Manually set between ISO 25 3200 with 1/3 incremental f-stop
AE with aperture priority or manual. AE lock option. Exposure compensation +/- 2f-stops in 1/3 steps set at shutter speed dial
LED symbols for selected shutter speed along left side of frame. Warnings for out of range shutter speeds and low battery
Vertically moving electronically controlled metal type. Shutter speed: speeds with 1/12 f-stop resolution between 1/2000 s to 8 s in AE mode, full f-stops between 1/2000 s to 1 s in manual mode, B
Synchronization at 1/125 s and longer shutter speeds
Manual advance with quick lever. Rewinding with rewind lever
One piece Aluminum base structure. External metal covers. Tripod thread inch inbase plate
Two 1.5V cells type LR44 or SR44
138 x 78 x 32 mm (5.4x3.1x1.3)
138 x 78 x 32 mm (5.4x3.1x1.3)
30 81035
The new Zeiss Ikon camera combines a classical design with easy-to-use operation. Features and controls are designed to make practical photography comfortable and free from unpleasant surprises caused by the camera. Manual or auto TTL exposure metering as well as an AE-lock function gives you complete control of the exposure situation. So that you can make best use of the entire system from the film to the lens. Quite simply, you can count on a highly versatile creative tool that won't let you down.
The Zeiss Ikon rangefinder system includes a complete range of Carl Zeiss lenses featuring the very latest optical designs. In fact, in terms of high performance, precision sharp resolution & durability, we are targeting the limits of what can possibly be achieved. They are specifically designed to minimize focus shift with aperture variation, particularly important for rangefinder photography.
They also feature highly advanced flare control for truly brilliant images; virtually zero geometric distortion for accurate reproduction of object shapes from faces to architecture; and a precise 10-blade aperture with 1/3 stop interval click stops for exact exposure. Just tomention a few highlights. As a whole, the Zeiss Ikon rangefinder system has taken rangefinder photography to a new level.
Zeiss Ikon's passion is to create the ultimate range of M-mount lenses. But really that's just the beginning. After all, only a complete M-mount rangefinder system featuring a camera that makes best use of our lenses will satisfy your passion and that's exactly what we've accomplished. It's called the Zeiss Ikon. We decided to design our own camera body because other cameras simply cannot match the performance standards of our lenses.
The Zeiss Ikon boasts the widest rangefinder base on the market for exceptional accuracy. It also comes with a triangulation rangefinder that ensures extreme wide-angle focusing precision. Not to mention the convenience and speed of TTL exposure metering and even TTL auto-exposure with center-weighted integral sensitivity pattern.
Just to name a few highlights. And because it features an M-mount, you can use your existing M-mount lenses and upgrade to Carl Zeiss over time. This camera is for the truly passionate. Keeping you in control as you capture the inspiration around you.
A camera that literally takes the rangefinder concept to the outer extreme, successfully reaching the technology and optical limits. Quite simply it cannot get any better. Finally, a rangefinder system that can satisfy your passion, too.
Unlike 35 mm SLR camera viewfinders, for example, that can only show little more than 90% of what will be recorded on film, the Zeiss Ikon viewfinder lets you see the area that surrounds the actual image giving you greater possibilities and confidence as you compose each image. What's more, the triangulation rangefinder combined with a viewfinder base that is the widest available.