Zeiss Ikon 35mm Rangefinder

Review Date
June 30, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Martin , Intermediate

Price Paid
$1000.00 at second hand

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Other

Summary
Best in class for the price.

Looking at the feature of this camera it becomes clear it is made for a user. Not for a shelf, a collection or for social standing purposes.

It is light, you can carry it all day, the viewfinder is bright and beautiful, it has aperture priority in 1/16th steps and it is cheap compared to the equivalent Leica system (I'm much less concerned about damage, loss or theft that way and can focus on the picture making).

As a glass wearer it is a joy to use (I use it exclusively with the 50/1.5 Sonnar), but would not count on keeping the glasses on if you want to frame a 28mm.

Exposure compensation is easy, your shutter speed dial is marked with over and underexposure marks (+/-2 stops in 1/3 increments).

The real downside of this camera is its non-Leica brand. There is something about owning a Leica that this camera will not give you. If this is not a factor, then I believe this is the best bang for the buck.

Strengths
Superb viewfinder with frames for 28/35/50/85 mm lenses.
Great base-length for accurate focusing of fast lenses.
Big viewfinder window, keep your glasses on!
Easy exposure compensation.
Very accurate exposure meter.
Metal curtains: no holes (I hate lens caps).
Easy film loading.
Uses simple batteries.
Window to see if/what film is loaded.
High flash-sync speed (1/125).
Nice preview lever (to select a different frame than the one selected by your current lens).
Uses M lenses.
Price! (Compared to similarly featured Leica M7).

Weaknesses
Focusing patch can disappear when first using the camera: your eye is not centered properly!
Needs battery to work.
Bad LED layout: can be hard to see and disappears in bright light.
Less than ideal manual mode (compared to Leica M6).
You can sometimes end up putting your finger over the rangefinder window (making your rangefinder patch disappear).
The finish could be nicer.
It will not give you the satisfaction of owning a Leica.

Similar Products Used
Olympus 35RD/RC
Minolta Hi-Matic 7
Bessa R3A
Mamiya 6 (medium format rangefinder)

I handled a few Leicas in the shop to help me decide.

Customer Service
Did not have to use so far.

Review Date
December 1, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
peterkstudio , Professional

Price Paid
$1300.00 at Popflash

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Fine Art

Summary
I have use this camera regularly for over a year and can honestly say it is a total joy to work with. From the top of a mountain to a crowded bar the ZI has never failed to allow me to capture the shot I want. I only use B&W film, the ZI body with ZM lenses deliver a feel and style I like very much in my finished work.

The ZI is easy and quick to use, set to Auto mode it gives accurate exposure every time! Great for low light situations.
The ZI is well suited to fast lenses with a 2000's top shutter speed. In manual I set the working aperture and can see the shutter speed in the viewfinder.

As a photographer it's the lens, light metering and the film I am concerned about. The camera body just holds every thing in place in my book. You could not find a better thought out rangefinder body for serious work in my opinion.

I have a Leica M6 that I keep on hand as a back up. I find the ZI is the camera that gives me the greatest freedom to do my work, it is a photographers camera system.

Strengths
Very affordable system
Good quality construction
Functional design
Excellent light metering system
Light weight
Excellent view finder brightness
Takes Leica M mount lenses

Weaknesses
All rangefinder camera systems are quirky, The ZI is no better or worse than most.
The one thing to watch out for with the ZI - it work without a battery!

Similar Products Used
Leica M6 TTL
Zeiss Ikon SW body

Customer Service
Never had a problem to date

Review Date
November 4, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.17 of 5, 6 votes

Reviewed by
Noddy , Intermediate

Price Paid
$750.00 at Ffordes UK

Photography Experience
6-10 years , Outdoor

Summary
This is my first 35mm rangefinder. I wanted a small camera with good range of lenses, ease of use and robust. Basically came down to this or an M7. I really like aperture priority see. Half the price for new or S/H with a great review from Mike Perry - so I went for the Ikon.

I simply love it. Fantastic feel in the hand. It is simply hand sized and beautiful to use. I have the 50mm and 35mm f2 ZM lenses and could not wish for better glass. It's also the only camera that my wife has said looks nice!!

Focus is great, big beautiful rangefinder window So far completely spot on for accuracy. Clear frame lines with the ability to preview other lense framelines.

In bright light conditions the shutter speed indicators are difficult to see. A thin strip of blck insulating tape overlapping the leftmost 2mm of the rangefinder window fixes this. Would impinge on the view of any lense wider than 35mm though.

Winder is fantastically light. Shutter button is fantastic with the most positive half prelease I have ever felt. Shutter makes a great sound too.

Not a "real" Zeiss? Made in Japan? What guff. This is a well made camera which produces amazing quality negatives. Takes Leica M series lenses too. A M7 may well bebetter made and I'm sure if you were stupid enough to sit and bang them together the zeiss would break first. But this is a very very well made camera.

In summary I love it. Saved money on the body versus an M7 and bought more glass. Good decision.

Strengths
Size
weight
Shutter release = fantastic
Viewfinder and focussing
Lenses. Zeiss ZM and Leica M
Metering is accurate
Focus= spot on

Weaknesses
Speed leds in viewfinder difficult to see in bright light (when you probably don't need them !!)

Similar Products Used
Canon / Yashica SLRs
Mamiya 7II

Customer Service
Not needed