My ZI Arrived! Another "1st impressions' post

[Way]

From Tony Rose. Great price and very fast shipping! Thanks Tony.

First impressions: lighter than my MP but very solid. Nice large vf makes focusing
very accurate. Need to keep your eye more centered to see the patch. Patch is
very clear when you do so. AE is fun and easy, AE lock works well and is convenient.
Shutter is louder than MP - more of a bright tone while the MP's is lower, more damped.
I like the 'suddeness' of the release of the shutter - feels as if I can almost hold the
camera with more stability at slow shutter speeds. I like the recessed windows -
seems like I won't get fingerprints on them as easily as my MP. Camera body has a
warmer feel to it than the Leica - aluminum? Generally very easy to use and has
controls well layed out. LED shutter speeds are a little small. So far, it is easy to see in
the sunlight.

So far there's nothing that I dislike about the camera! :D I'm running a roll of Kodak UC4000
as quickly as I can to test out the exposure and focusing with my four lenses. With
the money I saved I was also able to purchase a Minolta Scan Dual IV and Vuescan
so I can finally post some real rangefinder pics in my gallery!

Way

[Nick R.]

Enjoy!

and post some pics, too.

[Trius]

Kodak has a new super-high-speed UC emulsion? Post some shots! :D ;)

[back alley]

that was fast!
enjoy.

joe

[Way]

Oops! I meant 40,000... ;)

Kodak has a new super-high-speed UC emulsion? Post some shots! :D ;)

[Frank Granovski]

Though I prefer silver, I think I'll go for the black one, or a second R3A or R2A. But first I'm going to buy the ZEISS 50mm F2 lens because is super-sharp and that's what I like. :cool:

[Trius]

ROTFLMAO!!!! The only film I know FASTER than 186,000 mps.

Oops! I meant 40,000... ;)

[Huck Finn]

Camera body has a warmer feel to it than the Leica - aluminum?

Magnesium.

[Way]

Thanks to all! Trying to use up that roll but other committments have slowed that down.
Keeping my eyed centered in vf to clearly see the patch needs some practice and the LED
shutter speeds are a little too far to the left but it's OK. Trying get used to using the AE
lock so I'm probably going to get a bunch of shots with wrong exposures. I like M7's
way of locking the exposure when you press the shutter down half way. So far the ZI
is a great camera! I just need to get used to it.

Way

[Way]

Got my prints back and the ZI looks like a keeper! I really believe the long baselength
has helped me focused more accurately in all the shots. And I think the electronic shutter
requires less force to trip the shutter than the MP, helping me to eliminate some camera shake
errors. Not REALLY sure that the ZI requires less force, but I like the feeling! I took a bunch
of low light shots at 1/15 and 1/8 and camera shake was not a factor. Maybe I'm just getting
better at my technique :)! My next roll has some at 1/4 and 1/2! We'll see...
Exposer is accurate in AE and the AE lock needs some getting used to but works
great. Manual mode is nice also (of course!) and not having to fiddle with the AE lock
frees you up a bit.

Way

[rover]

good to hear more positives

[Way]

Hi all,

I'm loving the metering on the ZI more and more. Works very well with contrasty
situations such as concerts where everyone is wearing tuxedos. I suspect this would
also be a great camera for weddings. I also really believe that the shutter release has
helped me improve camera shake when using very slow shutter speeds. I've found that
I'm able to take shots at even at 1/8-1/4 with good results. My percentage of keepers
are higher than with my MP (gasp!). Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Way

[vincentbenoit]

AE is fun and easy, AE lock works well and is convenient.You must possess a fairly long thumb to find the AE lock button convenient... ;)

Vincent

[Huck Finn]

You must possess a fairly long thumb to find the AE lock button convenient... ;)

Vincent

:confused:

I have smaller than average man hands & have no problem reaching the AE lock with my thumb. Making it easy to use as well is the fact that you don't have to keep it manually depressed while you recompose since it is a "permanent" lock, so your thumb is immediately freed up.

Huck

[Huck Finn]

I like the 'suddeness' of the release of the shutter - feels as if I can almost hold the camera with more stability at slow shutter speeds.

Astute observation, Way. A little research reveals that the travel distance of the shutter release button is 0.9 mm as compared with your MP or an M7, which is 2 mm in both cases.

Of that 0.9 mm, 0.6 is to activate the meter & it's only an extra 0.3 mm to release the shutter. In use, I haven't found it to have a "hair trigger", i.e. I have not ever activated the shutter by accident. The amount of force required to release the shutter just seems to be ideally matched to the weight of the body.

Huck

[awilder]

Any impression on film advance? Puts and others gripe about it's light feel compared to the more robust Leicas.

[back alley]

film advance IS light.
the advance on the m3 is smooth, very smooth and very little tug because of the film.
the zi is smooth also but has a slight zippery feel to it - same as film rewind.
i like it and have no problem telling if film is in the camera.

i find that that comparing my cameras, one to another, is frustrating me. i pick up one and think,'this is a bit heavier'...etc. it's getting crazy.

the bottom like is that when i go out with only one camera i tend to like it very much by the end of the shoot.
i like using the zi very much. it has a perfectness about it, perfect weight, perfect feel to focus and shift apertures. very fast focus with a brilliant viewfinder. the 50 fl are more perfect than the 35 fl which are excellent.
the only real problem is in my head and that's the ae and getting used to it and having a built in meter at all.
and that will come in time.
joe

[Way]

I agree with Joe on all points! As for the film advance, I noticed that I keep my
left hand under the left side of the camera where the rewind knob is. When I
advance the flim, my left palm feels the rewind knob rotate. So I have some
tactile feedback. It's the same with my CL. But regardless, I don't think the film
advance is too light. It's just lighter than the Leica's.

Way

[SolaresLarrave]

How about the loading? It should be a cinch!

That is, very easy... Compared to loading ANY Leica! :)

Congratulations on your ZI cameras! It's time to have a choice in bodies and glass! :)

[back alley]

loading is a simple process, like most cameras.
loading the m3 is not a chore but it is more cumbersome than with a camera with a hinged back.

[vincentbenoit]

Hehe... Just a bit of teasing on my part... I expected someone to pick up on it. ;)
Let me elaborate: The AE lock button is certainly not unusable, but it would be much more convenient to use if it were located a bit closer to the left-hand side of the camera, à la Bessa R2A/R3A. I for one found it very difficult to operate the Ikon as I would like, which is with the forefinger on the shutter button, the long finger on the shutter speed dial AND the thumb on the AE lock button, so as to have control on all the parameters simultaneously (the left hand controlling focus and aperture settings on the lens) while keeping one's eye at the viewfinder. I'm sure some people can do it (can you?) but why make it more difficult than necessary for people with smaller-than-average hands? Left-eyed shooters are even more penalised when it comes to operate the AE lock button, for obvious reasons.
I admit that these ergonomics issues are only limiting in the case of fast work, but then again for slow work in which the photographer has time to set the controls one by one, any old Zorki will do the job just as well.

Vincent

[back alley]

i hit the ae lock buttom when the camera is aimed at the ground.
then focus & shoot.

pretty quick i think.

[vincentbenoit]

i hit the ae lock buttom when the camera is aimed at the ground.
then focus & shoot.

pretty quick i think.Sure, but I was thinking more in terms of "focus and recompose" kind of shooting, with several moving targets (eh, subjects) in contrasty light. (Don't mean to make it sound like it's a video game...)

[Huck Finn]

Vincent, after trying your method, it seems that your right hand must be curled around pretty far to the front of the camera, so I can see why you'd have a problem with the ZI. Every tool requires that you adapt to ints ideosynchrasies to some extent. so, how about the long (middle) finger on the shutter release button & the forefinger on the shutter speed dial. The ZI's shutter speed dial moves pretty easily, so I was able to do this although I'd need some practice to become proficient.

As Back Alley says, however, a quick hit on the button & exposure is locked in for 20 seconds so there's really no need to have the thumb availabe to keep the AE button depressed. This is different than the R2/3A of course which requires that the button remain manually depressed to function.

It can be a problem to look at a question like this out of context. The AE lock button on the ZI is located in exactly the same position relative to the sides as is the AE lock button on the M7 - although the button on the ZI is slightly lower. Given the longer rangefinder base on these 2 cameras vs the R2/3A as well as all the additional internal connections for auto frame selection, there may be compromises in positioning of parts that are required to make everything fit together that are different than what can be achieved on the R2/3A. Looking at the 2 packages as a whole - ZI vs R2/3A - I prefer the ZI package.

Huck

[Marko]

I have one question to the shutter sound of the ZI. I use a Voigtländer Bessa R3a and the shutter of the Bessa is ugly loud (is the only problem that i have with my Bessa)! So my question, is the shutter of the ZI quieter than the shutter of the Bessa? Both cameras where manufactured from Cosina. So i think there is no big differnce between these cameras!

[Way]

I believe the ZI's shutter is quieter than any of the Bessa's. My MP is quieter
than the ZI, so I may do what Joe did and buy a Luigi half case to help
deaden the volume.

Way

[Marko]

Thanks for the hint with the half case. Hm.. louder than the Leica MP.. the MP is the loudest of the "new" Leicas.. My Yashica Lynx 14 has a very, very quite shutter (a dream..) But the problem is, the Yashica Lynx is to big for the inconspicuous photographie! :-) On the ZI i found that the viewfinder has a bigger round eyepiece than the Bessa so i think there is a better "viewing"

[Way]

Of the modern Leicas, the M7 has probably the quietest shutter. The MP
is just slightly louder, but not my much. I use the MP during symphony
rehearsals and concerts with no problems. I don't think I could do that
with the Bessas and not get noticed. Have yet to try the ZI in the same
situation. The viewfinder of the ZI is quite large - makes my MP's .72
seem cramped. Focusing is accurate and, like I've posted before, the feel
of the shutter release is great. Tonight I've shot many at 1/4 and 1/8.
Even tried a few at 1/2 just to see how steady I can be. Due
to the shutter release, I feel confident that they will come out pretty clear.
If any of the pics are interesting, I'll post some in a couple of days.

Way

[Marko]

Okay, i think i will sell my Yashica Lynx 14 next time and then i will purchase a black ZI. Do you know when the black ZI comes?

[Huck Finn]

Marko, the black ZI is scheduled for release by the end of March, which means that it should be to the dealers in April.

Just a note about your comparison between the ZI & the R3A. Although both were manufactured by Cosina, almost everything about them is different - just as an F6 & an N55 are both manufactured by Nikon, but there is a world of difference between these 2 cameras. Futher, the ZI is has been developed through a partnership between Cosina & Carl Zeiss. Zeiss has been an active partner involved in design, testing, standards, & quality control. This has introduced a whole new element into Cosina production. I have written a review explaining what is different about the ZI, which will be posted some time in the next week at elekm.net/zeiss_ikon.

Huck

[hinius]

The black Zeiss Ikon is out in Asia; Joseph Yao has then in stock. Mine arrived last week... sweet camera.

[Huck Finn]

Great! :) For a change, a Zeiss ikon has arrived on the early side of the final target date.

We'll have to wait & see what happens at CameraQuest & Popflash. They didn't receive their first samples of the silver version until a couple of months after Dr. Yao (joseph@yao.com) had his.

Huck

[aizan]

hey, someone else in torrance! hellllllo!