ZI vs. CV

[Alain]

I'm new to rangefinders (though not to photography)...

What makes the new Zeiss Ikon a better camera (sans the lens) than say the Bessa R2 or newer R2m? Looks like they are made in the same factory. I understand the QC is handled by Zeiss but I wondered how much separates these two cameras?

In motion picture, I shoot with Ziess glass on a late-1970s NPR, and I have a hard time telling the difference between a new camera with the same glass. By extension couldn't a person yield the same image on a R2 or R2m with Leica or Zeiss glass that a Zeiss Ikon would yield with Lieca or Zeiss glass?

I know the user experience is different but what about the images these cameras yield?


Best,
Alain

[shutterflower]

baselength is enough to be worth the extra cost.

[back alley]

alain,
do a search as this has been the topic of quite a few discussions and there is lots of info already posted here.
some good reading for you, i think.

[wlewisiii]

The RF baselength and the finder are the two biggest areas of improvement according to those who have used both. If the money were available, I personally, would go for the ZI over the RXa for that extra QC. OTOH, again presuming that the money was there, the R*M makes the equation a wee bit more difficult to solve (especially due to the Heliar 50/2 :bang: :bang: :bang: _and_ mechanical shutter.)

I own a CL so I know a small base line can be lived with. I also own a Canon 7 so I know that having a longer baseline is a real value. I think that, today, my idea of the ideal system would be a ZI body, the 28/2.8, 50/1.5 & 85/2 wrapped in a Luigi case would qualify. I might go with the 35/2 instead of the 28/2.8 but that's a different decision... ;) Batteries don't have to be a big deal either with a bit of fore thought...

Hope this helps,

William

[Huck Finn]

Improvements over the R2 or R2M include effective baselength (base line + maghification), viewfinder, AE with "permanent" AE lock & exposure compensation in 1/3 stop increments, metering, auto frame selection, 28 mm frame lines.

[Alain]

baselength is enough to be worth the extra cost.


Thanks, but what would you recommend searching under? Key words?

Searches can be frustrating, but I hear ya.


Thanks,
Alain

[Alain]

Thanks to those who responded with info...

Baselength as I've been "reading" is critical indeed, but one has to experience this to better understand it.

My question is this: if the widest lens I'm using is a 35/2.5 or 35/2 does baselength become that critical? I could understand this with a 28 or wider but what about a 35 or 50?

Thanks everyone!

Alain

[fgianni]

Up to 50mm f2.0 or 75mm f4, the baseline of the Bessas is more than adequate, if you take the one with the 1:1 viewfinder (don't remember which model is exactly) you can easily focus 50mm f1.4 or 75mm f2.8, however if you plan to use a Summilux 75 wide open(f1.4) I'd say that with the bessas (even the one with the 1:1 viewfinder) your focusing is going to be a lot of hit and miss, so in that case you realy need the ZI or an M Leica.
With 35mm lenses or wider I'd say there is no problem.

[Alain]

Thanks for all the help!

Alain