Zeiss Ikon SW - Opinions?

[haempe]

Thinking about a successor for my Bessa L (mostly used with CV 25/4 snapshot or CV 15/4.5).
Came across with the ZI SW. I wonder, what remains of a camera, highly praised for their viewfinder, after the amputation of that.

Some ZI SW users here? All the collected impressions are very welcome...

Thanks,

[Roger Hicks]

Very nice camera, much easier to use meter than the normal ZI, but of limited usefulness except for an ultra-wide. What are you expecting it to do that your L can't? Or has the L died?

Put it this way: it's a much nicer camera to use than an L, but if you already have a working L... My suspicion is that it's a collectors' item in waiting.

Cheers,

R.

[Tom A]

I have the SW (and the L's). Main use is with ultrawides and on Bellows/microscope as it removes the headache of trying to figure out exposure compensation! Same exposure system as the ZM (i.e very good) - It is a bit weird - but it works well.

[haempe]

Thanks for the input.
My L is on his last legs. After 2-3 rolls I have to reassemble the winding mechanism. And, honestly, the design is not very durable. Many plastic parts in the gear, self-releasing screws etc.
But I really like the use of the CV 25 Snapshot and I would imagine that is with AE even more pleasure.
And a M mount and a metal housing sounds like a nice addition.
Any known weak points?

[sepiareverb]

I quite like mine with the 21/2.8 ASPH, and hopefully will get to use it one day with an adapted G16/8.

Meter is indeed very good, and the readout for the meter is very simple.

[sepiareverb]

Any known weak points?

The camera seems a bit thin in the hand (I don't think it is thinner than an M, but it seems like it- perhaps the squared shape?), and while the Zeiss grip helps, but isn't as big as it should be.

Not a weak point, but the 21 I use and the ZM 25 I had are both more front-heavy on this light body than on a Leica. A compact wide would likely be a dream.

[haempe]

The camera seems a bit thin in the hand (I don't think it is thinner than an M, but it seems like it- perhaps the squared shape?), and while the Zeiss grip helps, but isn't as big as it should be.

Not a weak point, but the 21 I use and the ZM 25 I had are both more front-heavy on this light body than on a Leica. A compact wide would likely be a dream.
Well, if this are the weakest points, it sounds like a very good choice...;)

[sepiareverb]

Well, if this are the weakest points, it sounds like a very good choice...;)

I think it is.

[Vobluda]

For about same money you can have Konica Hexar RF body, which would be my choice instead of Zeiss Ikon SW.

[lxmike]

Looks like a nice camera, I have an L, (which I like), alas the Zeiss is well out of my price range

[Roger Hicks]

For about same money you can have Konica Hexar RF body, which would be my choice instead of Zeiss Ikon SW.

Not in a million years. An out-of-production body from a firm that's stopped making cameras versus a current model that shares a lot of parts with another current model?

Cheers,

R.

[haempe]

For about same money you can have Konica Hexar RF body, which would be my choice instead of Zeiss Ikon SW.
I'm sure you're right there.
But I like in my Bessa-L is precisely the absence of a viewfinder and rangefinder. I want to photograph intuitive and simply to plug an external viewfinder on my Bessa or MP, just does not work with the snapshot. I see automatically through the camera viewfinder, and let me irritate by the unused rangefinder.

[sepiareverb]

Not in a million years. An out-of-production body from a firm that's stopped making cameras versus a current model that shares a lot of parts with another current model?

Cheers,

R.

Precisely.

I'd avoid a Hexar like the plague at this point. And the Hexar would be used vs a new SW at nearly the same price.

[haempe]

Not in a million years. An out-of-production body from a firm that's stopped making cameras versus a current model that shares a lot of parts with another current model?

Cheers,

R.

This are wise words, but sometimes no rational reasons can stop us.
I´m also guilty in this case, I buyed a CLE instead a Bessa R4A...:rolleyes:

[Roger Hicks]

I'm sure you're right there.
But I like in my Bessa-L is precisely the absence of a viewfinder and rangefinder. I want to photograph intuitive and simply to plug an external viewfinder on my Bessa or MP, just does not work with the snapshot. I see automatically through the camera viewfinder, and let me irritate by the unused rangefinder.

Going in another direction, slightly, Frances loved the Tri-Elmar on her ZI-SW. There's a pic towards the end of http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/reviews%20wate.html. If only we could afford the WATE...

Cheers,

R.

[haempe]

If only we could afford the WATE...

I'm (in silver photography) a hobbyist, I'm too stingy to Leitz glass, I am sure that "the last 5 percent" are not visible on my photos anyway. But for comfortable-to-use camerabodys, this is another thing.

[Mister E]

I picked up an Ikon SW a few weeks ago. I paid about 3x more than what I paid for my Bessa L and it's more than 10x the camera. I'm not a huge fan of the AE with slide film, but with B&W and C-41 it's great.

[Roger Hicks]

I picked up an Ikon SW a few weeks ago. I paid about 3x more than what I paid for my Bessa L and it's more than 10x the camera. I'm not a huge fan of the AE with slide film, but with B&W and C-41 it's great.

True enough. Hard to say exactly why, but true.

Cheers,

R.

[Mister E]

True enough. Hard to say exactly why, but true.

Cheers,

R.

For me it's mostly because my Bessa L did nothing but repeatedly break.

[Roger Hicks]

For me it's mostly because my Bessa L did nothing but repeatedly break.

I only ever had an L on review for a few months, but we've had the SW for much longer and it's flawless.

Cheers,

R.

[haempe]

Thanks all for the input. I think, I will go for a SW in January.

[FrankS]

If you can use a hand held meter, a Leica Mda or similar model can be bought for the same or less.

[bennyng]

I enjoying using the Zeiss Ikon SW for discrete shoots with wide angles. The 3 bulb LED meter display is great when paired with the AE mode (if you remember not to point towards the sky). As I'm using it with mainly the 15mm, I only need to ensure that I don't see the red light on it's own. All other combination will ensure I have a shutter speed higher than 1/15 seconds. So after metering, I just lift up and snap. Very quick.

As for built quality, it's great. There's no rangefinder to knock out of alignment. It's a shame that this camera is so under rated.

Cheers,

[jpberger]

Just wish the sw had a barnack style rangerfinder built in a la the bessa-t. That would be a fine camera.

[haempe]

Got my ZI SW two days ago and must say ... I´m impressed.
What a nice camera compared with the Bessa L.
Feels good, good ergonomic, nice shutter speed index via LED in AE.
Shot 2 rolls but haven´t developed til now. Have high hopes.
Again, thanks all for the advice.

Just wish the sw had a barnack style rangerfinder built in a la the bessa-t. That would be a fine camera.
Agree with that. But I have no hope it will be happen.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=84025&d=1295037221
The only thing that bothers me now is the ugly CV viewfinder.
I think, I need the cute new CV metal finder. But this is whine at high level...:rolleyes:

[Mister E]

I guess I should have put mine up for sell a few days ago. Mine's up for sale in the classifieds now: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/26271/cat/1/limit/recent