My Review Of The Zeiss Ikon

[boomguy57]

Originally Posted by sojournerphoto

Hi Raid

I've not used a Hexar, so hard to add a realistic comparison. The Ikon has a higher magnification viewfinder, so if you like wides then you might prefer the hexar. I wear glasses and the ZI is the best 35mm lens camera I've seen. The 28 lines are marginal for me, but I could ue them if I had a 28. I keep the R4a for the wider lenses, but I really prefer 35 and 50, with occasional excursions up or down the range.

Obviously auto film advance may be meaningful difference, but I still quite like the ability to wind when I'm ready and to do so quietly.

Mike

I have to agree on the last point--I really hate auto advance!

[ferider]

Originally Posted by Keith

Surely that's just an effect caused by the enormous amount of relief provided by the Ikon's eyepiece and it's relationship to the rangefinder. I've noticed with all the Ms I've owned that the small amount you are able to move your eye from the central position of the Leica eyepiece does have a similar effect though not as pronounced.

I kept losing the contrast of the patch when I first got my Ikon due to this available movement ... after ten or so rolls of film I became more familiar with the camera and it stopped happening.

There are two things, Keith, one is the "focus movement", two is patch contrast. You might adjust to the first but not the second. The Leica finder is a bit darker, but the patch has at least a stop more contrast.

BTW, there are also two sides to the shutter noise. The ZI has a metal shutter that is louder than the Leica's cloth shutter. Then again, it's harder to burn holes in metal shutters

In any case, the OP asked for feedback, and I was suggesting to be a little more objective than "the viewfinder in the Zeiss is better" vs. the Leica being good because "It’s a Leica. Period".

Some of us have tried both and prefer, for example, a used M2 over a ZI. Cheaper, too.

Roland.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by ferider

There are two things, Keith, one is the "focus movement", two is patch contrast. You might adjust to the first but not the second. The Leica finder is a bit darker, but the patch has at least a stop more contrast.

BTW, there are also two sides to the shutter noise. The ZI has a metal shutter that is louder than the Leica's cloth shutter. Then again, it's harder to burn holes in metal shutters

In any case, the OP asked for feedback, and I was suggesting to be a little more objective than "the viewfinder in the Zeiss is better" vs. the Leica being good because "It’s a Leica. Period".

Some of us have tried both and prefer, for example, a used M2 over a ZI. Cheaper, too.

Roland.

I have to confess I kept my M2 and sold my Ikon!