ALL ZI & ZI SW production stopped

[jpskenn]

Hi, ZI lovers.

I share you a bad news that ALL ZI & ZI SW are discontinued.

Today, Fujiya Camera, a famous shop in JAPAN tweets (*Japanese only) like below.
https://twitter.com/fujiyacamera/sta...34767091081216

It says:
[Finally discontinued!]
Carl Zeiss Zeiss Ikon & Zeiss Ikon SW are discontinued!
Hurry up for limited stock!

After seeing that tweet, I telephoned COSINA about this news.
COSINA says:
- Production is stopped.
- There's no specific production timetable at this moment.

Keep watching the official information.(Not released now)

# Sorry about my poor English

[maclaine]

Funny, the thought that this would happen occurred to me earlier this week. Honestly, I'm surprised it took this long, but it sure is a shame. I had a ZI that was terrific, though sadly it's in someone else's hands now. I wonder what this will do to used prices?

[f6andBthere]

I've always thought the Ikon was in a difficult place price wise ... a fair bit more than a Bessa and pretty much on a par with a user M7 or really mint M6. Fantastic camera though and a shame to see them ceasing production.

[kxl]

The rumor is that they are retrofitting the production lines to start building digital ZI's.

[axiom]

Originally Posted by kxl

The rumor is that they are retrofitting the production lines to start building digital ZI's.

That would be real nice

[CronoZero]

Originally Posted by kxl

The rumor is that they are retrofitting the production lines to start building digital ZI's.

You might want to cite sources for this...just because it's on a bunch of wishlists (mine for sure), doesn't mean it's going to happen. Zeiss reps have been denying development of a digital ZI for a year or more now.

[DavidKKHansen]

Originally Posted by maclaine

...I wonder what this will do to used prices?

Probably around when it's no longer obtainable new from retailers, will the used prices go up 10%. It's a great camera, but not something that sells like hot cakes.

[kanzlr]

I am not really surprised. I wonder which rangefinder to get for a while now, and I would never consider a new ZI when for the price I can get a used M6TTL with recent CLA and 6 months warranty. Even used ZIs are around €700 to €800 depending on condition.

[Pickett Wilson]

It made sense new as a price point between the Cosina RF's and the M7, as a good camera with a lovely bright finder. People buying new at that price point now seem to be buying from among the many digital offerings recently available. The ZI will certainly be missed.

[thegman]

Great camera, nothing lasts forever. Unlike digital, film cameras must compete with cameras made 50 years ago, always going to be a tough market. I wonder now what Cosina will do (if anything). Nobody could have predicted they'd have made a 6x7 folder, so who knows what they'll get up to. Interesting times.

[varchs]

Fortunately I have managed to get mine ! ! !
I wish this end will be the beginning of ZI digital ERA...
and will not stop the production the awesome ZM lenses...

[Monochrom]

...bad news...guess teh economy is not helping...

Have you any news about the line of lenses???

someone said in a previous ost that zeiss was about to launch a new lens for the M mount cameras...did it happen???

[DavidKKHansen]

Zeiss is known to be a optical company, not a camera maker. They haven't made a camera in decades (the M-mount Zeiss Ikon is made by Cosina after all).

I get the impression that selling lenses for SLR's and for the M-mount is profitable for them. I doubt they'll seize production of the ZM line.

[mile]

Originally Posted by kanzlr

I am not really surprised. I wonder which rangefinder to get for a while now, and I would never consider a new ZI when for the price I can get a used M6TTL with recent CLA and 6 months warranty. Even used ZIs are around €700 to €800 depending on condition.

Well, every time I get to hold an ZI for a while, I envy its crystal clear viewfinder. When I first learned about rangefinders, I wanted this ZI. I was brainwashed by 'friends' that I supposedly would end up with a Leica anyway, sooner or later and I should just give in now. Well, I have the M6TTL 0.58, and I think I might have been happier with the ZI. But maybe it is just as they say: the grass is always greener on the other side. ;-) Bye, M.

[thegman]

Originally Posted by mile

Well, every time I get to hold an ZI for a while, I envy its crystal clear viewfinder. When I first learned about rangefinders, I wanted this ZI. I was brainwashed by 'friends' that I supposedly would end up with a Leica anyway, sooner or later and I should just give in now. Well, I have the M6TTL 0.58, and I think I might have been happier with the ZI. But maybe it is just as they say: the grass is always greener on the other side. ;-) Bye, M.

I traded my ZI for an M6, regretted it right away. I then went to M3 and was much happier, but I still consider just going back to where I started with a ZI.

[lam]

Although sad at first, i'd be interested to see what happens from now.

[EdwardKaraa]

Production stopped and being discontinued are completely different things. Production is done in batches, it's not like they are making them all the time. The frequency of production batches is determined by how fast the stocks are exhausted, which in case of the ZI, is very slow. Anyhow, all film cameras will be discontinued sooner or later.

[Mackinaw]

Not really surprised it was discontinued. Introducing a rangefinder (guaranteed low production) just when the digital market was catching fire about guaranteed it's demise. Like any discontinued film camera, it will be missed.

Jim B.

[Roger Hicks]

The SW, surely, was discontinued some time ago. Linking the ZI and SW in this way makes me slightly suspicious...

And as EdwardKaraa says, Production stopped and being discontinued are completely different things.

Cheers,

R.

[Pickett Wilson]

They stopped making the Silver ZI about nine months ago. I would be surprized if they were still selling many of the black ones.

[DavidKKHansen]

Yeah, and they stopped production of the SW cameras around April of 2011. They can be had for cheap new these days, seems like many retailers are pricing the remaining SW's at retail price.

[kxl]

can you say F-A-C-E-T-I-O-U-S ???

Originally Posted by CronoZero

You might want to cite sources for this...just because it's on a bunch of wishlists (mine for sure), doesn't mean it's going to happen. Zeiss reps have been denying development of a digital ZI for a year or more now.

[thegman]

Originally Posted by EdwardKaraa

Anyhow, all film cameras will be discontinued sooner or later.

That is true, but it's also true of any product made by any company.

[f16sunshine]

Nice design and best VF ever. Too bad they were not very robust though. MY RF would slip out of alignment every few months (vertical but still irritating).
Great design effort by the Zeiss/Cosina team overall. If indeed it is a goner I guess those on the market will become a bit cultish.

[Mackinaw]

I lifted this directly from a guy's post on APUG, who is a Zeiss dealer:

"Dear Zeiss Photo Dealer,

Please note, a decision has been made to discontinue the Zeiss Ikon Camera. There is a limited amount of stock on hand, after which the product will no longer be available. We will continue to provide spare parts and service on the camera for the immediate future. This decision also effects the various spare parts for the camera body, such as the camera strap, side grip, camera case and the diopter lenses. These accessories are only available while supplies last.

This decision reflects the ongoing transformation from film to digital capture. While sales of the camera have remained steady over the last several years, it is no longer feasible to continue manufacturing the product.

Carl Zeiss remains committed to manufacturing the ZM lens series and as indicated at Photokina, we will develop at least one new high speed, prime lens during 2013. More information about this product will be announced in the coming year."

Jim B.