Zeiss Ikon SW - Opinions?

haempe · 12-24-2010

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 · 12-24-2010

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 · 12-24-2010

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 · 12-24-2010

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 · 12-24-2010

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 · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by haempe

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 · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sepiareverb

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 · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by haempe

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

I think it is.

Vobluda · 12-24-2010

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

lxmike · 12-24-2010

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

Roger Hicks · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vobluda

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 · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vobluda

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 · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

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 · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

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...

Roger Hicks · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by haempe

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/subsc...ws%20wate.html. If only we could afford the WATE...

Cheers,

R.

haempe · 12-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

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 · 12-24-2010

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 · 12-25-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Cheers,

R.

Mister E · 12-25-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

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 · 12-25-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister E

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 · 12-25-2010

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

FrankS · 12-25-2010

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

bennyng · 12-25-2010

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 · 12-25-2010

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

haempe · 01-14-2011

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpberger

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.

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...