artspraken
New Member
jonmanjiro said:
Review: I took a few shots today with my Zeiss Ikon whilst shopping with the wife. The big VF. The big VF. The big VF. It alone is makes this camera worth the choice. I wear spectacles and the VF hole is so big i can see lots of room even outside the 35mm framelines. The other noticeable advantage is the RF overlap 'bite' point for the focus is easier to find coz the RF patch is longer than leica's.
I do not understand internet comments which say the ZI is not as well made. I think build quality is excellent. The buttons, machinery, and design all ooze quality. For example, the AE switch which is under the hotshoe is actually located precisely where your thumb would be for easy usage of AE lock. From the placement of the AE lock, can see alot of thought went into the architecture. The bottom plate has 2 cylinders that stick out so you are less likely to scratch the bottom plate unlike the leica. The key build difference is the ZI body is made of magnesium not brass, so it weighs lighter than leica. But although lighter it still feels very solid and robust. It does not feel cheap. Leica feels like a heavy slab by comparison. Dont get me wrong, im not dissing leica - just saying leica is heavy and feels expensive in a collector's item sort of way. But the ZI feels, not as collector item, but as a camera to be used.
I found it hard to get used to hinge cover loading. I wonder why internet comments say this feature of ZI is good, and criticise leica for remaining with bottom loading design. I actually prefer bottom loading of leica. I find it difficult to insert the film into the ZI sprocket. But it seems nobody on internet has ever mentioned this, so i guess i must be closet noob again here. Why does most ppl prefer a hinge door at the back?
I never switch off the power. I read on internet the batteries last a year.
I noticed the ZI does not have self timer. Oh well.
I can understand internet comments which say the light meter is hard to see. Actually its not literally 'hard to see', its just that in order to see the meter reading, your eyeball needs to roll to your left away from the RF patch - ie you cannot see the reading from the corner of your eyeball, in order to see the reading your eyeball must actually move. that means your attention is taken off the RF focusing patch when you check the
meter.
One really cute thing: the back hinge door has got a small window which displays the side of the film cannister at the part with the name of the film you are using. Im surprised such a charming feature is not found on ZI reviews. I really did not know film cannisters display the names at the same place.
The shutter curtain is made of metal. It is much louder than leica cloth shutter. This is a disadvantage for me. I wonder why cosina use metal to make shutter - does a metal shutter last longer?
Ive been using manual exposure for so long that AE feels like PnS! I'm so quick to shoot now haha...
The most difficult part in buying this canera is to decide which color - black or silver. Both look really nice.
I am going to use duct tape to cover up the 'Zeiss Ikon' in front - it will look like MP hur hur
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