paul t Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I'm sure this will get everybody going, but here is <a href="http://www.zeissikon.com/making.htm" >more news</a> about the Zeiss Ikon system. If this is all marketing and badge-engineering, they've done quite a good job of pretending this is a labour of love.<p>One significant quote: "This is only possible if we possess the courage to plan large quantities from the beginning"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 It's all corporate-image copywriting blather, and to me its only interesting feature is its slightly non-native flavour (as exemplified by the somewhat Germanic romanization "Kobayashi"). I'd suggest that those interested just wait till the stuff comes out and falls into the hands of the moderately disinterested and critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank granovski Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 "...they've done quite a good job of pretending this is a labour of love." 1) I'm still wondering what the body will sell for, 2) if it will be Leica-quality 3) and I'm looking forward to actually seeing one as well as reading some reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Oops, above I meant "Kobajashi". Force of habit, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambor Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 My B+W catalog that cae this weekend shows prices for the Zeiss Ikon as well as for the new S3. I'm in the car right now but my faint recollection has the Ikon at $1600 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambor Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Oh great... Now they have ULTRA PRIMES. The world of superlatives iss sooo annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul t Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 Interesting that 'disinterested' and 'critical' are seen as synonymous when discussing Zeiss products on the Leica Photography forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambor Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Actually I'm not disinterested. I'm just annoyed by marketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_marshall1 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Frank, USA prices for body & lenses are listed <a href="http://www.classicconnection.com">here.</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 <p>If I were considering buying something, the only comments I'd be interested in are those that are both disinterested and critical. This is independent of the brand: it applies just as well to Cosina/Voigtländer and Leica. (Not that I can imagine myself ever buying anything new with the brand "Leica".)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_Es Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Okay, I read the blather with "Mr. Kobajashi." (They ought to have called him Herrn Koebajaschei.) I think this is a bad translation from bad German, which is called "kvatsch." But the Zeiss-Ikon is far more interesting and promising than the blather. The prices are a tad high retail. They are a bit lower in Japan and will probably be lower still at discount. I'm particularly interested in the 25/2.8 and the Zeiss-Ikon body. The camera seems almost like the embodiment of the CLE II that photogs in Japan have been dreaming about for the last two decades. I have a pile of 85mm lens that I want to try on it. At the price they are asking, I hope it is better than the bodies being knocked out my Cosina under the Voigtlander name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin m. Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I just received a new B&H catalog and it lists prices for the body and all the lenses, but their website says the item isn't available yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johan_greenhorn Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 It is strange they will only offer silver body, at least initially. I don't even consider the camera until it is available in black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameron_sawyer Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Leica ought to be relieved that the body is damned expensive! Will anyone buy it over a mint M6? Even if it is much nicer than an R2, it still has that Copal shutter . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I think that I'll stick with the inaccurate primitive mechanical shutter in my M2 and M3 bodies for awhile. Even the long base length rangefinder and dedicated frame for the 85mm f/2 Nikkor doesn't tempt me. Also, it's way too soon to tell just how nicely they'll brass up and get dinged ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vic_. Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 <I>Rene Braun , feb 21, 2005; 07:25 a.m.: "... I'm in the car right now ..." </I> <P>Two observations: <BR>1. If you're driving, I hope you don't have an accident (and God forbid, kill anyone) while browsing the hallowed Leica Forum. <BR>2. Being able to access the LF, a miracle of technology and batteries, when most people here complain of electronics getting in the way of creativity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rover Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Leica should be worried because there problem isn't solved. Choice one being a mint used M6 is just as bad for them as the ZI. Throw in those who can't afford either who will go for a Bessa. What choice is a new MP or M7? That is what Leica has to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambor Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Vic: "1. If you're driving, I hope you don't have an accident (and God forbid, kill anyone) while browsing the hallowed Leica Forum." Thanks Vic. Let's pray together. "2. Being able to access the LF, a miracle of technology and batteries, when most people here complain of electronics getting in the way of creativity!" As long as I don't have to take pictures with it. The darn plastic POS is less than 2 years old and it is on it's last leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deecy Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 I fondled a new Zeiss Ikon at the NYC Photo show. (I'm sure others on this forum did too), and it is a high-quality camera - every bit as good as recent Leica products. What's the ever-lovin' difference where it's made? It's a Zeiss camera - bright viewfinder, heavy and solid, very good rangefinder (who cares how they did it?), and a beautiful range of lenses. And since when is everything Japanese automatically poor quality? So maybe the CV lenses are only 90% as good as Leitz lenses; as is true everywhere, manufactured items are built to certain levels of quality so they can be priced for certain markets. As well as the Honda Civic, (a terrific little car, BTW) the Japanese make the Lexus. Does anyone have any doubts about where it stands among the world's automobiles? Japan also produces Nikons, Canons, Olympus, and Konica-Minolta. AND, some terrific lenses for these cameras. Some, in fact, are unique, that is to say, made nowhere else in the word, including Germany, like the 35 mm Canon lens which can be adjusted like a view camera lens for perspective control. It's time for a lot of Leicaphiles to get their heads out of the sand. Considering some of Leica's recent offerings, their hubris is a little arrogant IMHO. Best, Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 B&H has it listed for the odd price of $1,619. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_hall1 Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Thanks Paul. Looks like Zeiss was indeed fed up with Kyocera. And thanks Bill, for the URL. I have been looking forward to the 85mm "Sonnar" and am rather disappointed with the very Leica-esque pricing, even for a pre-release quote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_rutledge Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 <p>actually "ultra-primes" was most likely borrowed from their motion-picture lens line of the same name. it essential denotes improved optical characteristics over their previous lens line-up.</p>http://www.arri.com/prod/cam/ult_e.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambor Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 yes but a prime is a prime. It is not ULTRA prime. Just use a different label describing a step up from regular production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy_baker Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 Ultra BS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_rutledge Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 <p>"Just use a different label describing a step up from regular production."</p> like what? "new/improved/super-duper"? what does it matter? <p> as for "ultra BS", the motion picture lenses sharing the name are very,very good and a dramatic improvement over their previous line. but i forget, it's not branded leitz so it must be BS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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