I have the Zeiss Distagon zf 35/2 as well as the Leica Q with Summilux 28/1.7. The Zeiss Distagon 35/2 is a very nice lens, but the Summilux is in my opinion quite superior. In contrast to the Zeiss lens the Leica Summilux requires very little PP. Considering the weight and the prospective cost of the Zeiss camera, I much prefer using my Nikon D850 with one of the excellent Zeiss Milvus or Zeiss Otus lenses.
GiantTristan wrote:
I have the Zeiss Distagon zf 35/2 as well as the Leica Q with Summilux 28/1.7. The Zeiss Distagon 35/2 is a very nice lens, but the Summilux is in my opinion quite superior.
In what way the summilux 28/1.7 is superior to Zeiss 2/35 Distagon?
Full control over design - Everything can be optimized.
Sensor+lens mating optimized for optical performance. This is mostly overlooked as a plus, but could possibly be the most important. A Lens/Sensor pairing with perfectly optimized diffraction performance, color phase physics, apochromatic correction, sensor well construction, micro lens elimination or optimization. So many of the current problems in digital photography are artifacts of the interactions between lens and sensor. The time and production cost savings are immense if you eliminate purple fringing, sensor dust, ultraviolet ringing into the visible spectrum, diffraction grating of the aperture/pixel pitch ratio, etc, etc, etc. It goes on and on, and having the ability to closely match all these parameters to enhance synergy and correct problems is just amazing. We will see if they thought the same and had the budget to follow where that leads.
Benefits of ZF, Loxia/Touit/Batis, Milvis, Otus designs. f/2 hopefully chosen for size constraints, rather than cost considerations. Expecting Otus level colors, micro-contrast and corrections, Milvus level will be only ok, anything less and it's a pass.
Minuses -
Big and fragile looking.
If the zx1 camera menu system is designed by their web designers ( https://zx1.zeiss.com ), then there is trouble. This is unlikely, but you never know.
Built in lightroom cc. Hopefully you can export the RAW files before adobe touches it, but it's unlikely.
Price will probably be a minus, but who knows, Zeiss might surprise us all with a 3k price, right in the middle of the EOS R, Z 7, D850 etc.
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Overall I think it's a great concept, the level of integration of the taking and processing and publishing along with the big screen is a big step forward. It remains to be seen if I want to walk forward along to wherever that path leads. But it looks great, if not for everyone, with the acid green dials and crazy angled grip. The big touchscreen is certainly the future for many cameras, which will be more and more like computer/camera combos like smartphones. Many excellent lenses have a small front element: the Zeiss Makro-Plannars and the Schneider 80mm PQS come to mind.
The ZX1 will probably be expensive, but it's performance will determine it's fate. If it retains Otus level optical excellence combined with tight integration of the Lens/Sensor constructions, with a bandpass limited Color Filter Array like the Phase One Trichromatic, they will have an unequaled winner. Size, price, will fall away as drawbacks if full frame images of a quality not before possible are produced for a fraction of the cost of medium format.
I remain skeptical that this performance envelope remained in the remit, if it was ever considered. Going by the recent dusseldorf youtube of their apparent target market, the only nice thing I have to say about that video is the amazing color fidelity of the absolutely horrid mixed tungsten/LED lighting in many of the still frames.
Will I buy the ZX1? If there is such a flawless integration of a superlative and unequaled lens/sensor combo that just blows everything in full frame away, then yes. The parameters of how to do so are now known, and Zeiss has pretty consistently achieved superlative performance in surprise releases such as the Otus series. I want the ZX1 to be one of the all time greats, an instant classic, for the optical performance to be as cutting edge as the outward design.
But if it is a case of the equivalent of a Sony A7R+Batis, or Z 7+Milus or somesuch, a GFX 50R will almost certainly surpass it, for about the same size / probable cost.
Every time I see this thread pop up, I think more and more that this zx1 concept is a bad idea. Why do they want to couple the processing to a camera that has to dissipate heat and a still tiny screen by even tablet standards? How long will you have the camera before the new tablets are noticeably faster? Why would you want to be shackled to that same low performance camera processor 3 years down the line?
It reminds me a bit of in car navigation systems. Interfaces/performance already a little stale when the cars roll off the production line and then hopelessly outclassed by the latest phones in just a few years. Maybe people don’t keep cars around that long anymore either?
krugorg wrote:
Every time I see this thread pop up, I think more and more that this zx1 concept is a bad idea. Why do they want to couple the processing to a camera that has to dissipate heat and a still tiny screen by even tablet standards? How long will you have the camera before the new tablets are noticeably faster? Why would you want to be shackled to that same low performance camera processor 3 years down the line?
It reminds me a bit of in car navigation systems. Interfaces/performance already a little stale when the cars roll off the production line and then hopelessly outclassed by the latest phones in just a few years. Maybe people don’t keep cars around that long anymore either?
Audii-Dudii wrote: AndereObjektiv wrote...sensor dust...As the present owner of three RX1s and a Fuji X100S, I can confirm firsthand that having a fixed lens does not eliminate dust spots on the sensor.
No way, no how!
Ricoh folks often complain of dust on their GRII sensors too.
I can only imagine that the R&D and production readiness teams at all mfrs are stretched and struggling with capacity to produce their cameras without the need for firmware corrections “updates” coming out of the box. Probably a measure of mutual frustration. Delays do not grow sales. Growing tired of my cell phone camera. Hoping to see ZX1, Sony RX1R-3 and Leica Q2 to choose from soon.