I was just shooting with my Bessa L. It is a cheap body, no rf, but with a built in ttl meter. The later Bessa R3/R4 series built on that, and of course had RFs.
Thing is, the Bessa L was about $100 for a basic body with light meter. Excellent mechanical shutter to 1/2000.
The R3 was a $500 camera. So it is conceivable that something could be off-shored for under $1K if Leica wanted. The problem is that Leicas need to 'feel' like Leicas, and that adds to the cost of production.
The Zeiss Ikon ZM was $1700 before it was discontinued. Incredible camera, I REALLY wish I bought one back in the day new. Just brining that back at that price would be a massive accomplishment for Leica. No where near the build quality of a Leica but easily good enough and at a great price.
I had long considered a ZM, great viewfinder, 1/2000 etc but a lot that I saw come available had meter issues, shutter issues etc. Very nice camera, but it seems to me that it has nowhere near the reliability of a Leica. So if Leica were to farm it out, and it was in that price range, my suspicions would be high.
rattymouse wrote:
You can take your film on a trip to Europe and gamble. I will not. I'm supposed to go to Germany these year, but doubtful that is going to happen as the world is not clearing up as fast as many had hoped. If I do go, I will not be bringing any film.
You could consider shipping your rolls to your accomodation, shot the film, have it developed and bring it back. Or have it developed & shipped back to you.
Or just buy rolls locally.
A bit of a pain, I know, but should be doable in most destinations.
simonedf wrote:
You could consider shipping your rolls to your accomodation, shot the film, have it developed and bring it back. Or have it developed & shipped back to you.
Or just buy rolls locally.
A bit of a pain, I know, but should be doable in most destinations.
It takes at least 7 days to have a roll of film developed in Germany, more likely even 14 days. Much too long at least for me and my planned stay there. I might still travel with a few low ISO rolls inside my lead bag within my carry-on luggage.
simonedf wrote:
You could consider shipping your rolls to your accomodation, shot the film, have it developed and bring it back. Or have it developed & shipped back to you.
Or just buy rolls locally.
A bit of a pain, I know, but should be doable in most destinations.
Nope. I'll just shoot digital next time I travel. I don't need this extra hassle.
retrofocus wrote:
It takes at least 7 days to have a roll of film developed in Germany, more likely even 14 days. Much too long at least for me and my planned stay there. I might still travel with a few low ISO rolls inside my lead bag within my carry-on luggage.
Your film will be removed from the bag and then scanned. Bank on it. No one respects film anymore. It's too far back in history to have any meaning to most people.
helimat wrote:
I had long considered a ZM, great viewfinder, 1/2000 etc but a lot that I saw come available had meter issues, shutter issues etc. Very nice camera, but it seems to me that it has nowhere near the reliability of a Leica.
I tried one: excellent viewfinder but nowhere close to the built quality and smoothness of a Leica M.
I read about the issues too and another one with the rangefinder alignment...
Too bad.
pmeheut wrote:
I tried one: excellent viewfinder but nowhere close to the built quality and smoothness of a Leica M.
I read about the issues too and another one with the rangefinder alignment...
Too bad.
You are not going to get Leica build quality at the lower price so it's foolish to expect that. The Zeiss Ikon cameras were around for many many years and evidence clearly indicates that they were successful up until the end. Every single camera has complainers.
rattymouse wrote:
Your film will be removed from the bag and then scanned. Bank on it. No one respects film anymore. It's too far back in history to have any meaning to most people.
So far in multiple travels to Frankfurt this never happened to me on either way. Saying this, last time I flew was a year ago. Maybe things changed in the meantime, this is always possible. I will risk it - worst case I lose a few rolls of film when heading there. After exposure, the low ISO film might still be okay even if it is scanned.
rattymouse wrote:
The Zeiss Ikon cameras were around for many many years and evidence clearly indicates that they were successful up until the end.
Which evidence? You seem to live in a parallel universe where your dreams are true.
pmeheut wrote:
Which evidence? You seem to live in a parallel universe where your dreams are true.
The camera was made and sold for 8 years. Pretty successful in my book. It only went away because film use was dying a prodigious death when it was discontinued.
Anecdotes about problems with a camera are utterly meaningless unless supported by facts, of which none were presented here.
retrofocus wrote:
So far in multiple travels to Frankfurt this never happened to me on either way. Saying this, last time I flew was a year ago. Maybe things changed in the meantime, this is always possible. I will risk it - worst case I lose a few rolls of film when heading there. After exposure, the low ISO film might still be okay even if it is scanned.
So to sneak something onto a plane all you have to do is put it into a lead bag? That's it? Nice security they have there.
rattymouse wrote:
So to sneak something onto a plane all you have to do is put it into a lead bag? That's it? Nice security they have there.
Well, that's all I can say from my experience. I always took the bag out of my camera bag and placed it in the tray, but it didn't bother anybody. I once even mentioned it and was told this is all okay. Happened this way at least 4 times.
On the other hand, what always without exemption bothered them were presents made of solid glass (not optical lenses!) which I brought with me as present. Once it was a decorative glass weight, last time a vintage glass bowl. I was told it always appears as pitch black item without structure which leads to an alert. I always had to open this kind of boxes, and the answer was always the same I got: "Ah, a glass thing, explains it". It had nothing to do with the film stuff BTW, just as a remark.
My photo bag with camera and lenses normally receives attention, and often security looked through it. I remember two years ago the security guy at check-in took out my Leica IIIc and told me he never saw something like it and wanted to confirm that it is actually a camera.......but films were not even once an issue, no mater if I mentioned or not.
retrofocus wrote:
It takes at least 7 days to have a roll of film developed in Germany, more likely even 14 days. Much too long at least for me and my planned stay there. I might still travel with a few low ISO rolls inside my lead bag within my carry-on luggage.
Most labs will ship your film back to you if you ask.
rattymouse wrote:
So to sneak something onto a plane all you have to do is put it into a lead bag? That's it? Nice security they have there.
The way it works is that if something cannot be identified during the scan the tray is marked for hand inspection (have a look, take a swab that kind of thing). So a lead bag by preventing the initial scan will lead to hand inspection. It would probably help if you put the bag in its own tray.
I should have bought a ZM when you could get them $700 like new at the end of their run. They were given away then. Now they are about $1500+ but at least Zeiss Germany still services them.
Unlike the Konica Hexar RF which is so notorious for terminal electrical failures japancamerahunter will no longer source them, not even new ones, as he has had so many returned defective.
It's a real bummer because on paper the Hexar RF is something that I'd like to have alongside my Leicas. The Zeiss Ikon does not bring enough to the table to make me want it. The Hexar brings that 1/4000 sec shutter as well as built in motorwind.
I also love the style and feel, like a Contax. The ZM does not feel as nice in the hand.
If Leica could collaborate with Konica and retool the Hexar, that would be a very sweet alternative that would not step on the M's toes as it is a very different kind of camera.
Desmolicious wrote:
I should have bought a ZM when you could get them $700 like new at the end of their run. They were given away then. Now they are about $1500+ but at least Zeiss Germany still services them.
Unlike the Konica Hexar RF which is so notorious for terminal electrical failures japancamerahunter will no longer source them, not even new ones, as he has had so many returned defective.
It's a real bummer because on paper the Hexar RF is something that I'd like to have alongside my Leicas. The Zeiss Ikon does not bring enough to the table to make me want it. The Hexar brings that 1/4000 sec shutter as well as built in motorwind.
I also love the style and feel, like a Contax. The ZM does not feel as nice in the hand.
If Leica could collaborate with Konica and retool the Hexar, that would be a very sweet alternative that would not step on the M's toes as it is a very different kind of camera....Show more →
I've lost track of how many times I put a Hexar (the RF and the AF too) in a shopping cart but never completed checkout. But having had a Contax G1, Rollei 6008 and even mechanical end of line cameras fail I'm just not risking anything like that again. The Ikon never really appealed, on paper it is great but the way it looks is just not there. As you say, a few years ago for £700 I'd try one, today good luck finding one for 1500+. I do wish I bought an XPan for £1500 a couple of years ago though. They go for nearly double that today. Crazy...
