p.1 #2 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
I assume you're talking about the Ikon rangefinder? If so, I bought one some years ago and use it now and then. Admittedly I have not used it heavily, but here are my impressions:
1) Not flimsy - well built and beautiful to look at (mine is silver). It's lighter than Ms but that doesn't mean it isn't well built. Some details are just better than on my Ms.
2) Viewfinder is great. Brighter, larger and with bigger patches than Ms.
3) Has 28, 35, 50 and 85mm frame lines.
4) Electronic, metal shutter. Makes more noise than an M for sure. But not "loud".
5) Some off placement of things like rewind knobs on the bottom.
Mine is still working great, so not sure where ideas of reliability come from. As long as you have batteries, it's as reliable as any other electronic camera. Has aperture priority if you want it and has a 1/2000th shutter speed. I don't have one, but they made a really useful small grip for it that screwed into the tripod socket on the right.
One thing is harder than on Ms and that's adjusting the rangefinder. You have to remove the top plate to get to the adjustment screws. I did it - not difficult, but you have to be comfortable with small hand tools. That said, I adjusted it once when it was (at the time) 5 years old, and not since. Still aligned.
I think it's a wonderful camera and now you have me thinking more about using it. My only issue with it is it seems like the prices have started to rise on it. Guess I better buy another one
p.1 #3 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
crf59 wrote:
I assume you're talking about the Ikon rangefinder? If so, I bought one some years ago and use it now and then. Admittedly I have not used it heavily, but here are my impressions:
1) Not flimsy - well built and beautiful to look at (mine is silver). It's lighter than Ms but that doesn't mean it isn't well built. Some details are just better than on my Ms.
2) Viewfinder is great. Brighter, larger and with bigger patches than Ms.
3) Has 28, 35, 50 and 85mm frame lines.
4) Electronic, metal shutter. Makes more noise than an M for sure. But not "loud".
5) Some off placement of things like rewind knobs on the bottom.
Mine is still working great, so not sure where ideas of reliability come from. As long as you have batteries, it's as reliable as any other electronic camera. Has aperture priority if you want it and has a 1/2000th shutter speed. I don't have one, but they made a really useful small grip for it that screwed into the tripod socket on the right.
One thing is harder than on Ms and that's adjusting the rangefinder. You have to remove the top plate to get to the adjustment screws. I did it - not difficult, but you have to be comfortable with small hand tools. That said, I adjusted it once when it was (at the time) 5 years old, and not since. Still aligned.
I think it's a wonderful camera and now you have me thinking more about using it. My only issue with it is it seems like the prices have started to rise on it. Guess I better buy another one ...Show more →
I’ve owned two since new. I agree with all above, except haven’t adjusted rangefinder. Also, many ZM lenses are also worth a look.
p.1 #4 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
Other than you could use Zeiss lens, I'm curious what made you think about this camera since it is not cheap though.
What I heard Ikon ZM is more reliable than the Voigtlander Bessa, but you may still have to find out who is still repair the camera in your city/country.
p.1 #5 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
zi464 wrote:
Other than you could use Zeiss lens, I'm curious what made you think about this camera since it is not cheap though.
What I heard Ikon ZM is more reliable than the Voigtlander Bessa, but you may still have to find out who is still repair the camera in your city/country.
Not sure who you are asking, but back in the day it was less expensive than a new Leica M7 and the viewfinder/rangefinder was brighter. The film loading was in line with DSLRs of the day and it was relatively light. Lots of ‘M’ cameras can use ZM lenses.
p.1 #6 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
bwcolor wrote:
Not sure who you are asking, but back in the day it was less expensive than a new Leica M7 and the viewfinder/rangefinder was brighter. The film loading was in line with DSLRs of the day and it was relatively light. Lots of ‘M’ cameras can use ZM lenses.
I'm asking OP, as you said most of the M cameras can use ZM lens and what I also see Ikon is not cheap like over $1,500 depends on condition. So I'm curious what made OP think about this camera.
p.1 #7 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
zi464 wrote:
Other than you could use Zeiss lens, I'm curious what made you think about this camera since it is not cheap though.
What I heard Ikon ZM is more reliable than the Voigtlander Bessa, but you may still have to find out who is still repair the camera in your city/country.
Thanks for the response.
Nobody except Nikon and Sony digital (current) cameras are serviceable where I live. I have to send them abroad if I need repair.
I have and use the Leica MP and the M7. No other reason but GAS. And someone has offered to sell an almost new ZM, for I consider a reasonable price.
And as the man said..a rangefinder does not have to have a red dot !! ( my MP does not, though ).
p.1 #8 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
crf59 wrote:
I assume you're talking about the Ikon rangefinder? If so, I bought one some years ago and use it now and then. Admittedly I have not used it heavily, but here are my impressions:
1) Not flimsy - well built and beautiful to look at (mine is silver). It's lighter than Ms but that doesn't mean it isn't well built. Some details are just better than on my Ms.
2) Viewfinder is great. Brighter, larger and with bigger patches than Ms.
3) Has 28, 35, 50 and 85mm frame lines.
4) Electronic, metal shutter. Makes more noise than an M for sure. But not "loud".
5) Some off placement of things like rewind knobs on the bottom.
Mine is still working great, so not sure where ideas of reliability come from. As long as you have batteries, it's as reliable as any other electronic camera. Has aperture priority if you want it and has a 1/2000th shutter speed. I don't have one, but they made a really useful small grip for it that screwed into the tripod socket on the right.
One thing is harder than on Ms and that's adjusting the rangefinder. You have to remove the top plate to get to the adjustment screws. I did it - not difficult, but you have to be comfortable with small hand tools. That said, I adjusted it once when it was (at the time) 5 years old, and not since. Still aligned.
I think it's a wonderful camera and now you have me thinking more about using it. My only issue with it is it seems like the prices have started to rise on it. Guess I better buy another one ...Show more →
Thanks so much for the detailed reply. Really appreciate you taking the time to provide me with most information I was in need.
p.1 #10 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
Fursan wrote:
Thanks for the response.
Nobody except Nikon and Sony digital (current) cameras are serviceable where I live. I have to send them abroad if I need repair.
I have and use the Leica MP and the M7. No other reason but GAS. And someone has offered to sell an almost new ZM, for I consider a reasonable price.
And as the man said..a rangefinder does not have to have a red dot !! ( my MP does not, though ).
Kind regards.
Fair enough, I'm not a lens guy but a camera guy since I don't have good eyes to see the difference from each lens.
Playing different models or brands are fun experience.
BTW, I see someone mentioned Zeiss in Germany still service the Ikon ZM.
p.1 #11 · Is the Zeiss Ikon ZM ( ZI ) camera, a reliable travel partner?
Fursan wrote:
Thanks for the response.
Nobody except Nikon and Sony digital (current) cameras are serviceable where I live. I have to send them abroad if I need repair.
I have and use the Leica MP and the M7. No other reason but GAS. And someone has offered to sell an almost new ZM, for I consider a reasonable price.
And as the man said..a rangefinder does not have to have a red dot !! ( my MP does not, though ).
Kind regards.
I’ve owned them all apart from the Konica 35 RF which I really like the specs - 1/4000 shutter! - but steered away from that one due to reading all those messages of fatal error codes.
The one I’d recommend the least is the Bessa series. Just cheap and clanky feeling, w exposure LEDs which are unreadable in bright light. Also has a very short RF baselength which theoretically can make them less accurate to focus.
Also for the price people are currently asking, you could get a film Leica M!
I liked my Zeiss Ikon ZM. I liked how the shutter action was crisp feeling, and that they copied the film rewind crank position from the almighty Leica M5. I also liked how it had a 1/2000 shutter.
What I didn’t like about it was unless you had your eye perfectly centered in the VF, the rf patch would flare out. And like the Bessa the exposure LEDs are very hard to see in bright daylight.
But what bugged me the most was the rf patch was not synchronized with the frame lines. As you focus the frame lines move to compensate for parallax, but the rf patch remains stationary. This means that often it is off center and that really bugged me as I like to use the rf patch to gauge how to center a composition when I am shooting quickly.
No such issue with Leicas - their rf patches are synced w the frame lines.
The film transport mechanism failed on mine - plastic gears - where one action of the film advance lever no longer would cock the shutter. My super cheap (at the time) Bessa L failed in the same way.
I have not heard that happen to others but it happened to me.
Some people,have reported that the screw on the shutter speed dial can back out and then suddenly SPROING! - parts fly everywhere as there is a spring inside there.
But, I still liked the camera! I just much preferred using my M7 because it felt so much better in hand, I could see the LEDs all the time and all the rest. So I unloaded the Zeiss. I don’t regret trying it though because it scratched that itch, so if your price is really decent I’d say get and give it a shot.
Sell it when you’re done.
