Zeiss Ikon ZM
Announced September 28, 2004
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Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Zeiss Ikon ZM is a versatile rangefinder that prioritizes practical handling and a superior, bright viewfinder experience for daily shooting. While it lacks the heavy brass construction of some competitors, it provides a lightweight, well-balanced, and highly functional alternative for those who prefer a tool-first approach.
Weighted from 6 reviewer scores
Pros
- Large, bright, and accurate viewfinder with minimal clutter
- Efficient film loading and intuitive exposure controls
- Ergonomic, lightweight, and well-balanced body design
- Solid build quality and finish
Cons
- Noisy metal shutter compared to cloth alternatives
- High price and potential long-term repair uncertainty
- Less substantial metal construction than brass-bodied cameras
- Awkward placement of certain controls and tripod mount
- Meter display visibility issues in bright sunlight
- Launch price $2,100 (USD)
- Lens mount Leica M
- Shutter 1/2000s to 8s Bulb
- Weight 460g (1 lb 0.2 oz)
Expert Reviews
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The camera is great to hold and the quality oozes out as it's used.
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[I]f you’re one of those people that doesn’t get that warm feeling from a Leica, one of those that just wants a tool to do a job and do it very well, then you’re probably also one of the people that would say the Zeiss Ikon is the best autoexposure rangefinder ever made.
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[T]he Zeiss Ikon is like halfway between a Leica M and a Bessa in terms of it's got many of the functions of a Voigtländer Bessa camera, but it's better built.
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[O]f the “not-quite-Leica-M” cameras, the Zeiss Ikon is a beautiful and versatile one.
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Among the Leica M7, Zeiss Ikon, Minolta CLE and the Voigtländers, I'd opt for this Zeiss for practical daily shooting, the LEICA for long time exposures, or the Minolta CLE for absolute least weight.
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About two years ago I finally sold all my Leica cameras in favor of my Zeiss Ikon and I have never regretted it.
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