In what way is this forum committed to the Zeiss ideal?

[Keith]

The reason I ask this question is simple but the answer may be complex. Is this forum aimed at the Zeiss user as in 'dedicated Zeiss user' or is it it less structured and catering for a mere casual interest in the product.

I myself have very little in the way of Zeiss gear. I have an Ikon Zl which barely gets used since I bought my R3A/R4A Bessa combination and I have a Biogon 25mm f2.8 that I don't use much either because frankly I'm not that impressed with it ... which is rare I gather because everyone else seems to love the lens ... perhaps I got a dud!

How do others feel about this issue? I notice the forum is growing to the point where it will overtake 'Purelight's' membership numbers in another twenty members or so but how much will we grow here considering the focus on one manufacturer? :)

[jmkelly]

Hi Keith: How do you define the Zeiss Ideal?

I have my own ideas of what prompted Amin to start this forum, but don't presume actually to know. Purelight had a completely different genesis, which continues to limit it's inclusiveness IMO.

Dedicated vs. casual interest? I don't think this is a valid dichotomy. There are a lot of Zeiss users out there, and the Zeiss brand does not inspire the same level or kind of partisanship that the red dot does. So far this forum looks to be pretty gallery- and gear-oriented (as opposed to social and philosophical) but we know how that can change.

The threads I have followed here have not focused exclusively on Zeiss gear, nor have they been "Zeiss Rules - All Else Drools!" either.

[Brian]

Well, I posted the Simlar disassembly in the Project's section and no one burned me at the stake.

I've posted a J-3 on the Contax II gallery, still here...

Might push my luck, and post a J-3 on Nikon gallery. It can be done, but was a PINTA to collimate!

I like the generous allowance for attachments and images in the gallery. Somehow, I do not think that Amin will delete the attachments on these rare lenses based simply on the posting date. I can't find anyone else on the web that has posted images of the disassembled wartime Sonnar or MIOJ Simlar. Or some of the other projects that are being posted.

And, after joining the forum, I've been shooting with the Contax II more, and am sending the IIIa up to Eddy Smolov for a CLA.

[Keith]

It's good that you can own a Zeiss and love it without having to gouge one of your eyes out like a lot Leica fans seem to do. To be honest I have more Leica gear than Zeiss but that doesn't really get used much either apart from my M2 which is just a great camera whatever brand it happens to have on it.

As I said I use two Bessa bodies and I do it for a specific reason as I like having a viewfinder magnification that is ideal for a couple of focal lenghs and not a compromise for four or more as some cameras seem to be. The R4A with lenses from 15mm to 28mm is hard to beat and the R3A's 1:1 magnifications makes it perfect for the 35mm to 90mm range. I almost wish Zeiss had gone this way with the Ikon and offered different magnifications depending on your usage preferences.

I generally pick the Ikon when I know the conditions are going to be very dark and that amazing finder can do it's thing like no other camera will.

[Brian]

I have way too much gear. Still have both eyes...

[Keith]

Good grief ... I've just discovered I have a Zeiss camera that I'd totally forgotten about. A 1933 Super Ikonta 6x4.5.

I can't believe I forgot I had it ... I feel much better about being here now as I actually have a Zeiss that isn't made in Japan! :p

[polux]

Zeiss Rules! no question about that
I have try various Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Minolta, etc and it is true than any lens can make nice pic
But Zeiss is the king and it is good to have a forum where we can write it without being called Drools

[Amin Sabet]

My only internet access right now is an iPhone, so I can only post briefly. I originally started this forum because of a recent appreciation for the Ikon (ZM), the modern slr and rf zeiss lenses made by cosina, as well as the cv lenses. I noticed that when I posted pictures made with or discussion about this gear on other forums, discussion often turned to zeiss vs leica or Zeiss vs nikon, neither of which I enjoy discussing over and over again. I was not aware of a zeiss specific forum, and I thought that there ought to be one.

I don't presume to speak for what this forum ought to be to others. I personally appreciate modern zeiss gear alongside gear from many other brands. Through this forum, I am also enjoying learning about older zeiss gear as well as simply seeing great photos from everyone. If you participate here as a pure Zeiss devotee, that is great, but I am not one and don't expect the majority here will be.

The way I see this site developing is as a community of folks who have an appreciation for zeiss photography gear, but I don't expect anyone to confine their discussion, or album photos for that matter, to zeiss and vc.

[Amin Sabet]

I'd very much welcome an album or thread from keith relating to his M2 with a leica lens, joe with a panasonic lens on a g1, or from brian with a nikon and j3. We're in this forum because we like zeiss, but I think it would be stifling to exclude the rest of photography from these forums.

Now if someone were to sign up here for the sole purpose of representing some other brand and antagonizing others, that would be most unwelcome. However, we are fortunate to be off to a good start with a great, friendly bunch of members, and I don't see any reason to limit how anyone ought to personally interpret the purpose of these forums.

[Brian]

Amin, well stated and much appreciated.

I'll just add that I feel comfortable posting about Zeiss gear, other classic gear, camera projects, and family photo's on this forum.

It's relaxed.

[raid]

I agree with Brian that this seems to be a family safe website, if I can call it that way.

I started my love for Zeiss glass when I bought my first Rolleiflex SL35 35mm camera as an inexpensive way to get Zeiss lenses. I ignored them for a while until one day I took photos of my parents with the Zeiss lenses. The results were amazingly beautiful and sharp.

[outfitter]

I think the reason the whole Zeiss thing isn't as focused and obsessive as the red dot brand is that Zeiss is more pervasive. Zeiss had the original patents for many of the classic lens designs (as well as lens coating). Zeiss designed lenses (or copies thereof) are ubiquitous and found on many non-Zeiss cameras. Let me make a pitch here for the Rollei 35mm cameras with Zeiss lenses which seem to be absent for the SLR and compact camera categories. Finally the Zeiss Ikon bodies must set some sort of a record as to models and variety.

In short you could probably post about any camera or lens in the world and make some sort of Zeiss connection so a Zeiss forum is by definition a very big tent.

[Alex]

until one day I took photos of my parents with the Zeiss lenses. The results were amazingly beautiful and sharp.
That sounds like a familiar Damascene moment. I knew of Zeiss only by reputation, and could never afford the lenses I wanted at the time I set out on the photographic road. One day, I bought a Zeiss lens, and the first time I saw the results, I knew that was that for me.

I've been on this road too long find much of interest or profit in 'My Marque is better than Your Marque' arguments. I still use my Canon or my Nikon or (until its shutter magnet started misbehaving) my Olympus. These 'debates' are often tedious and ill-mannered. But when nothing else will do, it has to be Zeiss for me.

Almost all my Zeiss glass is in SLR mount, with a few old Tessars on old folders. I'm moving towards rangefinder from reflex, so I guess I'll go the Zeiss route more directly, and miss out on all the kinds of detours I took in the SLR world.

[Contarama]

Zeiss and all of its permutations or whatever word would be proper has been at the optics game as long if not longer than any of the others...it is somewhat amazing that there hasn't been a forum dedicated to it up till this one and the company's webpage itself...I also find it odd that there is no sort of like "Ken Rockwell" site that is Carl Zeiss oriented...after all Zeiss stuff is just as prevalent in the world as any other really...

I guess the people on this forum are pioneers of sorts... :)

[the mechanic]

Sorry-I'm a little late!Carl Zeiss's "ideal" was to produce top grade optics which would be purchased by leading researchers(yes-Zeiss began by producing microscopes and their optics!).The persuit lead to his becoming one of the world's leading producers of fine optics and optical gear.Simply put-he wanted to become the best!

[Contarama]

Well first I would like to say thank you to Amin and others who make it happen. Amin I would love to talk more with you as I know you are a Contax RF dude from trolling the net. I am grateful you have set up a Zeiss forum and you were right it has been a long time coming and it seems to be the only place dedicated to Zeiss to this day...

Lately I have been thinking about RF's and micro 4/3's...the idea of a micro 4/3's (which IMHO owes a whole lot to the RF eg. no mirror) with various adapters which can mount just about any lens m mount contarex nikon bayonet etc. is a capital idea! I am a mechanical retro type of person but I also can mount my old glass on a new digital camera which is just fantastic. I also dream of F2AS's and Leica M6's etc!

I have a 50 year old for the masses Zeiss Ikon Contaflex. This system has great potential in the hands of an amateur like me. From reading everyone's posts at this forum and studying the gallery shots it is helping me to become a better more knowledgeable camera dude. There is so much more for me to discover, basic fundamental stuff, and this old Contaflex is perfect for the task! Heck I might not even need to get a F2 or M6...haha! :)

I wonder of it is better for an eyeglass wearing guy like myself to have a RF or a SLR? I wonder just how good is a 85mm Sonnar??? This forum is the only place I would consider posting such a question and that is because of the folks who are at this forum.

Look at this shot...Contaflex made for the masses and amateur wanna be photog, good country kid model in a beautiful setting, Fuji SR400 film @ 1/250 shutter speed with 115mm Pro-Tessar nearly wide open in the late evening on a hot August day metering with 50 year old selenium...trying to catch frogs!

You can't tell me Zeiss Ikon is not bad to the bone because it is!

http://www.oklahomawildbunch.com/teach/Frog Hunter.JPG

[jrvalverde]

Well, I hang around here in search for Zeiss-specific knowledge, expertise and, why not? reinforcement (you know, the group thing).

I often find good information on old lenses in manualfocus or mflenses, but its is true it tends to degenerate into "yeah, that's great" or "brand X is also good or better" discussions.

What I use now is a Pentax DSLR. It's APS-C, it's only 14MPx, so many lenses will work well on it. I know Pentax made very good gear (like the SMC super takumars), and when I want to find specific information, the pentaxforum database is a great resource. It also contains details on other brands (like some zeiss lenses) but guess what, not much.

I think the same can be said of every other forum: if it's generic it is prone to degenerate into "mine's bigger/better than yours", if it's specific, non-specific brands will have worse coverage.

So, a Zeiss-specific forum is most welcome. A place where you can be sure to find first-hand knowledge and experience in specific gear. Yet, as you may use Zeiss gear on almost any brand, how can it be kept Zeiss-only? No way, I think.

Whay I look for here is that first-hand knowledge of Zeiss products and, if possible, of other brands' as well so I may ask for specific differences and advantages (of one or the other) and be better informed, not just a zealot.

[ARodriguezPixL]

I own a Zeiss 35mm 1.4 ZE, and I have had no other brands withdrawl sympthoms :)