michaelwj Posted November 24, 2013 Share #21 Posted November 24, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Now that ZI cameras are discontinued it is not clear why Cosina Zeiss would invest on new models of ZM lenses anymore. They don't make F, EF, E, or X mount cameras either. Why is M mount any different? Back on topic, wasn't it going to be a fast 35 (based on pure rumour of course)? Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 24, 2013 Posted November 24, 2013 Hi michaelwj, Take a look here What happened to the “surprise” Zeiss ZM Lens. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted November 25, 2013 Share #22 Posted November 25, 2013 But they work closely with those camera makers. Not with Leica. At an official level, that is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share #23 Posted November 25, 2013 However, the lenses are actually made by Cosina, albeit with the inspectors employed by Zeiss (the same arrangement as was at Kyocera) and Cosina still make M mount cameras, the R4 M. I don’t know how many they sell a year. Not a whole lot is my guess. I am always surprised that Cosina/Zeiss/Epson did not follow up the R1-D with an improved or full frame model, maybe based on the Ikon rather than the Cosina, to get the longer base rangefinder. I assume therefore, that the R1-D exercise must not have made money. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted November 25, 2013 Share #24 Posted November 25, 2013 However, the lenses are actually made by Cosina, albeit with the inspectors employed by Zeiss (the same arrangement as was at Kyocera) and Cosina still make M mount cameras, the R4 M. I don’t know how many they sell a year. Not a whole lot is my guess. I am always surprised that Cosina/Zeiss/Epson did not follow up the R1-D with an improved or full frame model, maybe based on the Ikon rather than the Cosina, to get the longer base rangefinder. I assume therefore, that the R1-D exercise must not have made money. Wilson That R4 M also had frame lines for 21 and 25mm too. If I recall it is the only one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share #25 Posted November 25, 2013 That R4 M also had frame lines for 21 and 25mm too. If I recall it is the only one. I think you are correct but I am not sure what the Konica Hexar had. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted November 25, 2013 Share #26 Posted November 25, 2013 I think you are correct but I am not sure what the Konica Hexar had. Wilson 28 thru 135 if memory serves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted November 25, 2013 Share #27 Posted November 25, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I think you are correct but I am not sure what the Konica Hexar had. 28 to 135. Pete. D'oh: cross-posted with jd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted November 25, 2013 Share #28 Posted November 25, 2013 The surprise was that there was no lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 25, 2013 Share #29 Posted November 25, 2013 Maybe the one I had was a Friday one but mine had very stiff jerky focusing, that a visit to Solms did not improve and very prominent purple fringing. Focus solution here. Mine has no significant purple fringing, which LR could tame, but fortunately no general need. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted November 25, 2013 Share #30 Posted November 25, 2013 They don't make F, EF, E, or X mount cameras either. Why is M mount any different? Sure they do. From their website, for SLR: Otus (in both F and EF mount) ZE for Canon mount ZF.2 for Nikon mount ZA for Sony A mount For compact system: Touit for X and E mount ZA for A mount And of course ZM for Leica M mount and Ikon cameras (despite the fact that the camera is discontinued). Obviously, they don't make lenses for Leica X cameras as they aren't interchangeable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share #31 Posted November 25, 2013 Focus solution here. Mine has no significant purple fringing, which LR could tame, but fortunately no general need. Jeff Jeff, I was talking to Malcolm Taylor about various things last month when sending him some other lenses for service and this subject came up. He also believes he has a solution to the stiff and lumpy focus of the 50 ASPH Lux and 35 FLE. It is based on using a totally different sort of grease after cleaning off the sticky stuff Leica uses but said it is his trade secret. I know what I would use and that is micronised teflon in a light silicon grease substrate. That is what I use for the M mount and you only need a tiny amount to smooth mounting lenses noticeably. It does not go sticky or oxidise and lasts a long time. It is made by Dr. Tillwich GmbH and is called Clock grease 859-8 + PTFE. My local watchmaker got me a small tube. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted November 25, 2013 Share #32 Posted November 25, 2013 Sure they do. From their website, for SLR: Otus (in both F and EF mount) ZE for Canon mount ZF.2 for Nikon mount ZA for Sony A mount For compact system: Touit for X and E mount ZA for A mount And of course ZM for Leica M mount and Ikon cameras (despite the fact that the camera is discontinued). Obviously, they don't make lenses for Leica X cameras as they aren't interchangeable. They don't make CAMERAS for those mounts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted November 26, 2013 Share #33 Posted November 26, 2013 They don't make CAMERAS for those mounts. No, that's true. They've really been a lens company for years, and even then they only make a small proportion of their lenses themselves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelwj Posted November 26, 2013 Share #34 Posted November 26, 2013 But they work closely with those camera makers. Not with Leica. At an official level, that is. Didn't know that, but I suppose they have to for electronics (change from ZF to ZF.2 added electronics for example). On the other hand, the M mount is a purely mechanical open mount, and they probably know it wouldn't be the best business decision for leica to change that. Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 26, 2013 Share #35 Posted November 26, 2013 I was talking to Malcolm Taylor about various things last month when sending him some other lenses for service and this subject came up. He also believes he has a solution to the stiff and lumpy focus of the 50 ASPH Lux and 35 FLE. It is based on using a totally different sort of grease after cleaning off the sticky stuff Leica uses but said it is his trade secret. Wilson, as I said in my post, the grease DAG uses is from Leica (old Leitz), and is no secret. It worked perfectly to correct my lens, just as he said. For less than a 100 bucks, it's now buttery smooth. And fortunately he has a huge supply. I can't fathom why Leica wouldn't use it, let alone never mention it and instead consider my lens unrepairable. Only failed experience I've had with Leica NJ service. I appreciate your recommendation for an alternate grease, but considering DAG's fast and inexpensive service, he'll continue to get my business. But I hope it's not needed again. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share #36 Posted November 26, 2013 Jeff, The problem with using Don for folks in Europe, is that you have to fight with Customs both ways. I sent a Contax RF body to Phoenix, AZ for service a few years ago and even though I thought I had filled in all the myriad forms correctly, UK Customs tried to charge me duty on its return. I had a 6 week fight with them to get my camera back without paying duty, VAT, processing and collection charges. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 26, 2013 Share #37 Posted November 26, 2013 Yep, I hear you. For you, I thought maybe it was easier since I thought you had relatives here and visited occasionally. For others, I hoped that one of the techs in Europe (guys like Will van Manen) could follow a similar approach, provided of course that the grease, or equivalent, could be accessed some way. DAG proved, at least for me, that the solution is a simple one. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick in CO Posted November 26, 2013 Share #38 Posted November 26, 2013 Last year at Photokina, Zeiss told us to expect a special surprise ZM lens in 2013. Time is running out. Anyone heard anything more? I have just checked on the Zeiss website and nothing new for ZM is shown. I was hoping too, so I emailed Zeiss. The response was "not to expect any new ZM lens next year". Now, they might be holding "pre-release" info, but that is their "official response". For what it's worth, I have contacted them previously and they have been very forthcoming and generous with lens parts and information. (M9 with 25/2.8 & 35/2.8 ZM Biogons, 50 ZM Planar, 85 ZM Sonnar; would love the f1.4 "Otus" Distagon for ZM) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share #39 Posted November 26, 2013 Rick, The problem with the Otus is that the Distagon is always a retro-focal design, so it would be a large lens for one even if it could be changed to an RF lens. Secondly it may not have a moving focus barrel at the back of the optical cell, to couple to an RF cam. Of course we could always use it as it is at the moment on an adapter, like I do with my Contax SLR lenses on the M240, as it has an aperture ring and manual focus. I don’t like the very smoothed off appearance of the Otus very much. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick in CO Posted November 26, 2013 Share #40 Posted November 26, 2013 Rick, The problem with the Otus is that the Distagon is always a retro-focal design, so it would be a large lens for one even if it could be changed to an RF lens. Secondly it may not have a moving focus barrel at the back of the optical cell, to couple to an RF cam. Of course we could always use it as it is at the moment on an adapter, like I do with my Contax SLR lenses on the M240, as it has an aperture ring and manual focus. I don’t like the very smoothed off appearance of the Otus very much. Wilson Yes, of course, Thank You. I just meant a similarly high specification lens in the ZM mount. Perhaps Zeiss doesn't want to place a lens on the market that would compete with the new Voigtlander (Cosina) Nokton? If Zeiss did release a "ZM-Otus" (I would prefer "ZM-Adler") it would likely be German-made, similar to the 15/2.8 and 85/2 lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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