Friday, August 07, 2009

35mm full frame Zeiss Ikon digital RF in development

Someone seems to have some secret info. claiming that Carl Zeiss has been in "active" collaboration with Sony recently, whatever "active" means. You may think it is nothing special as the two companies have been in collaboration for years, that's how we are seeing those Sony Zeiss lenses. But apparently rather than Sony getting stuff from Zeiss, this time is Zeiss getting stuff from Sony.
Our source claims that Zeiss is working on a digital rangefinder with a Sony sensor, he goes further saying that unlike all the current dRFs the Zeiss dRF will use a CMOS sensor, making this rumor a bit hard to swallow. It's been long known that CMOS sensors are catastrophic at capturing when the light hits the sensor at a not-so-perpendicular angle, which is a common issue on dRFs. This is one of the reasons why Leica's M9 chooses to use a CCD.
That's all we are told so far, we don't know release/announcement date, what size the sensor will be (yes, my title misled you), or what body it will build on (this is easy to guess, we all know it will build the Zeiss Ikon).
Regardless of CMOS or CCD, let's hope that Zeiss is building a dRF for us who wants something better than an R-D1 but cannot afford an M9.

11 comments:

  1. I have heard of this Ikon with CMOS rumor some years ago from dpreview actually. Don't know if it came from the same source, but if not then there could be really something behind. Otherwise, a plain bogus rumor wouldn't suggest a marriage between digital rangefinder and CMOS knowing that the CMOS well known problem.
    I am for it!
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  2. I would welcome it if I don't have to mortgage my house to buy one and if it accepts Leica M mount lenses!
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  3. I'm looking for this.

    Zeiss Ikon optical viewfinder is the best and brighter than Leica for sure.
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  4. How long will it take more to see a Zeiss Ikon Digital on the market? Incredible.
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  5. At least they should give customers an idea IF it will come out or not. We are getting a little tired of waiting now...
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  6. When you look carefully at the official Zeiss Ikon website you can read in the Zeiss Ikon Faq : item 6 , this sentence : Are the Carl Zeiss ZM mount lenses ready for use with THE FUTURE DIGITAL CAMERA..?!!!
    This SHOULD mean, they "officialy announce" it is coming.....

    http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B58B9/allBySubject/F940253DED5DD769C125711E004AD17D#06

    a frustrated customer
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  7. We are working on a digital back for the Zeiss Ikon. Price range will be much cheaper than a new Zeiss camera. Full frame, and a sensitive CMOS.
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  8. Anon ...you missed April 1 by 15-hours.
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  9. remember that sony has build a backlight CMOS sensor for the compact range and is likely to implement this in the next DSLR, More sensitive for light ect.
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  10. In september probably we could answer this enigma... otherwise this issue will sound like a UFO´s myth. This year is very important in the Zeiss´ history (120Y!)
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  11. I think you could stop making unuseless rumors that only make us lose our time. Zeiss will never make this digital Ikon! I wish they did, but it sens that is not interesting for then. Otherwise they would did it already! The true is that they probably have a deal with Leica, once they make there lenses also, will be better for both to keep that way. So the best thing to do is to forget about then. If they don´t care about us, we should not care about then ider!
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