Is the rumor season over already? We certainly haven't heard anything interesting so far.If you know something, regardless of how absurd or boring it may be, please tell us via tips@zeissrumors.com . We will keep your identity confidential ;)
When there are no new rumors, I will collect some potentially interesting info. to compile into a post to keep our site alive. This one is to review Zeiss' stance on digital since the intro of Zeiss Ikon to today's rumor on its digital version.
Zeiss Ikon is Zeiss' M mount rangefinder camera first announced in September 2004, however the actual ship date was more than one year after the announcement in October 2005. Back then Zeiss made the follow remark on a potential digital counterpart in Ikon's brochure:
When digital sensor technology takes another leap or two, accepting the high incident angles of a wide-angle M-mount lens to the corners of a full format sensor, you can count on us to come up with high performance digital systems that will satisfy even the truly passionate. And your Carl Zeiss T* ZM-mount lenses will be ready.
In 2006, the rumors of a digital Ikon started to swirl around the internet and later in the year, Dr. Winfried Scherle, Vice-President and general manager in the Camera Lens Division of Carl Zeiss AG had the following Q&A on the rumor:
Q: There are rumors that Zeiss will eventually have its own digital rangefinder camera body that will accept the M mount lenses. True or false? Will it be Cosina-made? Full 24 x 36mm sensor?At Carl Zeiss, we can imagine such a camera. But we feel that is not the right time to introduce such a camera now. Today digital technology is still developing fast and the initial value of a digital camera is lost in quite a short time. Carl Zeiss wants to protect the investment of its customers and will therefore require a high level of maturity of products before we can justify to offer them to our customers. At the time we introduce such a camera we want to be sure that the owner has invested in a long term value.
1. It is much too early to determine a manufacturer for such a camera.
2. Full 24 x 36 is, as far as we see today, for a variety of reasons the preferred sensor size of most serious rangefinder photographers.
Things have stayed quiet ever since then, until 2009 Zeiss extends its partnership with Sony 5 more years. It may or may not be related to a digital Ikon, no one knows:
OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 15.04.2009.
Carl Zeiss today announced that its Camera Lens Division will extend their successful collaboration with Sony Corporation for a further 5 years. Taking full advantages of their competence both companies agreed to cooperate even closer in developing and commercializing new imaging devices in the future.
Now in late 2009, we have rumors of a digital Ikon again!
If you know more, please don't hesitate to tell us, whether it is related or unrelated, exciting or boring, we welcome any kinds of information.
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