Saturday, October 24, 2009

Digital Zeiss Ikon - No Dice?

Not the most terrific news on a digital Ikon, a sales rep (same sales rep?) said to a RFF member that there won't be a digital Ikon, here is the quoted message from the RFF member:


"Talked to the Zeiss sales rep today at Photo Expo here in NYC. The question of a digital Zeiss Ikon was brought up. While he admitted that there is certainly room for a D-RF in the $2500-3000 range, it was not within the means of Zeiss to introduce such a product at this time.

Basically he said that Zeiss wouldn't be able to make profits on it. He also told me that Zeiss Ikon's just don't fly off the shelves. It's a niche product, but I guess we already knew that. He did add that the market for photography is vastly different in Japan, allowing for far more film based equipment.

He DID say that there are plans to expand the ZF line, including lenses around a 180, 135 focal length (the 180 will probably be macro)."
Posted by Alan
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6 comments:

  1. At half the price of an M9, you can bet that a digital Ikon would fly off the shelves. The 12mp Sony sensor found in the D300 (also found in the Leica X-1) would be perfect for this. Frankly, at this price range, they could even make it full-frame with the sensor from the A850/A900.

    Zeiss doesn't have digital body making experience, but unless Cosina has an exclusivity agreement with Epson on their collaboration on the R-D1, Cosina could certainly make a digital Ikon for them.
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  2. Upon further reflection, relatively straightforward ways for Zeiss to capitalize on the current "rangefinder renaissance" trend would be:

    - become a member of the μ4/3 consortium, and

    - redevelop the very fine compact autofocus lenses from the Contax G system to μ4/3 mount, or,

    - Produce a CPU-enabled version of their existing MF rangefinder lens lineup for native μ4/3.

    They've already got F & EF speaking lens electronics. μ4/3 is much easier to develop as it doesn't have to be reverse engineered. It's true that it's a young market, but I think it's here to stay.
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  3. They would be pissing off all their customers invested in the M-mount lenses for their Ikons if they shifted to micro 4/3 standard. In the present economic climate, a digital Ikon seems unlikely.
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  4. My suggestion was that they make μ4/3 lenses (just as they do for many other mounts), not cameras...

    It's all a leap anyway. It's already more than I ever expected to have fully-electronic EF mount Zeiss lenses, so who knows...
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  5. For the Trend of Digital Camera, RF is one of the potential porfitable market in the world.
    micro 3/4 still cannot replace the RF becuase of 2x Crop rate plus big aperature AF lens design.
    If still continue produce the L mount lens with no support on Camera. This just follow the Leica's back. No future. Why don't build a whole camera by own brand.
    I still believe that if IKON D RF camera with adoption of Electronic Shutter and electro magnetic shutter buttom will be next generation of Digital RF.
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  6. > He DID say that there are plans to expand the ZF line, including lenses around a 180, 135 focal length (the 180 will probably be macro).

    Whoa, I missed this bit the first time I read the article.

    Let's hope that that 135 is f/1.8 like the Sony mount version!
    ReplyDelete

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