An exhaustive list of the Zeiss Ikon cameras from the 20th century would be lengthy.  The older Zeiss ikon cameras such as the Contax IIa were known for their quality build and using Zeiss' outstanding optics.  These early rangefinders developed a reputation and a following the likes of which are matched only by Leica and Hasselblad.  By the turn of the 21st, Carl Zeiss sought to introduce a camera that would compete with the more modern, electronic cameras with automatic exposure.  The result of combining Zeiss' history of quality and up-to-date features was the Zeiss Ikon ZM and its simpler variant the Zeiss Ikon SW.

First hitting the shelves in 2005, the Zeiss Ikon ZM offers a full range of shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/2000th of a second.  With its vertically travelling shutter made of thin metal blades, the ZM has a maximum flash synchronization speed of 1/125th of a second.  This is faster than its contemporaries at Leica, which were 1/50th of a second.  Mainly manufactured by the company Cosina, the Zeiss Ikon ZM shared a metering system with several other cameras, most notably the Bessa R viewfinder/rangefinders.  This system meters off of an 18% gray shutter blade for the best accuracy. 

The ergonomic design of the Zeiss Ikon ZM follows the comfort and usability of their 20th century cameras.  The film wind lever has a much shorter "throw" than the Leicas of the same era and the shutter button is placed comfortably on the top cover within easy reach for most users.  Several ounces lighter than its Leica counterparts, the handling of the ZM is a real pleasure.

Zeiss gave these cameras the same M-mount that Leica developed, so changing between Zeiss and Leitz glass is easy.  With the exception of the 90mm and 135mm focal lengths, the same framelines that set themselves automatically on a Leica M camera appear in the Zeiss Ikon ZM viewfinder.  Add to that the automatic parallax correction and the ZM is a fully capable camera that can hold its own with any rangefinder on the market.

The production of the Zeiss Ikon ZM ended in 2012 and during its eight year run only one other model of the ZM was made.  The Zeiss Ikon SW camera was very similar to the ZM in its construction, but it did not have a built-in rangefinder or viewfinder.  Designed primarily to use wider lenses that the ZM, the SW and its finders could easily accommodate shooting with lenses as wide as 15mm with the same lightweight build and excellent metering.

While not as well-known as its German cousin the Leica M-series, the Zeiss Ikon ZM is truly a workhorse of a camera that belongs in the same discussion with any other modern rangefinder.  Becoming a Zeiss convert will introduce any photographer into the world of easy-to-use, well-built, and well-designed cameras.

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