Among the many 35mm SLRs at Photokina this year, you will find very few (if any) with such an impressive superwide lens. In fact, for picky superwide photographers, it hardly gets any better than this. The Zeiss Ikon SW's lens mount is compatible with any lens of the M bayonet variety, including the high performance superwide-angle Distagon T* 2.8/15mm ZM and Biogon T* Zeiss ZM range lenses.




There is a special shoe (in addition to a regular flash hot shoe) just above the lens that holds the superwide viewfinder. The camera's shutter speed ranges from 8 - 1/2000 seconds in automatic mode, and 1 - 1/2000 seconds in manual mode.

According to Zeiss, "The Zeiss Ikon SW offers the same extremely high image quality as the known Zeiss Ikon rangefinder camera: far above today’s digital cameras. It is fully integrated into the Zeiss Ikon system. The Zeiss Ikon SW comes without the complex rangefinder and is therefore considerably more affordable than the rangefinder camera."

The camera should be available by late October for €799 or just over $1000.

Zeiss Ikon SW Specifications:

Camera type:	35mm camera with focal plane shutter and TTL light metering
Film format:	24 x 36mm on 35mm film
Lenses:	Intended to be used with short focal length types of the Carl Zeiss T* ZM-mount lens family in combination with an external viewfinder. Other M-mount lenses, including M39 screw mount lenses with an M – mount adapter can be used
Exposure metering:	TTL center-weighted metering at working aperture
Metering range at ISO 100 and f/2:	EV0-EV19 (f/2-4 sec.,f/16-1/2000 sec.)
Film speed range:	ISO 25-3200 manually set in 1/3 f-stop increments
Exposure modes:	AE with aperture priority or manual; AE lock option for a single exposure or for a sequence of exposures; exposure compensation +/-2 f-stops in 1/3 stops set at shutter speed dial
LED display:	Combination of 3 LED indicates shutter speed setting situation
Shutter and shutter speed:	Vertical-travel metal focal-plane shutter with electronically controlled speeds accurate to 1/12 f-stop
Range in Automatic mode:	8 sec. to 1/2000 sec.
Range in Manual mode:	1 sec. to 1/2000 sec. in 1-stop increments; B.
Flash synch:	Synchronization at 1/125 sec. and longer shutter speeds
Film transport:	Rapid-wind manual advance lever, with ratcheted partial advance
Camera body:	One-piece aluminum base structure, external magnesium covers, tripod thread 1/4 inch in base, two accessory shoes for external viewfinder and flash
Batteries:	One CR 1/3 Lithium or two 1.5 V cells type LR44 or SR44
Dimensions:	138mm W x 72.5mm H x 32mm D (5.4” W x 2.9” H x 1.3” D).
Weight:	395g (13.9 oz.)