Report: Zeiss' full-frame Android-powered ZX1 camera to be released on October 29, cost $6K

Beware the wizard behind the curtain.

"Shoot Edit Share" is at best misleading. "Edit" depends on "free one year" Lightroom subscription that must be activated BEFORE 10/31/21. When your one-year subscription expires, or if you purchase after that date, it appears that "Edit" will no longer be a feature without a subscription renewal. There is no indication that an existing LR subscription can transfer to the ZX1 when the "free" year runs out.

Dangerous precedent: a camera dependent on 3rd party software for ALL its functions: Shoot (Google) Edit (Adobe) Share (WiFi / cellular data networks). And since it is assembled in China, (Huawei for the WiFi?) your photos will go to Chinese military intelligence (as do DJI drone pics) where they will sort through them for photos of police, military, power grid and other critical infrastructure info.

IMHO (being a Zeiss lens user / fan & victim of PRC intelligence) this is a product that simply should never be brought to market.

I have just downloaded the manual. On one of the pages indicates that the Camera is manufactured in China. Please don't understand me wrong but if this thing should cost €6000,- and it is made in China then Zeiss has lost their marbles.

At €6000 one would think that this is made at a prime location, craft and workmenship goes into it and created some sentiment of historical value. Now it is all assembled in a Chinese sweat shop that is totally overpriced.

Thank you Zeiss for downgrading and devalueing yourself.

Long ago, Zeiss did a Contarex Bullseye, aka the "most beautiful film camera". Till today that camera is glittering with chrome and quality beyond its peer.

Alas, that camera killed Zeiss Ikon and they quit the camera business. The over-engineered camera was hard to fix but priced for the pros. Even Vivian Maier had one, but i have yet to see the images on that cam exhibited.

I bought 2 of the body as a reminder of a historical lesson in engineering and wrote a blog on what i imagined happened back then.

When i saw the ZX1, the delay, the announcement and the aspiration goals behind the camera, there are some deja'vu feeling reminiscence of the Contarex Bulls-eye. I hope they make it this time, but avoid the mistakes made by their Red-dot cousins on earlier Ms.

Feels like they crammed $800 worth of value into a $6,000 body.

Great body and idea,
but really too expensive!
Happy to test despite everything for the photo report for a direct edition of the images :)

Its such a shame, that the RX1/RX1R II Zeiss Distagon 35mm F2 Lens does use two Helicoids, and is not being adaptable to E-Mount, due to the special Construction.

I've seen these Distagons being sold 3rd Party for as low as 70 EUR, last Winter, online.

Now, they cost at least 130 EUR, which is still a bargain, if it would being possibly to adapt them. But all Sources say no, sad but true.

Good Light.

I liked the idea of it for maybe $1200 but $6000 no way.

i'll just go straight to the comments

Typical of some to bellyache about the price. I do plan on purchasing it when it is released. I will keep it in the glove box of my Porsche.

If I had 6k to spend on camera gear right now, this would definitely not be what I buy. Even if I had to spend it on camera equipment....nope. There are so many other things you can get for so much less - you have to truly be desperate for a conversation piece to buy this...

From the store warehouse to a collector's urn.

Made for Brooklyn Beckham!

This suddenly makes the Leica Q2 a real bargain.....
I am not sold on Android cameras.... or TVs. I have 4 70 to 85" sony high end TVs running Android and the OS is pretty sluggish. slow, buggy, unresponsive 20% of the time....
Camera+Android for me is doomed to get in your way... Thats like the opposite of what I want from a camera :/

Looks like a design stolen from Sigma, and restyled by Porsche.

Interesting as a conversation piece I suppose, and it may even take decent photos.

But the folk (plural?) who buy this will probably getting it as a status symbol or fashion statement, so will likely never get as far as pressing the shutter button...

What an horrible design, they took a 2$ box of plastic and sticked a lens on it, then they will sell it at 6000$ because there is a Zeiss logo on it

I'm sure this is going to be a great camera...but I am not sure how many they will be able to sell for that price. I'd like to have one...but for that price...I can buy into a medium format camera.

I'll use the free SnapSeed app on my free phone, but thanks anyway Zeiss.

When it’ll go on sale , as “Hasselblad “ Lunar did once at B&H , I’ll buy it.

A good camera and an IPAD Pro still will be half the cost and will get the job done. A niche product that will never be sold to many or any . Only time will tell. I rather get an Ipad Pro for everything i need on the go.

Premium Androids already go for 2K. Add premium sensor (+2K), add premium lens (+2K) and there you are. Plus it's got free premium software I hear.

Why all the hate? Yes its too expensive by a fair amount, but so are a lot of other cameras. It IS (from the sound of it at least) made in Germany.

It also has an in house designed Zeiss sensor and matched Zeiss lens,
Real in-camera editing with Lightroom, a ton of built in storage, Finally some more fixed lens cameras? There's some cool stuff in here. And at least its something new.

Sure, its too expensive by a lot. Personally, its not for me but this just may be something cool. I for one welcome it.

I have often wondered why we don't have a camera that can function as a smartphone... or have one that at least can use your phone's network to upload pictures to the internet and cut out having to transfer it to your phone first. Will this camera also be able to use aps like Lightroom in camera, as well?

The camera itself is interesting to me but they are going to lose so much money on it at that price.

I get it, there are many Q2 customers that would rather have a true 35mm than a 28mm that needs to crop. Not to mention it’s a niche camera and very unique in terms of its specification.

If money weren’t a factor, I’d buy it.

Na 6k I rather have a monochrome Leica Q2 when it's released not that a can afford it.

Look awfully slippery.

Can you make a call with it?

...Mahahahaha!!!...Oh, your serious?

This camera ought to be delivered to you by Concorde ... I guess the Cessna Citation X+ will have to do?

I think I rather get a Leica Q2

October Fools Joke. I know 2020 has been a weird year ;-)