Zeiss ZX1 Review
If you like photography, you probably know Carl Zeiss. Zeiss contributed greatly to the construction of scientific microscopes, and his success was often used in the development of cameras. Carl Zeiss lenses have evolved through 160 years of practice, improvement and refinement. Even if you have not used the lens before, Zeiss creations become part of the Zeiss eyeglass lenses designed to provide you with world-leading technology and a superior visual experience. Great visions lead to great beauty. That’s why Zeiss has a new camera you don’t want to miss. The Zeiss ZX1 is the brand’s first digital camera designed with Adobe Lightroom CC, designed for you to shoot, edit and share the best all-in-one!
Image quality
It comes with a full-frame 37.4 MP CMOS sensor and a Distagon T* 35mm f/2 fixed-focus lens. The 35mm is the ideal general-purpose lens, perfect for most shooting applications, from environmental portraits to landscapes. This combination produces excellent image quality. Its RAW (DNG) files provide ample dynamic range and excellent sharpness.
The overall image quality, beauty and level of detail matches that of the Leica Q2. However, it offers the signature Zeiss look and feel that makes it ideal for street and travel photos.
This 35mm lens is also quite good. Despite shooting fully open, the lens remains sharp with virtually no chromatic aberration, excellent edge-to-edge sharpness and even illumination. Plus, its closest focusing distance of 30 cm (11.8 inches) lets you take small macro photos.
Video
The Zeiss ZX1 can record 4K (3,840 x 2,160) video at up to 30 frames per second. If you want a higher frame rate, you can shoot Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) video at up to 60 fps. The maximum length of a video clip is 15 minutes. There are no video specifications available other than knowing that the camera records in .MP4 format. It is also indicated that the camera can record externally using HDMI via USB-C 3.1 (possibly HDMI Alt mode), although it is not clear whether the video quality or maximum clip duration will be improved when recording externally.
Autofocus specifications
The Zeiss ZX1 features contrast detection autofocus only, and no phase detection autofocus. Phase detection autofocus is faster and more accurate than contrast detection autofocus. The camera has a face detection function, which is useful for people photography.
The Sensor has 255 focus points to choose from. The Zeiss ZX1 has a tap-to-focus feature. You can easily use your finger to move the focus point. It also includes tracking autofocus for moving subjects. The ZEISS ZX1 is equipped with manual focus if you need to use it in low-light scenes or if you want more precise focus control.
Connectivity, storage and battery
The Zeiss ZX1 has built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity (802.11ac + Bluetooth), allowing you to transfer photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. The Zeiss ZX1’s Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to connect to other devices that support it.
You can connect the ZX1 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) port.
Viewfinder and LCD Display
The ZX1 has a fully articulating viewfinder measuring 4.34 inches and a display resolution of 2,764,800 dpi. Simply touch the screen to operate the camera and focus the camera. The Zeiss ZX1 has a built-in electronic viewfinder. When the frame is not visible on the screen, you can focus on the desired scene on a sunny day. The camera viewfinder displays 100% of the entire frame. The 6,220,800 viewfinder resolution provides a crisp, clear picture. The viewfinder displays the full 35 mm frame at 0.74x.
Final Thoughts
By being unique in the camera field, Zeiss has created a product that can very well meet the needs of a few people. Those who want to shoot, edit and share without the need for additional equipment will be delighted – especially when you combine it with Zeiss’ legendary image quality.
