Mothers like to say that you should shower, comb your hair and put on clean clothes when you meet someone new, because first impressions are the ones that people remember. There's probably some truth to that. Let's apply it to the Zeiss Ikon.

I've waited all day -- quickly looking out the window when I thought I heard a truck pull past the house. Nothing. Rats. Time to go to work.

Just as I unlock the car door, the UPS trucks stops near the house, but the guy doesn't get out. Oh wait, there he is, and could it be!? Yes, it's from Webbcam of Philadelphia, which can only mean it's the camera that I've been lusting after since it was announced at Photokina 2004. Seems like ages ago.

A quick plug for Webbcam: An established operation with people who know cameras. If you're looking for bargain-basement prices, look elsewhere. They always took the time to answer my various questions and were patient as I went back and forth between the 25mm and 28mm lenses.

Now, what's the name of the camera?

I didn't have any time to take it into the house, so I stuck the big box into the passenger seat and left for work.

Once I got to work, I turned on the dome light and sliced open the box and began digging around.

Carl Zeiss AG has done its best to give you a great "out of box" experience ... great box bokeh.

The white box of the first run of cameras has two silver stickers attached to opposite corners, announcing "Limited Edition." A line drawing of the body, as well as the Carl Zeiss logo, adorns the box on five of six sides ... lest you forget which camera you purchased. On the bottom is a label that has the UPC code plus the body's color, serial number and country of manufacture (Japan).

Pulled the body out of the plastic. Man, this looks nice. Leather feels good, and I like the contrast of chrome and black. Very traditional look.

Inside the box is the body and lens mount cap, the owner's manual and warranty papers plus a signed inspection certificate and another certificate noting that it's a Limited Edition. This is the stuff that collectors love, and I guess I'll keep it. Who knows, in 20 years when I'm famous (or infamous), maybe I'll want to sell the camera. I'm sure some people have bought the camera just for that purpose and have tucked the unused boxed camera away into a climate-controlled cabinet or storage area.

Carl Zeiss did a nice job in making the camera box fun to open. I don't know if other people get a kick out of that, but I do. I'm still a kid at heart, and this camera made my heart beat a bit quicker. That's a good thing.

The neck strap reminds me of the Domke Gripper. "Zeiss Ikon" is embossed in the leather tips -- a nice touch.

A lithium CR1/3N battery is included to get you started. Underneath the bottom foam cushion is the Limited Edition leather case that holds the body only. The body itself is neatly wrapped in a plastic bag, which is twisted at one end and then folded over. OK, this is too much minutae.

I got the sense that some thought and preparation went into delivery of the camera, and for the price, I'm glad that they did. Rollei does the same thing with its cameras, even its point and shoot models. They try to make the customer feel as if they've purchased something special. More companies should do that.

How photography should be.

Initial thoughts on the body once I got it out and mounted a lens:

• Very solid feel, shook it a little, no rattles or any sound.
• The camera back is metal -- I like that -- and all markings are engraved and polished.
• There's the Cosina hinge.
• That viewfinder is incredible -- certainly not a religious experience but man, it's good.
• Do I have a quarter so I can insert the battery? The battery is inserted (+) down. Remember that.
• The shutter has a "snick" sound, which someone else described. Not loud, not whisper quiet ... somewhere in between. Very positive feel -- not sloppy.
• The shutter speed dial turns very easily. The detents on A(utomatic) are stiffer.
• I like that you don't see a huge column of shutter speeds.
• Wish there was an aperture display.
• Framelines have their numeric indicator at the bottom of the frame.
• Randy, can I have the half case back?
• The leather is very tightly bonded to the camera.
• The shades bayonet to the lens tightly. No chance of them falling off.
• It's a bit tricky to remove and replace the lens cap with the shade in place. The lens cap have both outer and inner grips -- very ingenious. The cap's inner grips should be angled in slightly to make them easier to grip when a shade is mounted.
• Wish I had a half case.