new digital rangefinder R-d2

[freedomland]

Hey folks,
where the hell is an Epson R-d2? I mean, I wanted to buy an R-d1 and now I think about the no longer available warranty and option of repairing parts. Printing big is a problem, too. Is it possible that Epson make a new rangefinder with a little bit bigger sensor and more pixels? Or the better question: Who want to buy a new digital rangefinder from Epson? What could be different and what has to stay?

 

[Efra1]

If some day Epson make a RD-2, for shure I´ll buy one, the experience of shoot the RD-1 is a pleasure...

 

[varjag]

The R-D1 originally retailed for over $3000, which makes it a non-starter with so many M8s and M8.2s on the used market now.

 

[Rob-F]

The first thing they would need to do is clean up the defects. Reports of tilted sensors, tilted framelines, rangefinder problems, hot pixels, poor service, & shutter problems do little to attract me to the Epson camp. And a finder that does not permit seeing the 28mm framelines while wearing glasses pretty well finishes it off for me. They need to cut the finder magnification from 1.0 to .5 and add frames for the 21 and 25mm lenses. Then if they fix the aforementioned problems, that might tempt me.

 

[BearCatCow]

The first thing they would need to do is clean up the defects. Reports of tilted sensors, tilted framelines, rangefinder problems, hot pixels, poor service, & shutter problems do little to attract me to the Epson camp. And a finder that does not permit seeing the 28mm framelines while wearing glasses pretty well finishes it off for me. They need to cut the finder magnification from 1.0 to .5 and add frames for the 21 and 25mm lenses. Then if they fix the aforementioned problems, that might tempt me.

Of course everyone has their own taste but I really like 1.0x viewfinder. Being able to shoot with both eyes open gives a GREAT experience when it comes to seeing the world around the picture and staying engaged with the subject. OTOH I wear glasses and do wish I could see the 28 frame lines better...

What would make a good R-D2.. hmm.. basically, bigger sensor, and better quality control would do it! No other changes are needed!

And for what it's worth, I think the reports of tilted sensors, tilted framelines, rangefinder problems, hot pixels, poor service, & shutter problems are a bit overblown. All cameras have their issues. Look at how we say "oh don't buy a used Leica/Nikon/etc on ebay. Those have all sorts of problems that you'll have to pay to fix. Buy one from someone you trust."

 

[swoop]

How is printing a problem?

 

[kermaier]

How is printing a problem?

I think the OP said "printing big", presumably a reference to the 6MP sensor.

 

[kermaier]

What improvements should they make for an R-D2 (beside quality control)?
1. Put back the reversible/stowable LCD screen that they made into a fixed screen for the R-D1x.
2. Increase the sensor size to match the 1.33x crop factor of the M8, without decreasing the pixel size.
3. Increase the ISO range at the low end, maybe down to 80.
4. Add an external analog control/display that allows toggling the JPEG mode between color and monochrome without using the LCD/menu.
5. Change the strap lugs from soft, chrome-plated brass to hardened nickel-steel.
6. Add a self-timer.
7. Add a USB port for direct image download and direct firmware updates.

::Ari

 

[sevres_babylone]

And a finder that does not permit seeing the 28mm framelines while wearing glasses pretty well finishes it off for me. They need to cut the finder magnification from 1.0 to .5 and add frames for the 21 and 25mm lenses.

Assuming the inability to see the 28mm framelines with glasses is a necessary byproduct of the 1.0 finder magnification, I would stick with the current trade-off. I mostly use 35mm/40mm and 50mm with my R-D1, and do a lot of concert shooting where I appreciate the current magnification.
The service issue is a legitimate concern, although I get the feeling from reading posts here that Epson U.S.A. has been much worse than Epson in Europe and likely in Japan. I would be more than happy if Epson simply sold its technology/patents whatever to another company who would both develop a successor camera and assure service for it.

 

[Mephiloco]

bigger sensor, the 1.5 crop factor is really a killer, and one of the reasons it took me forever to warm up to my dslr. At least with the dslr I got a 17-50/2.8 zoom, which comes to roughly 28-80, covering all the focal lengths I use on my film cameras (almost). On the rd1 the 'widest' I could have is a 52.5/2.5 (color skopar) which is too slow for a 50, and my 50/1.5 becomes a 75, which I could still see being useful.

More megapixels as well, I'm thinking 10/12mp. I don't care about the screen articulating or not, since I doubt they would put live view in. Image Stabilization would be huge, also don't see that happening.

Pretty much the above and the addition of some custom buttons on the back would make it perfect for me. Assign one button to ISO etc and that's it. Personally I think it's stupid to shoot anything on a digital camera in b&w only (unless it's a b&w sensor, like the Phase One back. I shoot all my digital in RAW and do everything in post, or batch process. I think you'd be better off converting to B&W in Photoshop/Lightroom/etc than using in camera software anyways.

 

[Pablito]

take off the absurd wind lever, this is the 21st Century. Even Leica gets that.

 

[kalex]

Leave it but make it optional to use 🙂
I kind of like it, but sometimes forget to wind it

 

[back alley]

i love the wind lever.

 

[RichC]

take off the absurd wind lever, this is the 21st Century. Even Leica gets that.

It's there for a reason: it's not some cosmetic, olde filme gimmick!

The shutter is from the Bessa range, and has a mechanical cocking mechanism. Getting rid of the lever would mean designing a shutter from the ground up = more expensive camera, more battery drain, no convenient "thumb grip" to minimise camera shake.

 

[kuzano]

I think the winder is more critical to operation....

I think the winder is more critical to operation....

Not only is the winder necessary to cock the shutter, thereby holding cost down. I have heard that the winding lever reloads the sensor with new pixels for the next image capture. This also helps hold cost down, as you don't pay for an infinite supply of pixels. You buy them in little round cartridges, much like we used to buy B-B's for our Daisy Red Rider lever action B-B rifles.

Leave the lever alone.

 

[LCT]

...Getting rid of the lever would mean designing a shutter from the ground up = more expensive camera, more battery drain, no convenient "thumb grip" to minimise camera shake.

Also more shutter lag i guess if one compares the speedness of the R-D1 to the slower M8. Funny how good ideas are ignored sometimes.

 

[Tsai]

Leave the Leaver!

But the Rd1 body does have very nice bumps and grips for my hand to grasp. Compared to a bumpless M.

I guess im just a sucker for the nostalgic(?)/romantic feel of the old film cameras. Did wish the build was up to M quality though.

Epson + Cosina is kinda like a kid playing with the stove. Once you know it can burn you, you don't play with the fire again. Doubt they'll collaborate again for Rd2 (i wish)

 

[LCT]

Reading the first post might help.

 

[Ronald_H]

Leave the lever. If you want to get rid of that you don't 'get' this camera.

If you think you can't print big from 6Mp, you are... wrong. I have made stunning 50x75cm shots from my Nikon D70. And I mean really stunning.

The only thing I would really want is a full frame sensor with class leading hi-ISO performance. All the rest is a bonus. But I don't see it happening.

 

[RichC]

If you think you can't print big from 6Mp, you are... wrong. I have made stunning 50x75cm shots from my Nikon D70. And I mean really stunning.

Good but not stunning. I sold my R-D1 after seeing an A3 print from a Canon 5D of the same subject - crisper and better-controlled roll-off in highlights and shadows.

Didn't buy a 5D - got Leica M8 after selling my motorbike to raise more cash!

That said, the R-D1 is still an excellent camera, and I still run the Epson R-D1 FAQ website: http://www.richcutler.co.uk/r-d1/

I also think that the R-D1's ergonomics are better than my Leica M8! A pity Leica aren't interested in being innovative with the M form factor.