Selling Leica M4-2 to buy Epson R-D1

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alexbuga

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Do you think I'm crazy ?

I know about the camera, all it does & stuff, I love it, but I want an honest opinion:
Is it worth it ? I mean.. what if it breaks or something...

I live in Romania, so sending it to the States for repairs is not an option...

What do you, R-D1 owners advise ?

I found one for 900€ in Austria, and they give me 550€ for the Leica.

If I keep the Leica, probably it won't loose its value that much, but the R-D1 will be cheaper and and harder to sell in the future, considering those nifty Micro Four Thirds...
 
I'm with Al.

As for durability, how many photos do you actually shoot over a year's time? If you shoot a lot, considering your location, the M4-2 might be a better long term solution. If you shoot little, then durability isn't really a concern.
 
That's a good price for the R-D1, and for the trade-in. Bear in mind you might have to budget for new lenses; it's quite hard to find a lens that will replicate a 35/2 or 40/2 - the closest is probably the VC 28/2, at $580 new.

And no, I don't think you're crazy, I sold my R-D1 and regret it.
 
The R-D1 is a great camera, but I don't think I would trade away my last film M for it. If you manage to find another source of money to buy one, though, I recommended it wholeheartedly.
 
Salut Alex!

Well, first of all, it´s up to you whether you prefer film or digital. You can change ISO with the R-D1 and you might shoot a lot more and so on, but as an investment I think the Epson has a dark future. The M9 is out, M8 prices will keep going down for a while...

I´d keep the Leica, it´s a great film camera and it´ll be in let´s say 30 years. The Epson won´t.
 
Stuff happens. I had mine less that a month and LCD would not come on. It will be repaired in California and the camera is loved. Unless there is a reliable repair facility somewhat nearby, I would pass and keep cranking film.

I gave my R-D1 to my son right before it broke. One of these days I will get another, all the time knowing that it might have to be sent back to Epson in Japan for a big repair bill.
 
Which lenses do you have, how much do you photograph, BW or color, how much is film cost and developing ? Do you wet-print or scan yourself, have the files scanned for you ? In other words, what would be the benefits of an R-D1 over a Leica for you ?
 
I just "traded" my M6 for an RD-1 ...... the RD1 is on the way from KEH as we speak. I like shooting black and white film,but in the 135 format, I just find more advantages w/ digital, when in color. I have a Nikon F4s for my 35mm camera now. I know that at some point, I will regret selling he M6, but with around 20 rolls a year through it, the RD-1 seems like it will get more use .... the issue is will it give me more enjoyment?

In the 120/220 format, I will keep shooting film for color and black and white

In LF, I just love portraits with 4X5 film and my 210mm lens!

Dave
 
I spent years dreaming of a Leica M film camera, but couldn't afford one. Wandering in the wilderness, I happily used Canon manual-focus SLRs.

A few years ago, I realized that 35mm film was becoming too inconvenient for me -- rental darkrooms disappearing, work and family precluding enough processing/printing time, etc. So I bought a digital P&S, which gave moderately pleasing results for family snaps, but I yearned for better. I was about to pull the trigger on a Canon 5D and to begin re-building a collection of EF primes, when I discovered the Epson R-D1 and fell in love.

Now, a year and a half later, I have a large assortment of M and LTM lenses, and I'm still loving the R-D1. I know it will not be a life-long camera the way an M4 could be, but it is perfect for what it is now.

The problem is, every time I see a nice M2, M4 or M6 for sale, I realize that I can afford one now, but cannot justify going back to 35mm film processing. It hurts, as they're beautiful machines that I desired intensely for a long time, but in the end I turn away -- digital does everything that 35mm film used to do for me. (I now lust after an M8 or M9, but once again cannot afford it. 🙂)

However, if I already had a Leica M film camera, I likely could not bring myself to sell it. I would continue to use it and save for an R-D1 (or used M8).

Good luck with your decision.

::Ari
 
If you think you will shoot more often with the RD1 than you do with the M4-2, have M lenses that'll be 50mm or less after the 1.5 crop, are comfortable with a digital workflow, and don't need to print big, then go for it. If you need a film option, especially for black and white, supplement the RD1 with an OM + 50 for about $150.
 
If I were in your position, I would not get the Epson unless I could afford to do so without selling the Leica, and unless did so knowing it was a gamble. I really like the R-D1. I have two of them. However, both have had shutter problems requiring repair. One is back in the shop again, and there is a question of availability of parts. My advice about not selling the Leica has nothing to do with Leica mystique, but rather because I think it would be good to have a backup camera in which you could continue to use your lenses while the Epson is being repaired, assuming it is repairable.
 
Well, I'm presently living and working in Moldova and bought an RD-1 a few weeks ago. Very happy with this camera! I would not worry about batteries etc... since the online sellers are just a click away.
 
I have two RD1 bodies and my film RFs rarely get any use anymore. That said, I agree with others that I would not *sell* my last film RF in order to get one ... I feel the need to keep a film body around as a backup.
 
Wow. Thanks for the replies guys.
I don't shoot as much as I would love to, but a lot. I don't print large images.
I just process my films and I scan them myself with my Epson v500

I actually want the Epson because it's that perfect mix between my Leica and a good digital camera. But I guess I won't sell the Leica. I craved and worked for it too much.

Here it is http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/alexbuga/4095061162/

I still use my Panasonic LC1 and Canon Powershot sx100is for digital purposes, so who needs the RD1.

And with the risk of getting some boohs, I want to say that I don't fancy the digital M's
that much. They're way to bulky compared to the film bodies.

That being said, thank you for your super fast replies, and for not letting me doing something stupid.
 
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