Frankie
Speaking Frankly
I am experienced in photography but not the R-D1.
I received an eBay R-D1 yesterday, have read the manual, fully charged the Epson battery and full-formatted a new 2Gb SD card, set up the camera via the menu...
The camera shutter works: I had the lens removed, trip shutter, observed the first curtain fired, saw second curtain, wind camera, and first curtain returned.
The camera took half a dozen shots (all good), then shot blanks. An hour or so later (while I re-read the manual), the camera worked again, got a few shots, then blanks again...
It could not be a full buffer, could it? [I set the file quality to NJpg]?
It could not be too little light [full daylight, ISO set at 800, then 1600, CV 25/4 set wide open and AE]? Besides, the camera did work and exposure was fine.
The manual says if the Red light is on, the SD card is fine; if blinking, the SD card may be failing; if off...battery dead?
The red light came on every time camera was switched on, never blinked but went off after a few seconds...
Help!!!
I received an eBay R-D1 yesterday, have read the manual, fully charged the Epson battery and full-formatted a new 2Gb SD card, set up the camera via the menu...
The camera shutter works: I had the lens removed, trip shutter, observed the first curtain fired, saw second curtain, wind camera, and first curtain returned.
The camera took half a dozen shots (all good), then shot blanks. An hour or so later (while I re-read the manual), the camera worked again, got a few shots, then blanks again...
It could not be a full buffer, could it? [I set the file quality to NJpg]?
It could not be too little light [full daylight, ISO set at 800, then 1600, CV 25/4 set wide open and AE]? Besides, the camera did work and exposure was fine.
The manual says if the Red light is on, the SD card is fine; if blinking, the SD card may be failing; if off...battery dead?
The red light came on every time camera was switched on, never blinked but went off after a few seconds...
Help!!!
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
I´ve had two blank shots in maybe 2000 actuations. Both with the same lens. Exactly why I don´t know. I shoot RAW+JPEG only.
EDIT: Oh, and congratulations by the way.
EDIT: Oh, and congratulations by the way.
back alley
IMAGES
Frankie
Speaking Frankly
Thanks, Back Alley.
One possible cause might be the charger and the dial both lied...I had such experience in a Konica P'n'S before:
The Konica died after only a couple of shots, after I had charged the battery overnight...It turned out the charger contact was not pressed against the battery and the indicator light turned green (charging complete) while the battery is still empty.
So I bound the battery to the charger with an elastic band and the red light comes on immediately...took a few hours for the green light to reappear...battery really charged and problem never disappeared.
I am now doing the same trick to the Epson charger and battery...red light immediately appeared...will know in a few hours.
Wish the Epson manual indicates how long a battery charge takes...
One possible cause might be the charger and the dial both lied...I had such experience in a Konica P'n'S before:
The Konica died after only a couple of shots, after I had charged the battery overnight...It turned out the charger contact was not pressed against the battery and the indicator light turned green (charging complete) while the battery is still empty.
So I bound the battery to the charger with an elastic band and the red light comes on immediately...took a few hours for the green light to reappear...battery really charged and problem never disappeared.
I am now doing the same trick to the Epson charger and battery...red light immediately appeared...will know in a few hours.
Wish the Epson manual indicates how long a battery charge takes...
LCT
ex-newbie
Did you try another battery?
Frankie
Speaking Frankly
I tried an Epson and 3 other generic batteries. They all work, just gone black after a few shots and worked later again.
menos
Veteran
Frankie, congrats to your new camera.
I can not help with your specific problem. I bought a used R-D1 with 3 generic very old (read: dead) batteries.
I charged them in cycles with two different chargers and used them in the camera.
I bought 3 more generic batteries (3.7V 1350mAh Chinese brand "Pisen" batteries), charged them properly and get apr. 200 frames until the battery warning is displayed.
I am very happy with the 6,- EUR/ battery performance.
I did not have any issues with a black frame (other than the occasional close up portrait of a Leica part no. 14231).
According to some more vague explanations on the web, batteries might be at fault, I might be reserved about this as a fact.
I too happen, to not weight in too much believe in the "use only EPSON batteries for full satisfaction advert".
Surely, the original batteries will have gone through some more rigorous testing criteria, when manufactured in (very likely) the same factory as one or the other generic (read: second grade) model.
Ok - too much sideways - check not only the batteries. You can rule them out as a cause by getting a pack of fresh ones (EPSON or generic) and try with them.
Anything you do now with the batteries, that came with your used camera is fishing in the blind.
I can not help with your specific problem. I bought a used R-D1 with 3 generic very old (read: dead) batteries.
I charged them in cycles with two different chargers and used them in the camera.
I bought 3 more generic batteries (3.7V 1350mAh Chinese brand "Pisen" batteries), charged them properly and get apr. 200 frames until the battery warning is displayed.
I am very happy with the 6,- EUR/ battery performance.
I did not have any issues with a black frame (other than the occasional close up portrait of a Leica part no. 14231).
According to some more vague explanations on the web, batteries might be at fault, I might be reserved about this as a fact.
I too happen, to not weight in too much believe in the "use only EPSON batteries for full satisfaction advert".
Surely, the original batteries will have gone through some more rigorous testing criteria, when manufactured in (very likely) the same factory as one or the other generic (read: second grade) model.
Ok - too much sideways - check not only the batteries. You can rule them out as a cause by getting a pack of fresh ones (EPSON or generic) and try with them.
Anything you do now with the batteries, that came with your used camera is fishing in the blind.
LCT
ex-newbie
OK then did you try another SD card?
Frankie
Speaking Frankly
Thanks everyone for your input.
Yes, I tried 3 SD, 4 batteries, tested the shutter, read the manual 6 times and thought through every thing I have learned in 40 years of photography...
Finally, it dawned on me that the camera buffer might have been too full and I never let it to have a chance to drain...but how?
Nothing in the manual or on the menu remotely suggested that as trouble shooting. So I finally decide to leave the camera on, set the energy saving timer to the maximum of 20 minutes and had a drink...
The camera came alive!!!
So I took a couple of shots...it worked...and I let the camera sat for another 20 minutes and.....
I had since taken 125 shots ranging from NJpg to HJpg to RAW, let the camera go to sleep after 5 minutes, switch it off and on, take more shots, changed lens and WB...all shots works and managed to drained the generic battery.
I installed another generic battery and the camera still works...
I believe I have the problem solved. The Epson manual could be improved. I will run another few hundred shots tomorrow to confirm...and also to calibrate the Epson battery.
Perhaps we could start a "sticky" call Trouble Shooting and organized it in such a way to help each other. I would be happy to rewrite this post in a more clinical way...I am also an experienced technical writer.
Yes, I tried 3 SD, 4 batteries, tested the shutter, read the manual 6 times and thought through every thing I have learned in 40 years of photography...
Finally, it dawned on me that the camera buffer might have been too full and I never let it to have a chance to drain...but how?
Nothing in the manual or on the menu remotely suggested that as trouble shooting. So I finally decide to leave the camera on, set the energy saving timer to the maximum of 20 minutes and had a drink...
The camera came alive!!!
So I took a couple of shots...it worked...and I let the camera sat for another 20 minutes and.....
I had since taken 125 shots ranging from NJpg to HJpg to RAW, let the camera go to sleep after 5 minutes, switch it off and on, take more shots, changed lens and WB...all shots works and managed to drained the generic battery.
I installed another generic battery and the camera still works...
I believe I have the problem solved. The Epson manual could be improved. I will run another few hundred shots tomorrow to confirm...and also to calibrate the Epson battery.
Perhaps we could start a "sticky" call Trouble Shooting and organized it in such a way to help each other. I would be happy to rewrite this post in a more clinical way...I am also an experienced technical writer.
menos
Veteran
Nice, you could work it out Frankie.
LCT
ex-newbie
AFAIK the buffer drains when writing onto the card so i would check my SD cards if i were you but congrats on this revival anyway. 
popch
Member
AFAIK the buffer drains when writing onto the card so i would check my SD cards if i were you but congrats on this revival anyway.
I agree. If I shoot slowly (something on the order of one shot every few seconds, I believe), I can about pace my camera. When I overrun the camera, it will not fire until there is sufficient room in the buffer for one picture.
Waiting for minutes for the buffer to be transferred to the SD card is unheard of. Perhaps your camera is in need of a more recent firmware version or you need faster SD cards?
back alley
IMAGES
i thought the speed of the sd card didn't matter in the rd1?
Frankie
Speaking Frankly
Fired off another 50 shots this morning, everything is still fine. I believe I had the problem licked.
I left the camera on for 20 minutes twice only for good measures...I know firmware runs faster than that. Besides, I could use a drink and some dinner.
The camera had Firmware Version 2.0 (RD1s) already installed. I had tried to reinstall the firmware upgrade...often that solves problems on computers...but got an 03 error (wrong version), probably means v2.0 already installed. Double checked all the published new feature...they were all there, OK.
The Sandisk cards I used are the standard cards I had for years. They are fast enough for HJpg shot after the shot. However, Costco has 4-pack Ultra II 2Gb on special for $34...I will get some soonest; cheaper than 4 rolls of film.
The first generic battery...with some 40 minuets idle...yielded 125 shots. All that are useful test data someone might be interested in.
Stay tuned.
I left the camera on for 20 minutes twice only for good measures...I know firmware runs faster than that. Besides, I could use a drink and some dinner.
The camera had Firmware Version 2.0 (RD1s) already installed. I had tried to reinstall the firmware upgrade...often that solves problems on computers...but got an 03 error (wrong version), probably means v2.0 already installed. Double checked all the published new feature...they were all there, OK.
The Sandisk cards I used are the standard cards I had for years. They are fast enough for HJpg shot after the shot. However, Costco has 4-pack Ultra II 2Gb on special for $34...I will get some soonest; cheaper than 4 rolls of film.
The first generic battery...with some 40 minuets idle...yielded 125 shots. All that are useful test data someone might be interested in.
Stay tuned.
LCT
ex-newbie
Problems have been reported with Sandisk cards in this forum if memory serves. Never got black (or white) frames with Sandisk Ultra II or Extreme III personally though.
rya
Established
I have been getting a lot "cannot display image" messages randomly when shooting but I can't figure out the pattern. The image correctly loads from the SD card onto my computer, but the camera cannot review them.
I've googled this error but have not been able to find it, and I would think this has been discussed. Am I just missing something?
I've googled this error but have not been able to find it, and I would think this has been discussed. Am I just missing something?